EDISON, N.J. (AP) — British Open champion Zach Johnson got his putter going Friday and landed in a three-way tie for the lead among early starters at The Barclays.
Adam Scott and Charl Schwartzel never got anything going and might be done for the PGA Tour season.
Johnson made five birdies and saved par four times with putts ranging from 8 feet to 12 feet — for a 5-under 65 on another gorgeous, sun-filled day at Plainfield Country Club. He was tied for the lead at 6 under with Henrik Stenson (66) and Tony Finau (69).
Jason Bohn had a 64, the best score so far at Plainfield this week, and was among those another shot back. Sean O’Hair (68) and Ryan Palmer (67), whose father died in a traffic accident in West Texas last week, were in the group at 4-under 136.
Among those playing in the afternoon was Jordan Spieth, in danger of missing the cut and losing his No. 1 world ranking after two weeks.
Scott shot a 73 and was likely to miss the cut. Schwartzel had a 72 and joined Scott two shots below the projected cut. They were No. 94 and No. 96 respectively in the FedEx Cup and unlikely to stay in the top 100 to advance to the next tournament in the series.
Even if they miss the cut, their standing won’t be determined until Sunday. A year ago, Geoff Ogilvy was No. 90 when he missed the cut at the Barclays. He narrowly stayed in the top 100 when Brendon Todd made a 15-foot putt on the final hole of the tournament, and Ogilvy eventually made it to the Tour Championship.
Fortunes can change quickly this time of the year.
Johnson wasn’t thrilled with his putting, though that changed in a hurry. His round could have gotten away from him early except for his 18-foot par putt on the 13th hole, and par putts from just inside 10 feet on the 16th and 17th holes. He added three birdies on the front nine, including putts of 20 feet and 18 feet, to reach 6-under 134.
“Even the putts that I’m trying to save were right in the middle, so I was very pleased,” Johnson said.
Some players didn’t have to wait until Sunday to learn their fate in the FedEx Cup. Tim Clark, Graham DeLaet and Jonas Blixt were among those outside the top 100 and headed toward missing the cut.
Stenson won the FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize two years ago, though he is going through a middling year. He has failed to win and came into the playoffs at No. 41.
“I took a little bit more aggressive position maybe, and when the rough is that thick, if you can get it inside 150 yards off the tee, then even if you’re in the rough, you have a chance,” he said. “If you’re trying to play for fairways, then you’re laying further back and you miss a fairway, then you’re kind of in trouble. I think it almost promotes being a bit more aggressive on some of the holes.
“But it’s tricky,” he said. “It’s an old-style golf course, a lot of angles off the tee and a lot of sloping greens.”
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