The Barclays:
With a 1-under-par 34-36=70, Patrick Reed erased a one-stroke deficit in the final round to win The Barclays on 9-under 275, one clear of runners-up Sean O’Hair and Emiliano Grillo, good for his fifth PGA TOUR title in his 121st career start.
This is his first win since the 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions (85 weeks ago), where he came from two back with a closing 6-under 67 (par 73), eventually winning in a playoff. In Reed’s other three TOUR titles, he either led or co-led after 54 holes.
This week, the 26-year-old was the 18-hole co-leader, and led by two at the midpoint, before an even-par 71 in R3 left him solo second, one shy of 54-hole leader Rickie Fowler.
He kicked off the finale a bit sketchy, missing birdie tries at the par-4 first and second, from 10’10” and 6’5”, respectively, and then squared bogey-4 at the third, 3-putting from 61’5”. The Texan bounced back with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 fourth – though it didn’t create much excitement after whiffing the eagle try from 8’7”.
Reed went back to back at the fifth, but this one got the competitive juices flowing, pitching in from the rough 10 yards short of the target for birdie-3. Two holes later, he converted another two-putt birdie at the par-5 seventh to turn 2-under, now tied with Fowler.
T1- Rickie Fowler: -10 (thru nine holes)
T1- Patrick Reed: -10 (thru 9)
T3- Sean O’Hair: -8 (17)
T3- Gary Woodland: -8 (12)
T3- Emiliano Grillo: -8 (11)
T3- Adam Scott: -8 (10)
7- Jason Day: -7 (12)
After the break, the Augusta University product circled the par-4 12th from 8’3”, missed birdie from 9’0” at the par-5 13th, and squared bogey-5 at 16 on a failed scramble.
At the par-3 17th, he drained a CLUTCH par putt from 7'4" (for a save) and headed to the 18th with a two-shot advantage.
Reed’s tee shot on 18 plugged in a fairway bunker and he blasted out back into the fairway, but advanced the ball just 85 feet, leaving him 136 yards for his third. He landed his approach pin-high, 18’1” away, and two-putted for bogey-5, coming home in 1-over 36.
The San Antonio native mustered just seven (of 14) fairways and 11 greens in regulation on Sunday, posting a pedestrian 2.000 putts per GIR and -1.447 in SG: Putting. He didn’t particularly light-it-up, but his 1-under 70 was the only sub-par round in the final two pairings and it helped that no one in the final FIVE groups shot better than 69.
This was the 50th playing of The Barclays, 10th in the FedExCup (FEC) era, and second (2012) at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. The 7,468-yard par-71 layout (36-35) played over-par all four rounds with a cumulative scoring average of 71.749.
Making his fourth appearance with a previous best of T9 in 2014 (Ridgewood CC), Reed posted rounds of 66-68-71-70 for 11.893 in SG: Total.
The win comes in Reed’s 25th start of the season and came as a pre-tourney 40/1 outright. It’s his third podium among 10 top 10s, joining runner-up finishes at the Hyundai TOC and the Valero Texas Open.
He entered the week as the top-ranked player in the FEC standings (of those without a win) and on the heels of four consecutive top-25 finishes, five if you toss in a T11 at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Spring, Texas, resident reaped 2,000 FEC points for the win, vaulting from 7th in the FEC standings to a career-best 1st.
With a Strength of Field rating of 738, Reed banked 74.00 world-ranking points, bumping him five spots in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) from 14th to 9th, matching a career high.
Perhaps more significantly (to Reed), he STAYED in the Top 8 in the final Ryder Cup USA points list, moving from No. 8 to No. 4, and will make his second appearance after going 3-1-0 in his debut two years ago at Gleneagles.
Key dates for the U.S. Team:
- Sunday, August 28th: The Top 8 are finalized at the conclusion of The Barclays. Done.
- Sunday, September 11th: Davis Love III will select three (of four) Captain’s Picks at the conclusion of the BMW Championship (penultimate Playoffs event). Announcement on September 12th at 10 am CT.
- Sunday, September 25th: Love III will make his final Captain’s Pick at the conclusion of the TOUR Championship.
- The Ryder Cup is scheduled for September 30th – October 2nd at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.
