Two weeks remain to earn a spot in PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup

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Familiar names in search of top finishes, chance at TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola

ATLANTA, Ga. -- With The Barclays, the first event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, just over two weeks away, the heat is on for several notable players who are not yet assured of a start in the Playoffs. Familiar names like 2008 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola winner Camilo Villegas, World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els, 2007 and 2009 FedExCup Champion Tiger Woods, and major championship winner Padraig Harrington, among others, need to turn in strong finishes at this week's PGA Championship or next week's Wyndham Championship in order to earn a spot in The Barclays field. Only the top 125 in the FedExCup standings will tee it up at The Barclays, while the top 100 will qualify for the Deutsche Bank Championship the following week. After a one week break, the top 70 will advance to the BMW Championship, with the top 30 moving on to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, Sept. 19-25, at East Lake Golf Club.

"The PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup are right around the corner, which means the 2011 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola will be here before we know it," said TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola Executive Director Todd Rhinehart. "Atlanta-area sports fans have the unique opportunity to see the world's best players twice in the span of six weeks, first at this week's PGA Championship and then again here at East Lake at the end of September. It will be exciting to watch a number of players who have played major roles in deciding the outcome of past TOUR Championships by Coca-Cola compete over the next several weeks to earn a spot in the top 30 and the chance to capture the 2011 FedExCup."

The following players are on the FedExCup 125 bubble entering the PGA Championship:

In 2010, it took 380 points to finish the Regular Season at No. 125 on the FedExCup standings and qualify for The Barclays. After the first three Playoff events last year, 1,578 points were needed to finish inside the top 30 and qualify for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. While the numbers may be different for the 2011 Playoffs, using 380 as a benchmark, here is a quick approximation of what the "bubble boys" might need to do over the next two weeks to make The Barclays field and have a chance to make a run at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola:

• Camilo Villegas -- Needs one 15th-place finish or two 41st-place finishes
• Ernie Els -- Needs one 15th-place finish or two 41st-place finishes
• Tiger Woods -- Needs one 14th-place finish or two 40th-place finishes
• Padraig Harrington -- Needs one 12-place finish or two 36th-place finishes
• Justin Leonard -- Needs one sixth-place finish (not in the PGA Championship field)
• Louis Oosthuizen -- Needs one fifth-place finish or two 17th-place finishes
• Paul Casey -- Needs one fourth-place finish or two 14th-place finishes

Of course, there is more to the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup than simply qualifying. Players will use the next two weeks of the Regular Season to improve their positions throughout the standings, giving them a better chance of advancing deep into the Playoffs and making a run at the FedExCup title. Forty-nine of the top 50 in the current FedExCup standings are in the field at the PGA Championship, and with 600 points awarded to the winner, 11 players mathematically can pass No. 1 Nick Watney with a victory this week.