Reed up by two in the Barclays

Patrick Reed’s place in the Ryder Cup is looking better with each round at the Barclays, and so are his prospects of winning.

Even with a careless finish Friday at Bethpage Black, Reed rode a fast start to a three-under 68 and a two-shot lead over Emiliano Grillo and Rickie Fowler in the opening FedEx Cup playoff event at Farmingdale, N.Y.

The Barclays is the final tournament for Americans to earn one of the eight automatic spots on the Ryder Cup team. Reed came into the week at No. 8. He had an eight-under 134 total. Fowler mostly likely needs third place alone to have any chance of qualifying for the Ryder Cup, and he has done his part so far.

Ryan Moore (68) was three shots behind, while defending champion Jason Day (70) and Jordan Spieth (67) were four back. Spieth is among the few who only have to think about the end of the FedEx Cup. He is No. 5 in the standings, and he already has clinched a spot on the Ryder Cup team.

Ariya Jutanugarn had five birdies in a six-hole stretch and shot an eight-under 64 to take a threestroke lead in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Priddis, Alberta.

South Korea’s In Gee Chun and Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow were tied for second. Chun closed birdie-eagle for a 67. Meadow had a 69. Three-time champion Lydia Ko was four strokes back.

U.S. Senior Open champion Gene Sauers eagled the par-five 18th hole for a seven-under 65 and a share of the Boeing Classic lead with Kirk Triplett at Snoqualmie, Wash.

Coming off his breakthrough victory two weeks ago in Ohio, the 54-year-old Sauers played the four par-five holes in five under with the eagle and three birdies.

Triplett had five- and four-hole birdie streaks at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. Duffy Waldorf and Stephen Ames were a stroke back.