Winner’s Weekly Stats (ranking of 79 players):
Eagles: 1 (T1)
Birdies: 16 (T12)
Bogeys: 9 (T11)
Par-3 Scoring: 3.13 (T45)
Par-4 Scoring: 3.98 (T6)
Par-5 Scoring: 4.17 (T1)
Driving Distance: 302.8 yards (20th)
Driving Accuracy: 31/56 (T50) at 55.36 percent
Greens in Regulation: 50/72 (T13) at 69.44 percent
Proximity to Hole: 35’1” (21st)
Putts per GIR: 1.820 (53rd)
Total Putts: 118 (T33); by round: 29-30-29-30
Scrambling: 15/22 (T10) at 68.18 percent
SG: Off-the-Tee: 0.878 (38th)
SG: Approach-the-Green: 5.893 (6th)
SG: Around-the-Green: 2.769 (8th)
SG: Tee-to-Green: 9.539 (3rd)
SG: Putting: 2.353 (27th)
Top 10 Performers Weekly Stats:
The Barclays | |||||||
Player | |||||||
302.6 (21) | 55.36% (T50) | 69.44% (T13) | 35' 1" (21) | 68.18% (T10) | .588 (27) | 8/ 48; 16.67% (T25) | |
302.9 (T19) | 66.07% (T15) | 70.83% (12) | 34' 4" (15) | 76.19% (2) | .561 (31) | 8/ 44; 18.18% (T18) | |
289.4 (53) | 62.50% (T27) | 69.44% (T13) | 36' 6" (34) | 72.73% (5) | 1.255 (7) | 6/ 44; 13.64% (T36) | |
301.6 (22) | 44.64% (T76) | 75.00% (T2) | 33' 9" (T9) | 61.11% (30) | -1.204 (76) | 7/ 45; 15.56% (T29) | |
304.4 (T16) | 35.71% (79) | 68.06% (T19) | 43' 0" (77) | 60.87% (T31) | 2.022 (1) | 12/ 51; 23.53% (3) | |
306.8 (11) | 64.29% (T21) | 72.22% (T6) | 32' 6" (4) | 75.00% (4) | .639 (26) | 6/ 46; 13.04% (39) | |
291.1 (48) | 71.43% (T5) | 59.72% (T57) | 34' 6" (17) | 68.97% (T8) | .585 (28) | 7/ 41; 17.07% (24) | |
313.1 (6) | 46.43% (T73) | 76.39% (1) | 35' 4" (24) | 52.94% (52) | -.569 (64) | 8/ 44; 18.18% (T18) | |
315.0 (3) | 53.57% (T58) | 66.67% (T29) | 37' 8" (T46) | 79.17% (1) | 1.025 (14) | 8/ 42; 19.05% (T14) | |
299.3 (23) | 57.14% (T44) | 69.44% (T13) | 33' 2" (T6) | 68.18% (T10) | -.022 (45) | 5/ 43; 11.63% (T48) | |
295.0 (33) | 48.21% (T69) | 72.22% (T6) | 39' 3" (58) | 65.00% (T18) | .403 (34) | 7/ 45; 15.56% (T29) | |
Tour Average | 292.7 | 58.21% | 62.14% | 37' 10" | 54.93% | N/A | 568/ 4,287; 13.25% |
Source: PGA TOUR Media
Golf Channel Perfect Picks ($3,377,333):
Group 1: Jason Day (T4): $351,333
Group 2: Patrick Reed (Won): $1,530,000
Group 3: Emiliano Grillo (T2): $748,000
Group 4: Sean O’Hair (T2): $748,000
Draw:
In total, 79 players from a field of 120 made the cut of 3-over 145:
38 (of 59) EARLY/late (3 WD)
41 (of 61) LATE/early
Note: World No. 2 Henrik Stenson was the most notable WD, calling it quits after a 3-over 74 in R1. He cited a knee injury, the same knee he had surgery on in Dec. 2015. The 40-year-old is in the published field at this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship.
Of the FOUR top-finishers in Golf Channel, THREE were EARLY/late, including the champion, and ONE was LATE/early:
Patrick Reed (Won): EARLY/late
Emiliano Grillo (T2): EARLY/late
Jason Day (T4): EARLY/late
Sean O’Hair (T2): LATE/early
Yahoo! Low Rounds:
R1: Patrick Reed; Martin Laird (66)
R2: Jason Kokrak; Jamie Lovemark (66)
R3: Adam Scott (65)
R4: Johnson Wagner; Sung Kang (64) *tied course record
What We Learned:
The pre-tourney odds-favorite(s) have won just TWICE this season thru 43 events and Jordan Spieth has both of them, winning the Hyundai TOC and the DEAN & DELUCA (more on him below).
Jason Day: The defending champ (Plainfield CC) was the pre-tourney fave at 15/2. He entered the week as the FEC leader and departs No. 2 after a four-way T4 on 7-under 277 (68-70-70-69), two back of Reed.
