Jason Day and Jim Furyk are tied for the lead at nine-under par going into today’s final day of The Barclays, the first event of the four-tournament FedEx Cup.
Australia’s Day, who won the WGC-Accenture Match Play earlier this year but has been bothered by a thumb and wrist injury after that, shot a three-under par 68, while the consistent Furyk, winless this season despite eight top-10 finish, made a bogey-free 69.
American Hunter Mahan gave a timely boost to American Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson, moving up the leaderboard to eight-under par 205. Mahan, a WGC-Accenture Match Play champion, made a bogey on his final hole, but shot a three-under par 68.
World No1 Rory McIlroy, attempting to win four straight tournaments, failed to make any significant move on moving day, settling for a one-under-par 70 that left him five shots behind the leaders at four-under par 209.
Defending champion Adam Scott, who started the day one behind the leaders, shot a four-over par 75 and was tied alongside McIlroy.
McIlroy, who is made early birdies on the first and fifth holes, could not maintain the run and added only one further birdie and two bogeys after that.
And McIlroy said after the round: “I can’t put it down to anything else: I putted well yesterday but the first round I didn’t putt well at all and then today I actually putted OK; just nothing went in.
“So hopefully, if I can play similarly tomorrow and just get a few putts to drop, then maybe there’s a low score out there.
“I’ll try and get to at least double digits under par and then go from there and see if I can get there as quickly as possible. Then maybe make a bit of a charge.”
Overnight leader Cameron Tringale of the US closed with a 72 and was among seven players tied at seven-under par 206.
Phil provides the thrills
The magical moment of the day came from Phil Mickelson.
For the second straight day, the American hit his tee shot at the par-4 hole fifth hole left of the fairway, with the ball bouncing into the hospitality area. And again, Mickelson decided to play his second shot from the stand itself without taking any relief.
Unlike Friday, when Mickelson hit a wedge off the carpet from the temporary venue into the bunker over the green and made a bogey, he got his second shot yesterday on the green and two-putted for par.
“I almost made birdie this time, though,” he said later. “I knew it came off a little faster than I was expecting, so I played it a little shorter and it turned out good.”
But unfortunately, it was not a good day for Mickelson. After making the turn at one-under par, he shot shot a five-over 41 on the four-over-par 75.
He will not make it to the final round today as he would be among those designated MDF (Made cut but Didn’t Finish) after more than 78 players made the 36-hole Friday cut.
“I’m barely keeping my sanity, I’m so frustrated,” he added.
