| NOTES | | | The second leg of the PGA Tour Playoffs starts on Friday to accommodate the
American Labor Day holiday. The new FedEx Cup points leader is Matt Kuchar,
fresh off his victory at The Barclays on Sunday. Kuchar hit one of the best
shots of the season in the playoff against Martin Laird. Kuchar`s seven-iron
from the rough, under a tree to two feet was as clutch a shot as you`ll see.
That gave Kuchar his third PGA Tour victory and first since last year. He now
stands atop the FedEx Cup points list, with three more playoff events to go
in pursuit of that really large check. The man in second is the upcoming
event`s defending champion, Steve Stricker. One year ago, Stricker birdied
his final two holes on Monday to come from behind to win this title. He
finished one stroke better than Scott Verplank and Jason Dufner and two
better than Dustin Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington. Stricker
continued his spectacular golf in the playoffs Sunday. He shot a five-under
66 on Sunday at The Barclays and shared third place with Kevin Streelman.
Last week`s field included the top 125 on the FedEx Cup list, but that number
was shrunk down to the top 100. Tiger Woods was on the outside looking in
last week. He was 112th, but his tie for 12th at The Barclays moved him to
65th. Woods won here in 2006, so maybe this is the week he breaks that
winless streak of 2010. This is the final week for Corey Pavin to make his
decision on his four captain`s picks for the American Ryder Cup team. Woods
is certainly under consideration, as is Anthony Kim, Zach Johnson, Stewart
Cink and Lucas Glover. All are in the field this week. Colin Montgomerie
rounded out his team on Sunday with Edoardo Molinari, Padraig Harrington and
Luke Donald. Harrington and Donald are in the field on Friday. So too are
Paul Casey and Justin Rose, the two biggest names snubbed by Monty. Golf
Channel has the action on Friday and Saturday before NBC takes over on Sunday
and Monday. Next week is the third playoff event, the BMW Championship at Cog
Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Ill. Woods hoisted the trophy last year
en route to his second FedEx Cup in three years.
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