Despite 75, things appear to work out for Williamson

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NORTON, Mass. -- Jay Williamson didn't want to be the only one in his family who didn't have a job next week.

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Jay Williamson has three top-25 finishes this season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Williamson's third round

Pars 14 Bogeys 4 Driving Accuracy 79 Driving Distance 295.0 Putts 32

• Complete scorecard, click here

His father will be working as a marshal at Bellerive Country Club during the BMW Championship. His wife is on the hospitality committee while his brother's helping to take care of the caddies. Oh, and his father-in-law is a walking scorer.

"I'm worried about him," Williamson said, chuckling. "He's going to lose his mind."

Williamson's own job is simple, though. Play golf -- and play it well -- in the third event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

While the field of 70 won't be final until Monday afternoon, Williamson appears to have solidified his spot for the tournament being held at his home club -- despite missing the 54-hole cut at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Sunday.

The St. Louis native was 59th in the projected rankings after the third round of the $7 million event at TPC Boston. He was frustrated by the 75 he shot Sunday -- a "little bit embarrassed," Williamson said -- but he knows there's a bigger prize ahead.

"It'll be fun," Williamson said. "Once I get over this today, if I make it, I'll be really excited. It's really a dream come true. Two years ago, I kind of circled next week when they announced that they were going to have the tournament there and (I have) been kind of just trying to make sure that I can get in."

Williamson has worked hard to make that happen. He started the Playoffs ranked 98th and climbed 33 spots when he tied for 31st at The Barclays last week. When he made the 36-hole cut with rounds of 68-70 at TPC Boston, Williamson punched his ticket home.

"These playoffs are like a major," he said. "I didn't get into THE PLAYERS Championship this year. I didn't get into many of the invitationals, either, so I've had to kind of scratch and claw my way."

The 12-year veteran came close to picking up his first TOUR win earlier this year when he ran into the red-hot Kenny Perry and lost in a playoff at the John Deere Classic. It was Williamson's second playoff loss in as many years -- but he did get one perk, an invitation to play in his first Open Championship where he tied for 39th.

"I've had my chances this year a couple times," Williamson acknowledged. "The British Open was an incredible experience. Losing the John Deere was unfortunate but I feel like I'm getting better. A day like today is frustrating but I'm working on it."

Williamson, who had a stretch of five birdies in six holes during the first round, couldn't buy one on Sunday. The wind blew from the northwest, which he feels is the most difficult direction at TPC Boston, and the course was much more stout.

"I didn't have many birdie opportunities and three-putted a couple of times," Williamson said. "The course just really sets up well if you can bust it out there and I'm really a pretty medium-length hitter. It didn't set up real well for me today but I know Bellerive so hopefully I can get it done."

Williamson isn't completely sure how many times he's played the Robert Trent Jones course -- recently renovated by Jones' son, Rees -- in suburban St. Louis. Thousands, someone estimated? "Yeah, probably," the 41-year-old said.

"Not as many now," Williamson added. "I've got three young kids so I'm usually at the pool with them when I'm home. ... A lot of people have been asking me what it's going to be like and I really don't know because the golf course, we haven't really seen it in championship form yet. I'll be real anxious to see how it sets up next week."

From inside the ropes, of course.