By Chris Reimer, PGA TOUR staff

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The Bomoh (a local rain/witch doctor brought in to keep the daily rains at bay this week) did his job during the first round of the CIMB Classic in Malaysia. The first round was played without rain on Thursday although it was extremely warm and humid. So hot that Tiger Woods told the media "I would love to hop in an ice tub right now."

Chad Reynolds, Nick Watney's caddie, was unable to finish the final two holes due to issues with the heat. When Reynolds was taken to a local hospital and given IVs, Watney's wife, Amber, stepped up to the call and carried the bag the rest of the way.

"I have a whole new outlook and respect for what caddies go through," Amber said. "It was fun, but not sure I'll be doing it again anytime soon. I feel terrible for Chad. It's never happened to him before and I know he wants to be out here."

Reynolds took the day off to recover on Friday. Watney got off to a good start with four birdies in his first eight holes and made the turn at 4 under on the day after a bogey on the ninth.

The Bomoh held the rain at bay for the competition. However, shortly after play ended the clear skies gave way to rain clouds and heavy thunderstorms rolled through The MINES Resort & Golf Club. An estimated three inches of rain drenched the course following the first round, forcing the rules staff to play Round 2 under preferred lies. As usual here in Kuala Lumpur, rains are again expected this afternoon. We'll see if the Bomoh can hold them off until play ends.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

ATLANTA -- Nick Watney and Brandt Snedeker came to East Lake this week as two of the five players who control their own destiny. Win the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola on Sunday and they win the FedExCup and its $10 million bonus, too.

But with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods ranked Nos. 1-2, respectively -- not to mention Greg Norman's talk earlier this week of the Northern Irishman's intimidation factor -- even highly-placed players like Watney and Snedeker have been afforded some degree of anonymity as they ramp up for the Playoffs finale.

Not that they're complaining. Besides, the better Watney and Snedeker play this week, the scrutiny will increase. So why not let McIlroy and Woods remain in the limelight for a while.

"I think first off they definitely deserve it, the top two in our game and superstars to be sure," Watney said. "I don't know if there's any advantage because Saturday night will be, if I'm in that position, I'm sure there will be questions and all the scenarios will be brought up.
   
"So I guess it's nice. Starting the event, I'm flying under the radar, and everything is focused on Tiger and Rory, as it should be, so I'll just go about my business and hopefully have a chance come Sunday."

Snedeker, who finished second to Watney in the Playoffs opener at The Barclays and sixth the following week at TPC Boston, likes being able to low-key things in terms of the media blitz right now. That doesn't mean he's not focused on his preparation at East Lake, which he calls one of his favorite courses.

"Obviously, my main goal this year is getting here with a chance to win the FedExCup, and I've accomplished that," Snedeker said. "... I've got just as good a chance as Rory, even though Rory played great the (last) two weeks. If I won this week, doesn't do him a whole lot of good right now. It's a great feeling to have.

"So I have to play well this week, and just kind of hope to fly under the radar until Sunday until I get that trophy, it would be great."

ATLANTA – You may have heard – only the top five in FedExCup points going into the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola control their own destiny this week. If any of the five wins the tournament, he’s also guaranteed the FedExCup title.

We thought we’d break down the top five in a few categories – some golf-related, some not so much.

