The Barclays kicks off the 2014 FedExCup playoff season hoping for as dramatic a finish as last year, when Adam Scott edged four players – including 2013 Masters winner Justin Rose and Tiger Woods – by a single stroke in a field that saw 15 players finish within five strokes of the lead.
Scott is no less a favorite this year, considering he’s ranked No. 2 in the world, as the action kicked off Thursday at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey, although pretty much every golfer on earth is a little blurry with the spotlight so firmly planted on Rory McIlroy.
The world No. 1 is in action for the first time since winning the PGA Championship two weeks ago. He leads both the FedEx and Race to Dubai standings heading into the post-season.
Ridgewood is celebrating its 124th birthday in 2014, and has one of the best golf histories in teh country. George Jacobus, former PGA president, was club pro for 50 years, and Byron Nelson was assistant golf pro in the 1930s.
The course is a par-71, 7,319 yard beauty. The course loves its doglegs, deceptive greens and hills. The monster is the par-5, 626-yard No. 13 that regularly makes Sports Illustrated’s list of top holes in America.
With the top 125 players in the world involved, there are some fantastic opening trios to be watched, including the following on the first two days (all times EDT)
- Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, #10, 8:04 a.m.
- Rory McIlroy, Jimmy Walker, Bubba Watson, #10, 8:26 a.m.
- Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, #1, 1:06 p.m.
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