Live leaderboard: Moving day at Travelers

Here’s how the field qualified for the Waste Management Phoenix Open as of 1/29/2021. Check here for updates. Winner – PGA/U.S. Open Championship Jason Day Brooks Koepka Jordan Spieth Justin Thomas Jimmy Walker Gary Woodland Winner – THE PLAYERS Championship Rickie Fowler Si Woo Kim Rory McIlroy Webb Simpson Winner – The Open Championship Zach Johnson Winner – TOUR Championship Xander Schauffele Winner – World Golf Championship Event Hideki Matsuyama Bubba Watson Winners of the Arnold Palmer, Memorial, Genesis (Last 3 Years) Jason Dufner Jon Rahm Tournament Winner in Past Two Seasons Ryan Armour Daniel Berger Keegan Bradley Cameron Champ Stewart Cink Corey Conners Austin Cook Tyler Duncan Harris English Dylan Frittelli Brice Garnett Brian Gay J.B. Holmes Max Homa Billy Horschel Sungjae Im Sung Kang Michael Kim Patton Kizzire Russell Knox Satoshi Kodaira Matt Kuchar Martin Laird Nate Lashley Adam Long Troy Merritt Keith Mitchell Sebastián Muñoz Carlos Ortiz Ryan Palmer Cheng Tsung Pan Pat Perez Scott Piercy J.T. Poston Ted Potter, Jr. Andrew Putnam Chez Reavie Brendan Steele Robert Streb Hudson Swafford Nick Taylor Michael Thompson Brendon Todd Martin Trainer Kevin Tway Richy Werenski Aaron Wise Matthew Wolff Career Money Exemption Luke Donald Jerry Kelly Hunter Mahan Bo Van Pelt Sponsor Exemptions: 2018-19 FEC / 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Category Kyle Stanley Sponsors Exemptions – Members not otherwise exempt Padraig Harrington Sponsors Exemptions – Unrestricted John Augenstein Davis Riley Will Zalatoris PGA Section Champion\Player of the Year Jesse Mueller Top 125 on Prior Season’s FedExCup Points List Scottie Scheffler Kevin Streelman Byeong Hun An Brian Harman Joel Dahmen Mark Hubbard Danny Lee Tom Hoge Adam Hadwin Harry Higgs Russell Henley Talor Gooch Louis Oosthuizen Robby Shelton Doc Redman Denny McCarthy Henrik Norlander Charley Hoffman Xinjun Zhang Sepp Straka Harold Varner III Cameron Tringale Vaughn Taylor Patrick Rodgers Brian Stuard Emiliano Grillo Matt Jones Kyoung-Hoon Lee Scott Harrington Matthew NeSmith Ryan Moore Sam Ryder Adam Schenk Wyndham Clark Sam Burns Scott Brown Beau Hossler Lucas Glover Luke List Scott Stallings Rory Sabbatini Tom Lewis Bo Hoag Top 125 (Prior Season Nonmember) William Gordon Frederick van Rooyen Major Medical Extension Chris Kirk James Hahn Charl Schwartzel Kevin Stadler William McGirt Sean O’Hair Jamie Lovemark Camilo Villegas Grayson Murray John Huh

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THE OVERVIEW Bill Haas is the poster boy for Hail Mary FedExCup champs. When he won in 2011, he entered the TOUR Championship that week ranked 25th in points. None of the other nine FedExCup champs were ranked lower than 11th. All the scenarios fell into place for Haas that week. The miracle occurred. Will it happen again this week at East Lake? Seems unlikely. Consider this: Of the top eight players in FedExCup points, three already have won in these Playoffs (Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Marc Leishman); three have finished top-10 in every event (Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm and Justin Rose); and the other two are ranked among the world’s top seven players (Hideki Matsuyama and Rickie Fowler). It’s doubtful all eight will fall far enough to allow a longshot to swoop in and claim the FedExCup. If No. 6 Rory McIlroy had not won a sudden-death playoff last year, then the FedExCup would’ve gone to top-ranked Dustin Johnson. Johnson tied for sixth in the tournament, which would’ve been good enough to deny the other two sudden-death participants (No. 14 Ryan Moore and No. 15 Kevin Chappell) the FedExCup even if either one had won the TOUR Championship. Spieth is No. 1 in points this week and wouldn’t be surprised if the same scenario plays out this Sunday. “I think there’s a likelihood that I’ll be in that situation this year,â€� Spieth said. “I’m not sure. I don’t know who the Rory will be.