FedExCup Climbers: John Deere Classic
 
Jul. 16, 2007

Just because there wasn't movement at the top of the FedExCup standings after the John Deere Classic doesn't mean there wasn't movement at all.

Two players entered the top 144 -- which would be the starting field for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup -- while two other players moved into the top 100 and tournament winner Jonathan Byrd rocketed up into contention.

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Biggest mover: Jonathan Byrd
He moved: 76 spots, from 99th to 23rd
Because: He won the John Deere Classic

Byrd's third career TOUR title moved him into the upper echelon of title contenders. It also ended a string of four missed cuts in a big way.

What's more, Byrd now leads the TOUR in putting average at 1.728. He also leads in sand save percentage at 66.67 and he's third in birdie average at 3.92. He now has three top-10 finishes and six top-25 finishes. In addition, Byrd is now in the field for this week's Open Championship -- with plenty of momentum.

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Welcome to the top 50: Kevin Sutherland
He moved: 12 spots, from 56th to 44th
Because: He finished T6 in the John Deere Classic

Sutherland has made the cut in eight of his last nine starts and the sixth-place finish is his best since his runner-up run at AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am earlier this season. Not surprisingly, Sutherland is 12th on TOUR in pre-cut scoring average.

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Welcome to the top 100: Briny Baird
He moved: Seven spots, from 103rd to 96th
Because: He finished tied for 15th in the John Deere Classic

Baird is riding a string of three top-30 finishes. He tied for 16th in the Buick Open, tied for 30th in the AT&T National and tied for 15th on Sunday. He was also ninth at the AT&T Classic in May. Baird has also moved into the top 10 on TOUR in both total driving and greens in regulation percentage. He's also eighth on TOUR in total birdies at 242.

He's in the field this week at the U.S. Bank Championship at Milwaukee, where he has made the cut in three of his four appearances there. He tied for 62nd there last season.

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Welcome to the field: Jeff Gove
He moved: 33 spots, from 163rd to 130th
Because: He finished T6 at the John Deere Classic

How big was Gove's T6 effort last weekend at the John Deere Classic? Before Sunday, his best finish on TOUR this season was a pair of T27s at the PODS Championship and the Shell Houston Open.

Things figure to keep looking up for Gove. He's in the field at the U.S. Bank Championship this week, where he finished T18 last year including a 63 in round 2.

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Keep an eye out for: Jason Dufner
He moved: 26 spots, from 140th to 114th
Because: He finished T6 at the John Deere Classic

Dufner has made the cut in three of his past four events following a string of five missed cuts in a row. His T6 run is his first top-30 finish since he was T32 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard