Furyk alone in quest to unseat Els this week

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With just four weeks (five events) remaining until the start of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, things are heating up as TOUR members position themselves to make a run at the title.

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Ernie Els has spent the last 18 weeks on top the FedExCup standings. This week, however, one man will be looking to end his stretch in the top spot, which rates as the second longest in the history of the FedExCup.

Jim Furyk, a West Chester, Pa. native playing just eight hours from home this week is the only player in the field who could knock Els from the top spot in the FedExCup standings. Els is idle for the second consecutive week since missing the cut at the British Open.

Furyk hasn't had a top 10 since the Memorial in early June. At that point, he was ranked No. 2 in the FedExCup standings but has since dropped back to No. 5, 272 points behind Els.

While Furyk's eyes the top spot, he should look out for those behind him. Five players in this week's field have the opportunity to drop Furyk from his fifth-place position with a good showing. It has been 15 weeks since he was out of the top five.

Matt Kuchar is the highest-rated of those pursuers at No. 7 in the rankings. His first win of the sesaon would be enough to move him into the top three, dropping Furyk out of his position. Also in the mix could be Carl Pettersson, whose win last week helped him jump 39 spots to No. 16 in the rankings. A second-consecutive victory this week would move him to No. 4.