Blayne

Barber

The possible feel-good story in the making circled birdies on three of his final four holes to burst ahead of a pack of players hanging around 12-under. In all, Barber circled seven birdies and squared just one bogey in his lap around Trump International Golf Club-Puerto Rico. Sufficed to say, he’s making the most of his sponsor exemption into the field this week.

Barber is the guy that infamously disqualified himself from Q School last fall after learning that he committed a rules infraction during his second round of the second stage. He received a sponsor exemption into this event where he’s hit the ground running, and seemingly avoided breaking another rule. He rolled in eight birdies to absorb two bogeys on his second nine. Three of his birdies dropped in on the quartet of par 5s.

Barber appeared to be in a tie for second after posting a 6-under-par 65 in the second round, but in actuality he shot a 66. The discrepancy came when he signed for a birdie on the par-4 16th rather than a par. After the round, Barber commented, “I looked (the card) over and didn’t see it ... Somehow I missed that one on 16.” He had only made one cut in four starts on the Web.com Tour this season and a big finish could have boosted him inside the top 75 on the money list, earning him entry into the four-tournament playoff for a PGA TOUR card and full status for the 2014 Web.com Tour as a backup plan. At this time, the young pro seems snakebit. Every time he takes a big step towards PGA TOUR or Web.com Tour status, he finds a way to shoot himself in the foot.

Barber circled six birdies and gave back two bogeys on his jaunt around Fox Den Country Club, splitting 12 (of 14) fairways and landing 14 GIR for the second consecutive round. Perhaps his biggest fear isn’t making bogeys, rather looking over the scorecard at round’s end. He famously disqualified himself from Q School after a questionable penalty in 2012, then signed an incorrect scorecard at the Mylan Classic following the second round while he was in contention. Assuming he can navigate that minefield the next two round, he could find himself in the Web.com Tour playoffs for a 2013-14 PGA TOUR card.

This was a season best for the second-year man, eclipsing 66 (three times). It also ties a career low, which he shot in R3 of the 2015 Zurich Classic, and catapults hims 89 spots on the live leaderboard to T5. The 26-year-old peppered 13 (of 14) fairways and hit 16 greens in regulation, posting 1.688 putts per GIR and 2.904 in SG: Putting. He circled six, including two from between 13 and 20 feet, adding a long of 44'11" on the par-4 10th. Barber entered the week 126th in the FedExCup standings.

Barber finished T10 last year at the inaugural edition of this event, played at his old stomping grounds, Grand National’s Lake Course. His local knowledge won out again today, splitting 10 (of 14) fairways en route to 14 greens. From there, he gained 2.595 strokes with the flat stick, converting three putts from outside 11 feet. Barber’s understanding of this venue makes him a serious contender this week, and does so at a very opportune time. He currently ranks 126th in the FedExCup race, so a big finish this week could move him inside the Playoff bubble.

The Auburn product split nine (of 14) fairways en route to 12 greens in regulation. His short game helped on several occasions, as well. Most notable was a 55'3" hole out from the fringe at the par-4 12th hole, to collect his first birdie of the day. Barber would add three birdies splashes from 10-to-19 feet before the round was over. The 26-year-old entered the week ranked 112th in the FedExCup and has moved to 71st on the live projected points through two days of work. This extends his streaks of cuts made to eight straight, and he certainly has the potential to make a splash over the next few weeks as he continues his debut appearance in the FedExCup Playoffs.

The second-year man missed the cut on debut last year (by three) after rounds of 76-68. He finished 145th in the FEC standings last season but retained his card by finishing 121st in earnings. The 26-year-old is on a similar trajectory in his sophomore campaign, currently 123rd on the money list with 10 missed cuts in 18 events, including five of his last seven. His T3 at The Honda Classic is his only finish inside the top 30, though almost adding a second with T34 in his last start at the DEAN & DELUCA (72-68-71-68).

Barber arrived with a few close calls at the Seaside Course during his days at Auburn playing in the SEC Golf Championships. Since turning pro he’s missed the cut (2015 edition) and posted a T75 (last year). Looks like third time is the charm for Barber who fired a career-low round today, besting his previous of 64 which he’s posted twice on the PGA TOUR, most recently at the 2016 Travelers Championship. The 26-year-old gained 2.596 strokes putting, but he couldn’t have splashed in the putts if he didn’t pepper 17 greens in regulation. Barber walked off the course ranked 10th in strokes gained tee-to-green as well as strokes gained putting. His balanced approach makes him an interesting name to watch as the week progresses and he searches for his sixth career top 10, or even better, his first career win.

Barber trains at Sea Island Golf Club so it was a bit surprising to see him enter with nothing better than a T75 in two tries. He’s on pace to easily set a new personal best as he’s circled 13 birdies while swallowing just two bogeys through two days of action. After pelting 17 greens yesterday at the host course (Seaside), he regressed a bit, but still landed an impressive 15 today. Barber’s career-best finish is a T3 at the 2016 Honda Classic, but his 36-hole mark of 11-under 131 goes in the books as his new best (by three strokes). If the Auburn product continues to hit 16 greens per round over the weekend, he’ll be a serious threat to contend come Sunday afternoon.