Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter hoping to turn the tide at Barclays on FedExCup Playoffs
Some of the grizzled veterans, who have dominated the sport in the past but have been facing a downturn for the lasat couple of years, will be back at this week’s Barclays, hoping to turn a new leaf in their stagnant careers. Top 125 on the FedExCup Rankings
qualified to be part of the event which will proceed to three more showdowns and has a total purse of a whopping $10-million.
Tiger Woods, the 14-major-winner did not qualify for the event and will be taking some time out to reflect upon his performance after his return to the course.
South African Ernie Els, had to work his heart out to finish for a joint 30th at the Wyndham Championship just before the Playoffs to break into the Top 125. He was just outside the top-125 and finished for a 118th and will now be part
of the field at the Barclays. For Els, the year has not been anything less than a disaster for the “big easy” was number one on the points list last year.
“It's a little different,” Els said Wednesday. “But I think this is almost a better mentality. I feel I need to be aggressive and get up the bloody points list. Otherwise, I'm going home. Last year I was the No. 1 seed, but I wasn't quite playing as good
as I was in March. This year, I feel like I have to make a move. And I feel a little more comfortable with that.”
Irishman Padraig Harrington also barely managed to reserve a berth at the FedExCup Playoffs after posting a joint 47th last week and finished for a 124th on the FedExCup Rankings. Harrington was all set to head out for a vacation in
Bahamas when he was convinced by his wife to reconsider his options and attempt to qualify in the Playoffs for the season.
Similarly Retief Goosen, the two-time US Open winner is currently poised 101ston the FedExCup Rankings and he needs a strong finish to stay in Top 100, a fall below which will cut him clean for the next season on PGA.
Goosen said, “When you're in the top 20, you know you're playing well. When you're 101, you know you're not playing well, and you come into this event not as confident as you'd like to be.”
Stuart Appleby poised at 113th had a disappointing season so far in the year and has done little to climb up the rankings. He missed most of the cuts in his starts but made it through in the Greensboro last week.
Ian Poulter, who tied for 15th at The Barclays last year, will be hoping to snap out of the slump. His only Top 10 finish came at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in the start of the year.
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