Sleeper Picks: THE NORTHERN TRUST

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LA QUINTA, Calif. – Adam Hadwin used superb ball-striking to shoot the lowest score on the treacherous Stadium Course and continue his strong play in the Desert Classic. Hadwin hit all 18 greens in regulation Thursday en route to a 7-under 65. He made five birdies and holed a 60-yard pitch for eagle on the par-5 16th. Hadwin called it “probably my longest hole-out in like three years.â€� His only bogey was a three-putt from 48 feet on the par-3 sixth hole. He played his final six holes in 5 under par. The Stadium Course is traditionally the toughest of the three courses in use this week, and that was true again Thursday. It played to a 70.9 scoring average, while the field averaged 69.4 strokes at La Quinta Country Club and 69.7 at PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament Course. “I basically have to shoot probably another three 7-unders to even have a chance,â€� Hadwin said. MUST READS: Round 1, Desert Classic He’s had no trouble going low at this event, finishing no worse than sixth in the past three Desert Classics. He’s 66 under par in his last 13 rounds at this event, including a 59 at La Quinta Country Club in 2017. Phil Mickelson flirted with Hadwin’s mark on Thursday, but came up one shot short. “I’m five back after shooting 7 under,â€� Hadwin said. “I was actually watching the leaderboard, thinking he’s going to try and pass my course record over there. That would be a Phil Mickelson thing to do.â€� Hadwin is 51st in the FedExCup standings thanks to two top-10s in five starts this season. He’s also seeking a spot in his second consecutive Presidents Cup. This year’s Presidents Cup will be played Dec. 12-15 at Australia’s Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Tiger Woods did not show any visible discomfort, but the 81-time PGA TOUR winner still struggled mightily in Thursday’s opening round of THE NORTHERN TRUST as the FedExCup Playoffs got underway. Woods – who complained of back stiffness in the pro-am on Wednesday and limited himself to chipping and putting for half his practice round – scratched together a clunky 4-over 75 at Liberty National. It left the two-time FedExCup champion a distant 13 shots off the hot early pace set by Troy Merritt and better than only one player (Patrick Cantlay) from the morning wave. It’s a much different position than his first two visits to Liberty National, when Woods finished T-2 and just one shot behind the winners in 2009 and 2013. Related: Leaderboard | FedExCup Playoffs primer | Scenarios: How to make the top 70 Woods opened this year’s Playoffs at 28th in the FedExCup points list and is secure for next week’s BMW Championship, where the top 70 players advance to Medinah Country Club. But should he miss the cut at Liberty National – a possibility after his Thursday score – he will likely fall outside the top 30 before heading there. The top 30 players after the BMW Championship advance to the TOUR Championship at East Lake, where Woods secured an iconic victory a year ago. Thursday’s round put his place to defend in serious jeopardy. The struggles for Woods begun early when he pulled a wedge into a greenside bunker on the 12th hole (Woods started his round off the 10th tee). The 43-year-old went from that sand trap to another before making bogey. While he rebounded with a birdie on the 13th, Woods made a critical error on the picturesque short par-3 14th. With the Statue of Liberty in full view, Woods overcooked his tee shot well over the required 140-yards into a penalty area. He eventually walked off with a double bogey. Further bogeys on 15 and 17 left Woods making his turn at 4-over and reeling at the back of the pack. While he managed two birdies on the front side, his second nine also included a 3-putt bogey from 15 feet on the par-4 third as well as a closing bogey on No. 9.

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