FedExCup Climbers: Buick Open
 
Jul. 2, 2007

Brian Bateman has scored 278 FedExCup points prior to winning the Buick Open.

His one-shot victory changed everything.

Bateman must now build on his 4,500-point, $882,000 day. His win will likely open doors for the veteran, who didn't have all-exempt status on the PGA TOUR for the first half of 2007.

If Bateman can string together a couple more top-10s, his chances of earning a top-30 playoff spot are high.

Last Week: Travelers Championship | This Week: AT&T National

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Brian Bateman

Biggest mover: Brian Bateman
He climbed: 161 spots, from 205th to 44th
Because: He won the Buick Open on Sunday.
Bateman hadn't finished better than a tie for 31st in 2007 before his stunning win in the Buick Open.

Bateman has only played in nine events this year, but the 34-year-old played like a cool veteran down the stretch. Bateman birdied the final hole with a 280-yard drive and a 164-yard 8-iron to 12 feet. Can Bateman keep climbing up the FedExCup chart? Stay tuned.
Brian Bateman: Player Page | 2007 Stats

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Woody Austin

Welcome to the top 20: Woody Austin
He climbed: 17 spots, from 34th to 17th
Because: Austin was certainly among the top three PGA TOUR players for the month of June.

Austin, who won the Stanford St. Jude Championship with a final-round 62 on June 10, broke 70 in three of four rounds in the Buick Open to miss a playoff by one shot. Austin, long regarded as one of the best ballstrikers on TOUR, will be a force through the summer if he can keep a hot putter.
Woody Austin: Player Page | 2007 Stats

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Steve Marino

Welcome to the top 60: Steve Marino
He climbed: 8 spots, from 61st to 53rd
Because: In year dominated by rookies Anthony Kim and Brent Snedeker, Marino has quietly creeped into a prime playoff spot.

Marino was a solid T10 in the Buick Open, shooting a bogey-free 69 in the final round. Marino has four top-25 finishes in his last five starts, banking over $40,000 every time.
Steve Marino: Player Page | 2007 Stats

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Marco Dawson

Welcome to the field: Marco Dawson
He climbed: 44 spots, 185th to 141st
Because: Dawson flew his approach into the cup on the par-4 14th hole during the final round of the Buick Open, helping him shoot a final-round 68 to finish T5.

Dawson rode a hot putter all week at Warwick Hills, averaging only 27.5 putts per round, which ranked third among all players in the field.

Marco Dawson: Player Page | 2007 Stats

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Jason Gore

Look out for: Jason Gore, Justin Leonard, Steve Elkington
They climbed: 59 spots, 140th to 81 (Gore); 60 spots, 148th to 86th (Leonard); 16 spots, 105th to 89th (Elkington)
Because: Gore made every putt he faced from five feet in during the Buick Open, while Leonard ranked fifth in greens in regulation (81 percent).

Both finished in a tie for second, which was easily their best finishes of the year (Gore T19 at Shell Houston Open, Leonard T18 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial).

Elkington hasn't played badly in 2007 -- but the veteran Aussie finally pieced together four solid rounds in the Buick Open. Elkington shot 275, his best four-round score since February.

Jason Gore: Player Page | 2007 Stats
Justin Leonard: Player Page | 2007 Stats
Steve Elkington: Player Page | 2007 Stats