Reed, Laird tied for Barclays lead
Patrick Reed shot a 5-under 66 Thursday to tie for the lead with Martin Laird in the opening round of the FedEx Cup playoffs, with Rickie Fowler and J.B. Holmes in a 4-way tie for 3rd.
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Patrick Reed didn't break anything Thursday except par. Two days after Reed broke the gavel during the ceremonial closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, the American kept a clean card and shot 5-under 66 to share the lead with Martin Laird at The Barclays.
Reed was dressed in a blue blazer with an American tie when he was asked to bang the gavel three times at the stock-exchange closing on Tuesday. On the third hit, the top of the gavel flew off into the crowd, and Reed later made a joke at his own expense on Twitter.
“They told me to give it 3 good hits, so I did!” he tweeted.
He was much better with a golf club in hand at Bethpage Black, running off three birdies and an eagle on the front nine to close out his 66.
The start of the FedEx Cup playoffs, with a $10 million bonus waiting at the end, was more about a cup that doesn't pay a dime. A dozen or so Americans are still in the mix to make the Ryder Cup team. Qualifying ends after this week for the top eight, and then Davis Love III has four captain's picks over the next month. Reed is winless this year and holding down the No. 8 position in the Ryder Cup standings.
Reed and Laird were a shot ahead of three other Ryder Cup hopefuls — Rickie Fowler, Kevin Chappell and J.B. Holmes, whose 67 was the best score among those who played in stronger wind in the afternoon. Defending champion Jason Day, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, was among those at 68. The Barclays is the start of a four-tournament series in which the field size shrinks until 30 qualify for the finale at the Tour Championship. Laird started at No. 89, and with only the top 100 in the standings advancing, starting well was crucial.
Choi leads
PRIDDIS, Alberta — The top-ranked and three-time champion Lydia Ko shot a 5-under 67 on Thursday at Priddis Greens in a round delayed for nearly three hours because of lightning, leaving her two strokes behind leader Chella Choi.