â€� If there is a longshot FedExCup winner, who are the most likely candidates? Consider these three names: No. 19 Kevin Chappell – He’s talked about the unfinished business he has at East Lake after losing the playoff. He doesn’t have to answer any more questions about playing his way onto the U.S. Presidents Cup team (which he did at TPC Boston). He’s in solid form. And based on his four rounds at East Lake, the course seems to fit his game (two rounds of 66, two rounds of 68). No. 25 Sergio Garcia – His credentials speak for themselves, of course. Has just one top-10 since his Masters win, but he did play well (T12) last week at Conway Farms. Well-familiar with East Lake; this is his ninth appearance at the course. Although he’s never won, he finished solo second in 2008. Having sat out the first Playoffs event, he theoretically should be fresher than anybody else in the field. No. 29 Patrick Cantlay – Amazing effort this season to reach the TOUR Championship in just 12 starts. One of just two TOUR rookies in the field (along with Xander Schauffele). Has been playing his most consistent golf of the season in these Playoffs, finishing T13 or better in each of the three events. Oh, and one other thing about Cantlay – he’s one of eight players in the field making their first start at the TOUR Championship. On two previous occasions in the FedExCup era – and four times since 2003 — a first-timer has won the TOUR Championship. One of those was the miracle boy, Bill Haas. THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER 1. Jordan Spieth Displaying much better form entering this year’s event than he did in 2015; that’s bad news for the rest of the field. 2. Marc Leishman Billy Horschel showed in 2014 that the FedExCup can be won with a hot streak. Is Leishman following that same gameplan? 3. Justin Rose Only golfer in the world with the opportunity to complete this unique career trifecta: Major win, Olympic gold, FedExCup. THE FLYOVER The nines were flipped for the first time last year, allowing players to end their rounds on a 600-yard par 5 instead of a 235-yard par 3 (and theoretically creating the potential for more fireworks down the stretch). The new 18th ranked as the second-easiest hole on the course last year (to the other par-5, the sixth hole), playing to a stroke average of 4.581. “Hitting the fairway is crucial in terms of not only getting to the green but being able to get over the water,â€� said Justin Thomas. Here’s a closer look at the 18th. THE LANDING ZONE One of the most interesting par 3s on the PGA TOUR, the 15th hole can play drastically different depending on its tee-box set-up. In the first round last year, it played to 138 yards with a shorter water carry. (Incidentally, that was the shortest set-up for this hole in the history of the FedExCup Playoffs; traditionally, the shorter distance had been in the 150-155 yard range and used in the third round, not the first.) As for the other three rounds last year, the farther tee boxes were used, making the tee shot more challenging over the entire length of water. In fact, Jordan Spieth called it “one of the harder shots we hit all year.â€� The field stroke average for the 138-yard set-up was 2.867; the cumulative average for the other three rounds was 3.126 (see chart below). But as Dustin Johnson said, “You would take three on that hole every day. Doesn’t matter where the tee is.â€� Here’s a look at where all the tee shots landed last year, along with a stroke average breakdown for each round. WEATHER CHECK Isolated thunderstorms are forecast in the first two rounds by PGA TOUR meteorologist Stewart Williams, but he expects drier and more stable air over the weekend as Hurricane Maria moves up the East Coast. Above-normal temperatures are also expected. Wind conditions are expected to be negligible. Click here for the latest weather conditions from Atlanta, Georgia. SOUND CHECK “It doesn’t matter who you are or how much you’ve achieved – you always want more. I think we’re always very greedy and I think anybody who says that they aren’t is lying to you.