Bae and Day lead Barclays
EDISON, New Jersey — Ryan Palmer can’t imagine the emotions if he were to win The Barclays a week after his father died. Bae Sangmoon would love nothing more than to play in the Presidents Cup at home in South Korea before he starts his mandatory military service. Jason Day is one round away from being in the race for No. 1 in the world.
The FedEx Cup playoffs are about a lot more than a $10-million US bonus at the end.
Bae and Day traded birdies through the third round at Plainfield Country Club on Saturday. Their best-ball score would have been 56. On their own, each had a 7-under 63 and were tied for the lead going at 11under 199, one shot ahead of Bubba Watson (67).
Bae has to start his twoyear military stint when he returns to South Korea. With a victory today, he would be assured a spot on the International team for the Presidents Cup, which is being held in his home country for the first time.
“I just want to play good golf this week and really want to play Presidents Cup in my country.”
Palmer hasn’t had a top 10 in the last three months. He is playing a week after his 71-year-old father died near Amarillo, Texas, when his SUV overturned. While dropping two shots late in his round on Saturday, Palmer had a 65 and was two shots behind.
At times, Palmer caught himself wondering what it would mean to win with a family grieving at home.
“I don’t know what it’s going to be like if it happens,” Palmer said. “I can’t put into words what it would mean for sure.”
Day, just like he did on the par 5s at Whistling Straits when he won his first major two weeks ago, cracked a 343-yard drive down the middle on the 601-yard 16th hole, and then hit a 4-iron to 18 feet and holed it for eagle to tie for the lead.
Day and Bae made bogey from the rough on the 17th, and both got upand-down for birdie on the reachable 18th. A victory by the 27-year-old Australian would be his fourth win of the year and allow him to join the race for No. 1 against Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.
Nick Taylor of Abbotsford shot a 69 and is tied for 41st at 1 under. David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot a 3-over 73 in the third round and is tied for 62nd at 2 over.