Jordan Spieth doesn't need the FedEx playoffs and that in a nutshell is another reason why they don't work, and why there is none of the buzz we associate with the word playoffs..
Consider his year of year's, nine times in the top three, wins at the Masters and the US Open, way ahead in the FedEx race, he will be in the final 30 in Atlanta unless they make him play left handed.
So yesterday he shot +4 74, including 40 on his last nine, made headlines by saying he wasn't a big fan of the course, but you see my point here, nobody apart from the sponsor's and the TV moguls are agonizing over his round today. If your favourite team loses it's first game of the playoffs you fret about losing home advantage, analyze to death each player's performance, someone will be wearing the goat horns, you are on the edge of your seat for a must win game two... all of those things and more.
FedEx Playoffs, schmayoffs...
That said, I love golf and there are lots of storylines here for those of us who cover it and are fans. For the record, one of the guys I've been touting all year, big hitter Tony Finau joined Bubba, Camilo Villegas and Spencer Levin for the lead at -5 65.
Now you see for guys like Villegas who hasn't had a good year and just squeaked into the field, and Levin at 115, these playoffs are a chance to rescue their seasons, as well as padding their bank accounts and rewarding their sponsors.
Jason Dufner, Paul Casey are two of many in with 66. Golf's hottest property Jason Day is in with Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler at 68.
Hands up, who won this event last year?? Good for you if you remembered it was Hunter Mahan, who won't successfully defend after shooting 78 while Justin Rose had a 77, and the guy who got hot at the right time last year to win it all and hasn't been heard from in a good way since, Billy Horschel had a 76. He of course has much more important matters on his mind following the suicide of his father.
As for the Canadians, Nick Taylor T11 -3 67, David Hearn T47 E 70, Adam Hadwin T84 +3 73, Graham DeLaet T108 +6 76. The cut is projected at +1.
Eric Compton has WD after nine holes.
Bryan Angus
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