Kuchar takes Fed Ex lead

Fed Ex Cup Playoffs

Matt Kuchar hit a ridiculous approach shot to two feet on the first playoff hole at The Barclays to win over Martin Laird.

Laird, who appeared to have the tournament in hand, needed to two putt from thirty feet on the 18th hole in regulation for the win. Unfortunately for him, he crushed his first putt a good eight feet past the hole and then missed coming back for a three putt.

With his first victory of the year at the first playoff event of the Fed Ex Cup, Kuchar takes the overall point lead in the quest for the $10,000,000.00 prize.

"Even if I had shut it down without a win, I would have felt it was a great year," Kuchar said. "To win, it's an incredible year."

Current Top Five:

1) Matt Kuchar
2) Steve Stricker
3) Martin Laird
4) Justin Rose
5) Ernie Els

Getty photo / Scott Halleran

Good numbers for Tiger round one at Barclays

Fed Ex Cup Playoffs

13 /14 Fairways
15 /18 Greens
27 Putts
7 Birdies
65
Tie for 1st

For one day, Tiger Woods played like the number one player in the world again.

"It's exciting to hit the ball flush again," Woods said. "It's something I've been missing all year."

Asked whether he thinks he can still break Nicklaus's record of 18 majors, he responded, "Absolutely."

"I look at it this way," Woods said, "Hogan won all nine of his majors at my age and older. I think for every kid out there, the goal is to get there. That is the benchmark in our sport, and that's still my goal."

Woods needs to finish approximately in the top 50 this week to advance to the second round of the playoffs. He's off to a good start and certainly thinks he can still win the whole thing.

"I figure if I win, I should be OK," Woods said.

Fed Ex Cup Championship

Fed Ex Cup Playoffs

The Fed Ex Cup playoffs begin this Thursday at the Barclays with the top 125 players in points set to go. The winner receives $10,000,000.00.

FORMER WINNERS:
2007 Tiger Woods
2008 Vijay Singh
2009 Tiger Woods

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

• The Barclays (August 26-29)
  
• Deutsche Bank Championship (Sept. 3-6)
  
• BMW Championship (Sept. 9-12)
  
• The Tour Championship (Sept. 23-26)

TOP FIVE IN STANDINGS:

1) Ernie Els
2) Steve Stricker
3) Jim Furyk
4) Phil Mickelson
5) Justin Rose

NOTABLES:

8) Bubba Watson
14) Anthony Kim
19) Rickie Fowler
21) Rory McIlroy
112) Tiger Woods

Click for complete standings

10 million up for grabs at The Tour Championship

Fed Ex Cup Playoffs

(AP Photo / Mel Evans)


The Tour Championship kicks off this Thursday at East Lake in Atlanta and someone will be going home 10 million dollars richer. With the new system this year, the point standings have been reset, allowing more players to have a legitimate chance this week.

The top five:

Tiger Woods - 2500 points

Tiger looks for his seventh win on tour this year and his second Fed Ex Cup title in the past three seasons.

Steve Stricker - 2250 points

Stricker has been consistent all year, and has grown accustomed to playing with Woods in pressure packed situations.

Jim Furyk - 2000 points

Certainly not a flashy player, he still seems to constantly be on the leader board. We shall see if his steady play can earn him a Fed Ex title.

Zach Johnson - 1800 points

Johnson will look for his biggest win since the 2007 Masters

Heath Slocum - 1600 points

Slocum started the playoffs in 193rd place but shocked everyone by winning at the Barclays. He proved he can handle the pressure by sinking a 20 foot par putt at the eighteenth hole to win and avoid a five man playoff.

Full standings

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