FedExCup Climbers: Bridgestone Inv., Reno-Tahoe Open
 
Aug. 6, 2007

Two events last weekend meant several players made big moves. The timing couldn't have come at a better time for them, either.

There are now just two events before the 144-player field is set for The Barclays, the first event in the inaugural PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

Last Week: World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, Reno-Tahoe Open
This Week: PGA Championship

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Biggest mover: Steve Flesch
He moved: 61 spots, from 140th to 79th
Because: He won the Reno-Tahoe Open
So much for the theory that tournaments like the Reno-Tahoe Open -- ones that offer fewer FedExCup points than regular events -- don't have as much impact. Flesch's dominant victory in the "Biggest Little City In The World," took him from bubble player to firmly in the field.

Expect more for Flesch this weekend at the PGA Championship. In nine appearances, he's made five top-25 finishes including a 10th-place effort in 2005. The added confidence that comes from victory can't hurt, either.

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Welcome to the top 10: Sergio Garcia
He moved: One spot, from 11th to 10th
Because: He finished T20 at the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational
Oh, but for a 77 in Friday's second round in Akron. Garcia's 67 was the second-lowest round of the day on Sunday behind Tiger's 65 and it moved him from a tie for 47th to a tie for 20th. What's more, it moved him into the coveted top 10 with just two weeks to go until the start of the playoffs.

He now has five top-10 finishes this season and he's eighth on TOUR in scoring average at 69.53. History is also on his side in next week's PGA Championship. Of course, he had that memorable second-place finish to Tiger Woods in 1999 at Medinah as a 19-year-old. He's got four top-25s in eight appearances and he's made nearly a million dollars in this tournament alone.

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Welcome to the top 20: Justin Rose
He moved: 17 spots, from 37th to 20th
Because: He finished T2 at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
Lost in the complete domination by Tiger Woods on Sunday was the spectacular effort turned in by Rose. His 68 moved him from 11th into a tie for second with Rory Sabbatini and moved him squarely into contention for a great seed when the playoffs begin in a couple of weeks.

Rose is now third on TOUR in scoring average at 69.21 and he leads the TOUR in scoring average before the cut at 69.91

Rose will need to back that up with a strong run this week in Tulsa. His record in the PGA Championship is lukewarm -- he finished 23rd in the 2002 Championship and he's made two cuts in four events.

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Welcome to the top 100: Charles Warren
He moved: 28 spots, from 118th to 90th
Because: He finished T2 at the Reno-Tahoe Open
It should also be noted that Chris DiMarco and Shaun Micheel also broke into the top 100 this week. DiMarco moved 28 spots to 90th and Micheel 12 spots to 95th.

Warren, on the other hand, was one of the not-so-unfortunate victims of Flesch's wire-to-wire victory this weekend in Reno. Still, as weeks go, his was far from terrible, particularly Friday's second round where he put up a spectacular 63 which featured no bogeys and an eagle on the par-5 fourth. He also lead the field in driving distance last week at 335.9.

Looking ahead to this week in Tulsa, Warren made the cut in his PGA Championship debut last year, finishing in a tie for 62nd.

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Welcome to the field: Kevin Stadler
He moved: 35 spots, from 157th to 122nd
Because: He finished T2 at the Reno-Tahoe Open
Stadler's first top-10 finish of the season couldn't have come at a better time. He's now in the field for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Stadler proved his resilience by coming back from a tough 74 on Thursday at Reno to post 67s on Friday and Saturday and a 2-under-par 70 on Sunday.

Stadler has also now made the cut in more than half of his starts this season -- he's 12 for 22.