Heath Slocum talks about his move inside the top 125 to get into the FedExCup Playoffs at No. 124.
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- It wasn't easy but Heath Slocum has played his way into the FedExCup Playoffs with a tie for 32nd at the Wyndham Championship.
Slocum moved from 128th to 124th, displacing Jhonattan Vegas. He is the only player who started the week outside the top 125 to punch his ticket for The Barclays, which begins its 72-hole run at Bethpage Black on Thursday.
Slocum was projected No. 120 when he came back to the 14th tee at Sedgefield on Monday morning to resume his final round. He came up short on the 475-yard par 4 in two, chipped up and three-putted from six feet for an inauspicious double bogey. He dropped to 123rd in the projections, as a result, and stayed there when he bogeyed the 16th hole.
Slocum came up short again at the 18th hole, chipped on and missed a 6-footer to save par. Even so, he only dropped one spot to No. 124 to solidify his spot in the Playoffs.
"I really thought I probably need a par at the last and then when I missed that, I was like, I mean -- obviously they're all important," Slocum said. "I'm trying to make them not only to improve my standings to maybe get in The Playoffs but every little point helps, every little dollar helps. As soon as I saw you guys start inching around, I knew it was getting close."
In 2009 Slocum missed the cut at the Wyndham Championship and had to wait anxiously on Sunday to see if he remained in the top 125. He did -- by two points -- and ended up winning The Barclays. He went on to finish eighth in the FedExCup that year.
"I think I've been playing a little better lately," Slocum said.
"I'm going to take that away as encouraging. Kind of just take the
finish and just put it aside. I have life next week. I've been
there before. It's a course I've played before.
"And, like I said, my game really does feel like it's kind of
rounding out, getting a little more consistent. The putter is
starting to feel better. I didn't make anything today. Kind of
dreadful. Again, I'm just happy to move on at this point."
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Heath Slocum didn’t get off to a good start on Monday morning at the Wyndham Championship.
He has just double-bogeyed the 14th hole – coming up short of the green at the par-4 14th and three-putting from 6 feet. As a result, Slocum, who started the week ranked 128th in the FedExCup, was 120th after the resumption and has now fallen to 123rd.
At the start of the final round, Slocum was the only player projected to move inside the top 125.
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Heath Slocum missed the cut at the Wyndham Championship three years ago and spent Sunday anxiously waiting to see whether he remained in the top 125 of the FedExCup standings.
Turns out, by a narrow two-point margin, Slocum did. And then
he went on to win The Barclays and finish eighth in the
FedExCup.
This year, Slocum isn’t leaving anything to chance. He started the week ranked 128th and needed to play well earn a spot in the FedExCup Playoffs.
And so far, Slocum has -- making four birdies in his first 12 holes to move to 9 under for the tournament. Right now, the four-time PGA TOUR champ is projected at No. 120 in the FedExCup – currently the only player moving inside.
PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- Heath Slocum withdrew before his round Friday, citing illness.
Slocum shot 2-under 69 in the opening round.
This was Slocum’s eighth start of the year -- his best finish was a tie for 33rd in Phoenix -- and fourth straight week playing.