The world No. 1 was the ONLY player to record FOUR sub-par rounds this week. Remarkable, considering he was DFL in driving accuracy at 35.71 percent (20/56), and consequently, 77th (of 79) in Proximity to Hole at 43'0".
Even more remarkable then that he was FIRST in total birdies (19) and FIRST in SG: Putting: 8.090. Or not. Day is the TOUR-leader in SGP (by a long shot), and 4th in birdie average.
The Aussie collects his 10th top 10 of the season in 17 starts, second straight (2nd, PGA Championship), and third consecutive top-5 finish at The Barclays (fourth overall).
Jordan Spieth: The reigning FEC champion entered the week No. 5 in the FEC standings and that’s where he stayed with a back-door T10 on 5-under 279 (71-67-72-69), four back of Reed.
The world No. 3 climbed six places on the leaderboard on Sunday with a three-birdie one-bogey effort. Interestingly enough, his only bogey was a failed scramble on the ONLY green he missed.
For the week, the Texan carded one eagle and 13 birdies against six bogeys and two doubles. It’s his seventh top 10 of the season in 17 events and is trending in the right direction with T30 (The Open), T13 (PGA Championship) and now T10.
Spieth ranked 8th in SG: Approach-the-Green at 5.467. That’s significant as this is the only strokes gained category where he doesn’t rank in the Top 25 for the season.
Quick Hits:
Gary Woodland: The 32-year-old entered the week 42nd in the FEC standings and departs 24th after a three-way T4 on 7-under 277 (71-69-68-69), two shy of Reed.
It’s just his third top 10 of the season in 23 starts but each double as top 5s, and it was his 11th top 25.
One cautionary look to next week: Woodland hasn’t connected top 10s since 2011, but, when he did, he went T6 (Honda) and then won two weeks later at the Transitions (now Valspar). We’ll see.
Adam Scott: The 2013 winner (Liberty National GC) entered the week No. 4 in the FEC standings and departs No. 5 following a three-way T4 on 7-under 277 (69-72-65-71), two adrift of Reed.
It’s his sixth top 10 of the season (17 starts), five of which are top 5s.
The 36-year-old had a 3'6" birdie try on the last to share second, but whiffed.
The TOUR-leader in SG: Tee-to-Green was No. 1 this week as well with a dazzling 14.706 (also No. 1 SG: Approach-the-Green at 8.976), but was a dismal 76th (of 79) in SG: Putting at -4.814, including -3.844 in R4.
Jason Kokrak: The 31-year-old entered the week 65th in the FEC standings and departs 43rd after a three-way T7 on 6-under 278 (74-66-69-69), three shy of Reed.
It’s his third top 10 of the season (26 starts), first since T6 at the RBC Heritage in mid-April.
For the week, Kokrak was No. 1 in GIR at 76.39 percent (55/72) and carded 15 birdies against nine bogeys.
Under-Performers:
Dustin Johnson: The 32-year-old entered the week No. 2 in the FEC standings and exits No. 3 after a disappointing T18 on 2-under 282 (70-72-67-73), seven adrift of Reed.
He won the 2011 edition at Plainfield CC, reduced to 54 holes, but never factored here. The world No. 2’s claim-to-fame this week was bogeying the par-4 18th all four rounds.
For the week, he was T6 in total birdies (17), but was T45 in total bogeys (13), including SIX in the final round, and also swallowed a double bogey-5 in R2.
Johnson was T68 in GIR at 56.94 percent (41/72), mustering just nine GIR in the final round, and was 69th (35.29 percent) in Reverse Bounce Back, or percentage of times he was under par on one hole and over par the next. Six times this week he chased a birdie with a bogey.
Johnson missed SEVEN putts from inside of 11 feet on Sunday, including a 9’5” eagle try at the par-5 seventh and chasing with a missed par-saver at the eighth from 5’6”. All told, he posted a horrific -2.471 in SG: Putting in the finale.
Nonetheless, he leaves with his 16th top 25 of the season in 19 starts, and did rebound from a missed cut at the PGA Championship, which is his only MC of the season.
Rory McIlroy: The world No. 5 entered the week 36th in the FEC standings and departs 38th after a disappointing T31 on even-par 284 (71-69-71-73), nine back of Reed.
In an attempt to cure his putting woes, he introduced a Scotty Cameron mallet but it/he failed miserably, finishing 77th (of 79) in SG: Putting at -5.600. McIlroy posted a negative number in SGP all four rounds, including a -1.821 in R4, and was tied second worst with FIVE 3-putts.
For the week, he totaled 13 birdies against 11 bogeys and a double. On a positive note, he was 6th in SG: Tee-to-Green at 8.492.
