Wagner not ready for Playoffs elimination
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- For Johnson Wagner, the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup started a week early.
Wagner came to the Wyndham Championship, which is the final event of the Regular Season, ranked 156th in the FedExCup. So he needs to climb 31 spots when the final tally is made at Sedgefield on Sunday to make the Playoffs.
"I've got to play well this week or be eliminated," said Wagner, who got off to a good start with a 66 that left him two shots off the lead.
The former Hokie has tickets to several Virginia Tech football games this fall. But he wouldn't mind giving them to friends -- even the ones for the Alabama game, which is played the weekend of the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second Playoff event.
"(The Playoffs are) just different-feeling events," Wagner explained. "Anytime Tiger's in the field or anytime it's a major, they're just great tournaments and I don't want to miss them. So I need to play good this week."
Here are some other players who are prospered on Thursday at Sedgefield:
Chez Reavie: The TOUR sophomore ranked 177th in the FedExCup entering the Wyndham Championship but rode a red-hot 64 -- his low round of the season -- into a tie for the lead with Brandt Snedeker and Ryan Moore. He opened the year with a pair of top-25s but has not finished higher than 42nd in 21 starts since. He'll still need a big week to make the Playoffs.
Colt Knost: The Nationwide Tour grad came to Greensboro after missing three straight cuts. The rookie must have found Sedgefield to his liking, though, after shooting a 65 that included a 30 on the back. He'll need more of the same, too, if Knost is to move up from 187th in the FedExCup standings and secure a Playoffs spot.
Rich Beem: The Beemer has some momentum on his side. He moved from 131st to 122nd with that tie for 43rd last week at the PGA Championship. Thursday's round of 3 under will keep him in touch of the lead and on the right side of the bubble.
These players, on the other hand, have some work to do.
Roland Thatcher: Thatcher failed to take advantage of an early tee time on Thursday, bogeying his final two holes to finish with a 3-over 73. He entered the week ranked 116th in points and must shoot well into the 60s on Friday to make the cut.
Steve Flesch: After posting a round of 2 over, Flesch withdrew from the Wyndham Championship. He had just moved from 118th to No. 107 in the FedExCup standings after tying for 32nd at Hazeltine and likely will make the field for The Barclays. But he may be checking out the projected standings over the next three days, just the same.
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