Is Singh the Presidents Cup bolter?
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 Barclays Classic | Round Two | 27 Aug 2011
Now reduced to just 54 holes due to the threatening approach of Hurricane Irene, the Barclays Classic at the Plainfield Golf Club in Edison in New Jersey will turn into a sprint to the finish in tomorrow’s final round.
Defending champion Matt Kuchar has the lead by one over Dustin Johnson and Vijay Singh but with 17 players within six shots, tomorrow’s third and final round is expected to develop into a race to the finish with more than just the Barclays Classic title at stake.
Kuchar has been one of the game’s most consistent players in the last eighteen months although in recent weeks he has been not quite at the peak he was earlier in the year. He will need to be at his brilliant best tomorrow it would seem if he is to successfully defend and take the lead in the FedEx Cup race.
“I think they definitely made the right decision with 54 holes," said Kuchar after his round of 65. “The forecast just looks terrible. I think all of us are going to be excited to wrap this thing up and get out of here as quickly and safely as we can.
“It has the potential to be pretty scary, and I think all of us would strive to stay safe. So finishing up as early as we can Saturday I think is the right decision. It’s going to turn into a bit of a shootout. I knew today that was the potential, to cut to 54 holes and needed to make as many birdies as I could. I felt that I left a couple out there.”
Johnson has played his last 27 holes in 13 under par and although he too has been a little bit disappointing in his last couple of starts he is right in line to win his fifth PGA Tour event and his second FedEx Cup playoff having won in Chicago last year.
The surprise however is the return to form of Vijay Singh who after finishing 4th last week in Greensboro and now in this position this week has moved right back into calculations for a place on the Presidents Cup Team.
Currently 17th in the standings for the International Team, Singh has fought back from his ongoing back issues and now appears very healthy.
“I went to Germany and got some shots in my back exactly as (Fred) Couples did,” said Singh. “Actually he was there a few days before me. It’s worked miracles, yeah. I’m playing well here, because I’m feeling good. I can be more aggressive and not really worry about how I’m going to wake up the next morning, and if I can play or not. So I’ve been struggling with this for two years, so it’s the first time I feel really comfortable to go out and there.”
With so many permutations for those just on or just outside the top ten automatic qualifiers for the International Team then it might just be that Singh becomes the bolter. Aiding his cause further is the fact that one of those on the cusp, Geoff Ogilvy, has missed the cut by three shots this week.
Another of those staking a claim for either automatic qualification or the generosity of Greg Norman is Aaron Baddeley who has not hurt his chances with rounds of 66 and 66 to be at 10 under and in a share of 5th position.
Adam Scott is the next best of the Australians in 9th position at 9 under, continuing his impressive form in recent weeks.
Robert Allenby is another who needs something special between now and the final International team selection date of September 26th. He and Jason Day are at 7 under and in a share of 18th position.
Despite their being just 18 holes left to play there is therefore still a lot at stake in tomorrow’s final rounds. Not only will the outcome of the Barclays Classic be determined tomorrow, the FedEx Cup and the final makeup of the International Presidents Cup Team could be significantly influenced by what happens.
It could hardly be described as the calm before the storm although in comparison to the weather being forecast it might still be.
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