Bubba Watson holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole to complete a 2-under-par 68 and took a one-stroke lead over four players midway through The Barclays, the FedEx Cup playoffs opener, at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, N.J.
Jordan Spieth, the FedEx Cup points leader, finished at 74-73–147 to miss the cut by five shots and will lose the No. 1 spot in the World Golf Rankings he took last week from Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland–who skipped The Barclays.
Watson, who can take the FedEx Cup points lead with his third victory of the season, birdied three of the last seven holes.
“No matter what happens this week, I’m ahead of the game,” said Watson, who missed the cut in the 2011 Barclays, the last time it was played at Plainfield, and was put on the clock for slow play on Friday. “I play the game of golf because it’s challenging and fun. I want to hit shots. I want to be creative. I want to pull off shots that I don’t practice.
” … I’m very happy about my round. I’m excited where I’m at. I made the cut and I’m in the last group. Hopefully, I’m here talking to y’all tomorrow about something else crazy that happened.”
Rookie Tony Finau, who shared the first-round lead with a 65, followed up with a 69 that included two late birdies and was tied for second with Henrik Stenson of Sweden (66), Open champion Zach Johnson (65) and Jason Dufner (68).
Jason Bohn carded three birdies on each nine while recording a bogey-free 64 and was two shots back in a tie for sixth with Camilo Villegas of Colombia, who followed his opening 65 with a 70.that included a hole-out eagle from 122 yards on the 10th hole.
Spencer Levin of Elk Grove, who held a share of the first-round lead at 65, followed that with a 71 and was another stroke behind in a tie for eighth with PGA champion Jason Day (68) of Australia, Sean O’Hair (68), Ryan Palmer (67), Robert Streb (68), Sangmoon Bae (67) of South Korea and Hudson Swafford (68).
Spieth posted four bogeys on the front nine, but rallied with birdies on the 10th and 11th holes before hitting his approach into a hazard en route to a double bogey 7 on the 12th and was on his way out of town.
The Masters and U.S. Open champion had consecutive over-par rounds for the first time since late last year. His only other missed cut this season came at the Farmers Insurance Open in February.
“It is what it is,” Spieth said. “I’ve reached that peak already and I know it’s going to be close enough to where if I just get the job done next week, I’ll be back (at No. 1). But again, that ranking, it’s great once you reach it but it’s not something that I’m going to live or die on each week.
” … Billy Horschel won the FedEx Cup after missing the cut in the first event last year and I’m in better position than he was at the time. So why can’t I do it, you know?”
Others to miss the cut included Brandt Snedeker (71-72–143), Rickie Fowler (68-75–143 of Murrieta, Adam Scott (71-73–144) of Australia and Horschel (76-77), the reigning FedEx Cup champion.
