Three-time TOUR winner Dave Ragan passes away

Rory McIlroy won his second FedEx Cup — and a record $15 million prize — with a final-round 66 at East Lake to set the PGA Tour single-season earnings record.

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Martin Flores would prefer not having his back against the wall. But it seems to bring out the best of him, especially at the Wyndham Championship. A year ago, he entered Wyndham ranked 139th in FedExCup points but made the Playoffs thanks to an ace and a birdie down the stretch on Sunday. He began this week in even more of a precarious spot, ranked 162nd in points, which means he’ll likely need a solo third place or better in order to again bust the Top 125 bubble and retain his TOUR card for another season. FEDEXCUP: Latest projected standings | This week’s scenarios He took a big step Thursday with a 6-under 64, his lowest score in 83 rounds this season. It’s the same score he shot in last year’s opening round at Sedgefield and has left him tied for fourth. Asked if he feels comfortable in these do-or-die situations, Flores said: “I don’t really like it, but I seem to perform well when that is the case. I definitely have unfortunately made a small habit of it of late. I would like to change that, for sure.â€� Flores needed to finish inside the top 10 a year ago. That opening 64 left him tied for 10th but he had fallen to T-23 entering the last round. He was still outside the Playoff cutline going into the final three holes. He then aced the par-3 16th and birdied the 18th to finish with a 63, moving him into a tie for seventh and 118th in the FedExCup standings – good enough to make the Playoffs for the fourth time in his career. “I can draw a lot of positives from last year,â€� Flores said. “This is definitely not the situation you want to be in. You cannot come here and expect to do that every time.â€� It hasn’t been a productive season for the Texan, whose best finish is a T-13 in March at the Corales Puntacana Championship. But he started working last week with Dallas-based coach Josh Gregory, who altered his putting grip and set-up. Flores also changed putters. On Thursday, he rolled in 160 feet of putts, ranking first in the field in strokes gained: putting. He had entered the week ranked T-184 in that category. “I really felt like I couldn’t putt any worse, to be honest,â€� Flores said. “It was time for something different.â€� PROJECTION AFTER 59: Brandt Snedeker’s 59 on Thursday not only gave him a four-shot lead after the first round, it moved him up significantly in the projected FedExCup standings. The 2012 FedExCup champ is projected to finish 30th in points after starting the week in 80th. Only the top 30 after the third Playoffs event, the BMW Championship, will have a shot to win the FedExCup at the TOUR Championship. PERFECT STREAKERS: Sergio Garcia and Bill Haas entered this week outside the top 125 and in danger of missing the Playoffs for the first time in the FedExCup era. Garcia (131st) opened with a 66 while Haas (150th) shot a 69. Both remain projected outside the 125. Garcia said he wasn’t aware of his perfect attendance record in the Playoffs. “I’ve never been a big fan of records,â€� he said. Garcia’s playing for the fifth straight week and has missed the cut in three of his previous four starts. “We’ll see what happens,â€� he said. “If I play well, great. If I don’t, it’s also good because I’ll get to rest. … It’s a lot of golf – and at the age that I am, even more.â€� BUBBLE BOY UPDATE: Tyrone Van Aswegen is No. 125 in points and likely needs to finish 45th or better to make the Playoffs. He opened Thursday with a 2-under 68 that included a double bogey and is currently projected to fall outside the 125. “I’ve got to do something fairly well this week in order to keep my card,â€� the South African said. “I can’t just coast and I can’t miss the cut.â€� PROJECTED IN/OUT Here are the players who are projected to move in and out of the top 125 after Thursday’s first round at Sedgefield. PROJECTED IN Corey Conners (128 to projected 122) – The rookie shot a 5-under 65, with four birdies in his last six holes. Nick Taylor (129 to projected 123) – Taylor – who, like Conners, is Canadian – also shot a 5-under 65, fueled by a string of four straight birdies on his back nine. PROJECTED OUT Martin Piller (124 to projected 126) – Piller shot an even-par 70. Tyrone Van Aswegen (125 to projected 127) – The South African shot a 2-under 68.

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Here we go. The last 30 players remain and the winner takes the $15 million FedExCup. Of course, some have a better chance than others as we see the staggered start in affect for the first time ever at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. As is the first year in anything, this season will be a bit of a mystery, but it all adds to the excitement. Will the man who starts on top hold on to his advantage? Can someone actually make up 10 shots over four rounds? It’s going to be a hell of a ride to find out. FIELD NOTES: With the top 30 eligible there are still a few positions set to be confirmed as the weekend at the BMW Championship plays out… But plenty of big names have already secured passage… Expect to see Brooks Koepka, the only three-time winner this season, in a prime spot… Reigning FedExCup champion Justin Rose will also make a start… Some other former FedExCup champions in Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy are locks… Can Dustin Johnson or Patrick Reed add a FedExCup to their resume? … One guy who isn’t a lock is defending TOUR Championship winner Tiger Woods. He needs a huge weekend at the BMW Championship to make it. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives the FedExCup and $15 million. The FedExCup leader heading to the TOUR Championship will start at 10 under, second place at 8 under, third 7 under, fourth 6 under with fifth at 5 under. Players ranked 6-10 will start at 4 under, 11-15 at 3 under, 16-20 at 2 under, 21-25 at 1 under and 26-30 at even par. Using this staggered leaderboard, the person at the top after 72 holes wins. STORYLINES: How will the first TOUR Championship with a staggered start play out? Will the front runner hold sway? Will someone from a long way back win it all? Will it take regulation to decide it or will we get a $15 million playoff? Can someone join Tiger Woods as a multiple FedExCup champion? Will we get a Bill Haas shot out of the water or a Rory McIlroy hole-out eagle on the way to crowning a champion? So much is ahead of us. COURSE: East Lake Golf Club, 7,385 yards, par 70. Originally designed by Tom Bendelow in 1908 before being overhauled by Donald Ross soon after. The original home of the Atlanta Athletic Club it was here where Bobby Jones honed his craft as a youngster. In 1994, Rees Jones, son of the famed golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, restored Donald Ross’s original design after decades of decay. The first TOUR Championship came in 1998 before it became a permanent home in 2004. For those visiting the Atlanta area, must-play courses include Bear’s Best Atlanta (Suwanee, Ga.), the Fazio Course at Barnsley Resort (Adairsville, Ga.) and Heritage Golf Links (Tucker, Ga.). Explore your options at TeeOff.com. 72-HOLE RECORD: 257, Tiger Woods (2007). 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Zach Johnson (3rd round, 2007). LAST YEAR: We witnessed one of the truly great sporting moments. Having not won in over five years and coming off four back surgeries, the last a spinal fusion, Tiger Woods found his way to the top at East Lake. Paired with Rory McIlroy in the final round, Woods dismantled his younger counterpart and by the time he came to the 18th hole victory was assured. As such, the large crowd broke protocol, bursting through the ropes to mob Woods as he walked towards the final green. Swarms of fans flocked to any vantage point they could find as Woods put the finishing touches on his 80th PGA TOUR win. Earlier, Justin Rose successfully negotiated the same green in the two putts needed to secure the FedExCup and the then $10million bonus. HOW TO FOLLOW TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 1-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. (GC), 2:30-7 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, 12-1:30 p.m. (GC), 1:30-6 p.m. (NBC). PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (featured groups). Saturday, 12:15-7 p.m. Sunday, 11:15 a.m.-6 p.m. RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 2-7 p.m., Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

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