NORTON, Mass. – If you think staring at ever-changing numbers on a whiteboard is difficult to discern as a fan, just think how the FedEx Cup bubble boys have to translate such information.
Martin Kaymer, who leapt from 103 on the points list to 90th at The Barclays, qualifying him for the Deutsche Bank Championship, has enlisted a family member to crunch the numbers.
“I believe after every round you have to look at it, what position you’re in. But my brother is very good at math and he said you have to finish top 24,” Kaymer said of what he needs in order to advance to next week’s BMW Championship. “And then you should be OK. And so that’s my goal. I trust him on his counting, his math skills. So that’s the goal, to finish as high as possible, obviously.”
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Watching the projected standings can actually help a player figure out whether he needs to play more aggressively or conservatively based on the big on-course screens at the playoff events – and failing to watch can leave a guy in the dark.
After bogeys on 14, 15 and 16 during last week’s final round, Erik Compton wasn’t sure whether he had some work left. He countered with birdie on 17 and a par save on 18 to move from 117th on the list to 94th, advancing to this week’s second event.
“Last week, looking at the scoreboard, I didn’t know where I was standing,” he admitted Wednesday. “I think I would have played 16 a little bit different. They had George McNeill’s scorecard up there and they were projecting where he was. I didn’t know, so I played pretty aggressive on that hole. You do have to keep an eye and ask people, ‘Where do I stand?’
“If you make up an eagle or have a chance at an eagle, one shot makes a difference between your whole year.”
