Elvis has left the building but Rickie Fowler isn’t ready to check out of the FedEx Cup Playoffs just yet.
In Presley’s hometown of Memphis, Fowler posted a bogey-free 4-under 66 at TPC Southwind in the opening round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
“I think going around this place whenever you can go around with no bogeys or very few, it’s definitely a good sign,” Fowler said.
He sits T-7, four back of 18-hole leader Akshay Bhatia, who posted 62.
“This was the kind of start that you want. Not 8-under like Akshay did, but 4-under is a solid start, and like you said, it’s just Thursday, so we’ll try and build on it from here.”
In the tournament within a tournament to finish in the top 50 in the season-long FedEx Cup points race, Fowler entered the week with work to do. He started the week at No. 64 and needs a minimum of a T-17 finish. That sweat on his face? That’s from the hot, humid 90-degree weather. Fowler otherwise is trying to remain as cool as a cucumber.
“I know I need a good finish. I don’t know exactly where that is. Obviously the higher the finish, the better chance I have. A win would take care of a lot of things,” he said. “I mean, I know roughly, but I just need to go play some good golf and put myself where I’m in a position and have a chance to go win on Sunday.”
Fowler, who is projected to improve to No. 48, is one of two players who is on target to move into the top 50 along with Bud Cauley, who made eight birdied to shoot 6-under 64 and share second after the first round.
“I drove it in the fairway, which is nice,” Cauley said. “You have to be in the fairway. The rough is impossible.”
Cauley has had a resurgent season with four top 10’s and eight top 25s. He entered the week at No. 53 in the points race and is projected to leap to No. 22. How much is making the BMW and the perks that come with it – entry into all eight signature events next season – been on his mind?
“I’d love to be there and love to play, but I have to take care of this week first,” he said.
Two players moving in, of course, means two players had to move out. Jake Knapp, who entered the week at No. 47, had a rollercoaster day. His five birdies were canceled out by five bogeys. He also made a double bogey en route to 2-over 72. He’s projected to drop to No. 54.
Australian Min Woo Lee wasn’t cooking on Thursday. He shot 6-over 76 and was dead last in the field of 69. He entered the week as the “Bubble Boy” at No. 50. A triple at 13 did the most damage.
The new Bubble Boy? It’s projected to be Jordan Spieth.
FedEx Cup Playoffs projected standings from Nos. 46-55
46. Wyndham Clark (up 3)
47. Tom Hoge (down 7)
48. Rickie Fowler (up 16)
49. Aldrich Potgieter (down 6)
50. Jordan Spieth (down 2)
51. Kurt Kitayama (up 1)
52. Joe Highsmith (up 2)
53. J.T. Poston (down 2)
54. Jake Knapp (down 7)
55. Chris Kirk (down 3)
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