Someone is going to win the golf tournament this week, and that will carry with it a range of important benefits, including a significant jump in the FedExCup standings, invitations to a number of big events next year and, of course, a sizeable check. However, the most interesting competition this week may be elsewhere on the leaderboard, as players work to make the most of their last chance to get into the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.
• A 23rd-place finish for Davis Love III feels well within reach, but his only “top 23″ so far this year is T19 at the British Open.
• Another player worth watching is Will Mackenzie, currently 156th in the standings, needing a top-15 finish to make it into The Barclays. He has been injured much of the year, but showed signs at the John Deere Classic (where he finished T4) of returning to the form he showed early in 2007. If he’s healthy, he could make an interesting late season run.
Players to watch this week who could make big moves closer to the top of the FedExCup standings are:
• Vijay Singh (7th) — The highest ranked player in the field, Singh could take over third with a victory, and is only 145 points out of the top five (33rd place or better). If he can cure his putting woes, Singh is a significant threat in this tournament and throughout the Playoffs.
• Ryuji Imada (10th) — Imada has been a classic example of “feast or famine” this year, with a win, two seconds and a fifth to his credit, alongside seven missed cuts, including his last three starts. If he’s around for the weekend, he could contend for the victory.
