NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Lesser-knowns steal show on Day 1 of first FedEx Cup event
“So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” You don’t have be dumb or dumber to understand everyone — even the PGA Tour bottom feeders — have a chance to win the pot of $10 million gold at the end of the FedEx Cup playoff rainbow.
Just ask the crew of relative no-names residing at or near the top of the Northern Trust leaderboard after Thursday’s opening round at Glen Oaks Club.
Don’t tell Russell Henley he can’t change his life in the next month if he builds on the sparkling 6-under 64 he shot to take a one-shot lead over world No. 1 Dustin Johnson. Henley is ranked 56th in the world and is a modest 19th in the FedEx Cup standings but never has won a tournament as significant as this week’s.
Don’t tell Camilo Villegas (yes, he’s still on the PGA Tour) after he shot 66 to stand at 4-under and two shots off the lead. Villegas is ranked 362nd in the world and 98th in the FedEx Cup standings.
Don’t tell Scott Brown, who’s ranked 127th in the world, or Chris Kirk, who’s ranked 139th. They’re also 4-under par.
Don’t tell Harold Varner III, who made it into the field by a scant two spots at 123rd in the FedEx Cup points standings (only the top 125 qualify) and is ranked 143rd in the world, Patrick Cantley, who’s ranked 120th in the world, Kelly Kraft, who’s ranked 170th, or Martin Flores, who’s 118th in FedExCup points and ranked 225th in the world and got into this field largely on the boost of a late final-round hole-in-one last week at the Wyndham Championship.
They are all 3-under, as are the more accomplished Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen. The top players in the world rankings? Only Johnson truly represented with his afternoon 65 on a golf course that favors the exact type of player he is, which is a long bomber.
Hideki Matsuyama, ranked No. 2 in the world and one of the hottest players on the planet, struggled with a 74. Jordan Spieth, ranked third, shot 69. Rory McIlroy, ranked fourth, shot 73. Justin Thomas, fresh off his PGA Championship win and ranked No. 7, shot a solid 2-under 68.
Henley, who had eight birdies and needed only 24 putts in his round, was asked if he’s “playing with house money” this week.
“I don’t because I don’t think I’m guaranteed in [to the Tour Championship], and I probably had the expectation I should make it through,” he said. “So that puts more pressure on me. My last two events, I didn’t play that well but my attitude was just bad. I just got frustrated. I’m just trying to stay confident and keep believing in myself.”
Varner III said he’s “excited to be here, obviously,” adding, “I kept my job [by qualifying in the top 125] and I just want to capitalize on it.”
Varner III, who scraped into the field with a decent finish at last week’s Wyndham Championship, said he played a nine-hole practice round Tuesday and another nine Wednesday before the pro-am, which he wasn’t in.
“I just can’t overthink it, just need to play golf,” he said. “The hard work is already over.”