â€� – Justin Thomas on being motivated after seeing good friend Jordan Spieth’s early success ODDS AND ENDS 1. SMALL-FIELD VICTORIES. Two years ago, Marc Leishman won the Nedbank Golf Challenge, a 30-man field on the European Tour held in South Africa. He beat Henrik Stenson by six shots. “That’s good stuff to put in the memory bank,â€� Leishman said. “Hopefully I can make this No. 2.â€� Two of Jordan Spieth’s 11 career PGA TOUR wins have come in fields of 35 players or less, including the 2015 TOUR Championship. He also has won the Sentry Tournament of Champions, as has Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia. 2. FIRST-TIME PARTICIPANTS. The eight players making their first trips to East Lake are (with FedExCup ranking) No. 5 Jon Rahm, No. 11 Pat Perez, No. 20 Brian Harman, No. 21 Adam Hadwin, No. 22 Kyle Stanley, No. 24 Tony Finau, No. 26 Xander Schauffele and No. 29 Patrick Cantlay. Rahm, Schauffele and Cantlay are playing in their first FedExCup Playoffs. 3. BUSTING TOP 30 BUBBLE. These five players started the FedExCup Playoffs outside the top 30 in points but managed to play their way into the TOUR Championship – Justin Rose (32), Xander Schauffele (33), Patrick Reed (38), Jason Day (49) and Patrick Cantlay (78). 4. WINLESS BUT ALIVE. Ten players in this week’s field advanced to East Lake without benefit of a win this PGA TOUR season: Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Matt Kuchar, Charley Hoffman, Jason Day, Webb Simpson, Patrick Reed, Tony Finau, Gary Woodland and Patrick Cantlay.

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Rickie Fowler has withdrawn from next week’s THE NORTHERN TRUST, the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs, because of a tear in his right oblique. Fowler announced the news on Instagram, posting, “News got out last week that I was dealing with an oblique injury the past two tournaments…it was confirmed yesterday, via MRI, that I have a partial tear in my right oblique … my team and I feel like it’s best not to play next week in the Northern Trust … I will be back healthy and competitive ASAP for the FedExCup and more than ready for the Ryder Cup!!â€� The top 125 in the FedExCup standings are eligible for THE NORTHERN TRUST, which will be played Aug. 23-26 at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. Fowler is 17th in the FedExCup standings. He is guaranteed starts in the first three Playoffs, but likely needs additional points to qualify for his fifth TOUR Championship. He has 1,302 points. Last year, Jason Dufner earned the final spot in the TOUR Championship with 1,322 points. Austin Cook currently holds the 30th spot in the FedExCup standings with 1,060 points. The first three events of the FedExCup Playoffs will be held on consecutive weeks before taking a one-week break. The top 100 in the FedExCup standings are eligible for the Dell Technologies Championship on Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at TPC Boston. The third Playoffs stop, the BMW Championship, is open to the top 70. It will be played Sept. 6-9 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. After the off week, the Playoffs will visit Atlanta for the TOUR Championship. The top 30 will compete at East Lake Golf Club on Sept. 20-23. Every player in the TOUR Championship field has a chance of claiming the FedExCup. Fowler finished 17th at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and 12th at the PGA Championship. He started the final round at Bellerive in third place, three shots behind Brooks Koepka, but faded with a final-round 71. He finished eight shots behind Koepka, who claimed his second major of the season. Fowler finished T9 in the 2014 THE NORTHERN TRUST at Ridgewood en route to a ninth-place finish in the FedExCup. He has finished in the top 10 of the FedExCup in three of the past four seasons. The exception is 2016, when he missed the TOUR Championship by less than one point.

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