McIlroy has five wins on TOUR the past two seasons but none this season in 15 starts. His only podium is a T3 at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, where he was the 54-hole leader by three, but closed in 2-over 74.
Biggest Disappointment:
Hideki Matsuyama: The 24-year-old, a pre-tourney 25/1 outright, missed the cut by one at 4-over 71-75=146. It’s his fifth MC of the season in 20 events, four of which have come in his last seven starts.
That said, Matsuyama entered the week No. 12 in FEC points and off consecutive top-4 finishes at the PGA Championship and the Wyndham, where he recorded eight straight in the red and was a cumulative 24-under-par.
The tee-to-green specialist’s weak spot is the flat stick and it failed him miserably again, particularly in R2 where he swallowed four bogeys and a double against just two birdies and a -3.743 in SG: Putting. He dropped five spots to 17th in the FEC standings.
Special Section (not so much):
Rickie Fowler: The overnight leader stalled out to a 3-over-par 35-39=74 in the final round to post 6-under 278, down six places into a three-way T7, three back of Reed.
His T7 was the worst eventual landing spot by a 54-hole leader/co-leader since Jamie Lovemark, 54-hole co-leader at the Shell Houston Open, who shot a closing 4-over 76 to finish in 18th place (22 events ago).
Worse yet, he was unable to crack the Top 8 on the U.S. Ryder Cup standings and will have to rely on a Captain’s Pick to make the squad.
This was Fowler’s fourth career 54-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR in his 173rd career start (168 pro) and he drops to 0-for-4.
The 27-year-old began the final frame with a one-shot lead over playing competitor Reed after opening in 67 and bogey-free laps of 69-68. He mustered six (of 14) fairways and 12 greens in regulation, posting -1.549 SG: Approach-the-Green and -1.032 SG: Around-the-Green.
He went out in blemish-free 1-under, circling a 15-footer at the par-5 fifth, and after a par at the 10th, extended his bogey-free streak to 56 holes.
But, the wheels came off from there, squaring bogeys on 11, 15 and 18, and double bogey-6 at 16 (all failed sand saves). Fowler played his final four holes in 3-over, sandwiching in a second birdie at the par-3 17th (22'4"). He was T63 for the week in Birdie Average at 2.50.
Fowler settles for his eighth top 10 of the season in 21 starts and climbs 12 places to 16th in the FEC standings.
There were 19 first-timers at The Barclays and six (of 20) TOUR rookies that qualified for the Playoffs:
Emiliano Grillo: The 23-year-old won the regular-season-opener at the Frys.com Open and nearly won the FEC Playoffs opener, finishing in a two-way T2 on 8-under 276 (67-69-71-69), one back of Reed.
It’s the sixth time this season in 22 starts that he’s been top rookie and was also the top debutant – honorable mention to Sung Kang (T18) who made his Playoffs debut this week in his third season on TOUR.
Grillo entered The Barclays 32nd in the FEC standings and departs 6th. His runner-up finish was just his second top 10 this season, but, inclusive of the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Argentine has now posted six top-15 finishes in his last seven worldwide starts.
For the week, Grillo totaled 17 birdies against seven bogeys and one double. He bumps 12 places to a career-best 25th in OWGR.
Biggest Surprise:
Sean O’Hair: The 34-year-old entered the week 108th in the FEC standings and catapulted to 15th following a two-way T2 on 8-under 276 (69-69-72-65), one back of Reed.
Once ranked as high as No. 12 in OWGR, he entered The Barclays at No. 135. He leaves at No. 77, up 58 spots.
The Texan posted a stellar 4.104 in SG: Putting en route to a Sunday 66 (seven birdies, two bogeys), buoying him to his fifth runner-up in 305 career events, first since P2 at the 2015 Valspar. Astonishing, considering he was DFL for the week in 3-putts with six, but, “just one” in R4.
For the week, O’Hair totaled 18 birdies against 10 bogeys. It’s his second top 10 of the season in 24 starts, joining T10 at the Shell Houston Open. His previous best in the Playoffs opener was T25 on debut in 2007 (Westchester CC).
Up Next:
The TOUR heads to Norton, Massachusetts, for the Deutsche Bank Championship at the 7,297-yard par-71 (36-35) TPC Boston.
Rickie Fowler is the defending champion, coming from one back with a closing 3-under 68 to win by one over 54-hole leader Henrik Stenson and by four over third-place finisher Charley Hoffman.
Stay tuned to this space for all the latest player news and opinions as the TOUR contests the second leg of the four-event FEC Playoffs.