	RORY McILROY	TIGER WOODS	NICK WATNEY	PHIL MICKELSON	BRANDT SNEDEKER
FedExCup rank	1	2	3	4	5
Age	23	36	31	42	31
Birthplace	Holywood, N. Ireland	Cypress, Calif.	Sacramento, Calif.	San Diego, Calif.	Nashville, Tenn.
Career TOUR wins	6 (4 in 2012)	74 (3 in 2012)	5 (1 in 2012)	40 (1 in 2012)	3 (1 in 2012)
Signature TOUR win	2011 U.S. Open First major, won by 8 shots	1997 Masters First major, won by 12	2011 Cadillac World Golf Champ. event	2004 Masters First major; joyous leap	2011 Heritage Stared down Luke Donald
Plays like …	Seve Ballesteros Charisma and tenacity	Jack Nicklaus Singular focus: winning majors	Tom Weiskopf Big hitter, solid ball-striker	Arnold Palmer Crowd pleaser, risk taker	Tom Watson Look-alike and swing-alike
Lowest round on TOUR	62 2010 Wells Fargo, Rd. 4	61 (3 times) Last: 2005 Buick Open, Rd. 2	62 2011 AT&T National, Rd. 3	60 2005 FBR Open, Rd. 2	61 (2 times) Last: 2011 Barclays, Rd. 3
Longest drive on TOUR	409 yards 2012 WGC-Bridgestone	498 yards 2002 Mercedes Championship	408 yards 2012 WGC-Bridgestone	402 yards 2009 WGC-CA Championship	388 yards 2012 WGC-Bridgestone
Longest putt on TOUR	68 feet, 5 inches 2009 Shell Houston Open	123 ft., 5 inches 2001 TOUR Championship	80 feet, 2 inches 2006 Shell Houston Open	79 feet, 7 inches 2002 BellSouth Classic	59 feet, 2 inches 2011 Travelers Championship
Career- defining shot	The 6-iron he hit to inside a foot at the 10th hole at Congressional on Sunday at the 2010 U.S. Open	The "better than most" 60-foot birdie putt at the iconic 17th hole at the 2001 PLAYERS	The 8-iron he put within 12 feet for a final birdie on the 72nd hole at Doral	The 6-iron he threaded through the pine trees on Sunday at the 13th hole at Augusta National during his 2010 win	The 32-footer he made for birdie on the 17th hole as he shot 63 on Sunday to break through at the 2007 Wyndham Championship
Not the only household name	Caroline Wozniacki Rory’s girlfriend is a former No. 1 women’s tennis player	Cheyenne Woods Tiger’s niece recently won her first pro golf tournament	Heidi Watney Nick’s cousin is a TV sports reporter	San Diego Padres Phil is a part owner of his favorite baseball team	Haymes Snedeker Brandt’s brother won Big Break X on the Golf Channel
Just in case you didn’t know …	Rory shot a course-record 61 at Royal Portrush when he was 16	Tiger is the eighth athlete to be named a Wheaties permanent rep	Nick was a walk-on at Fresno State and played for his uncle Mike	Phil is an avid pilot, just like his father who was a Navy and commercial aviator	Brandt’s maternal grandmother managed a golf course in Missouri
If we were casting the movie …	Jesse Eisenberg (from The Social Network)	Will Smith (from The Legend of Baggar Vance)	Matt Damon (from The Bourne Identity)	Hugh Grant (from Notting Hill)	Larry Wilcox (from the TV show Chips)
East Lake preview	Click here	Click here	Click here	Click here	Click here

All times Eastern.

Tuesday, Sept. 18
11 a.m. -- Jim Furyk (No. 18)
1 p.m. -- 2012 Payne Stewart Award winner revealed

Wednesday, Sept. 19
Tiger Woods (No. 2) – Following morning sponsor breakfast
Rory McIlroy (No. 1) – Following morning sponsor breakfast
10 a.m. – Nick Watney (No. 3)
11:15 a.m. – John Huh (No. 26)
1 p.m. – Luke Donald (No. 15)
2:30 p.m. – PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem

TBD
Phil Mickelson (No. 4)
Brandt Snedeker (No. 5)

The top 30 in FedExCup points are headed to East Lake for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Here’s a look at Nick Watney, one of the 30 players who will contend for the FedExCup title.

SCENARIOS TO WIN FEDEXCUP: Watney controls his own destiny for the FedExCup:
> If he wins the TOUR Championship he wins the FedExCup
> Has a reasonable chance of winning with a 2nd-place finish
> Can finish as low as a tie for fourth and still have a mathematical chance of winning

Click here for scenarios of every player

SEASON IN REVIEW: Watney turned a lackluster Regular Season into one to remember when he captured the first event in the FedExCup Playoffs. Watney started the final round of The Barclays two strokes off the pace and ended up winning by three when he closed with a 69. That vaulted him to No. 1 in the FedExCup standings and kept him in the all-important top five as he makes his third straight trip to East Lake. -- Helen Ross

PATH TO TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP: Here’s a look at Watney's results in the first three events of the 2012 FedExCup Playoffs:
Click here for Playoffs Tracker of every player.

Tournament
Tournament finish	1st	T-20	T-45
FEC ranking after event	1st	2nd	3rd

PREVIOUS FEDEXCUP FINISHES: Here is how Watney has finished in previous Playoffs appearances:

	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007
FedExCup finish	9th	12th	12th	109th	41st

EAST LAKE HISTORY: This is Watney's fourth start in the TOUR Championship. His best finish was a tie for fourth in 2010, aided by a third-round 63. He tied for 26th last season and tied for 13th in 2009.

ALBERS’ QUICK TAKE: Fred Albers, on-course correspondent for SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio, provides a quick look at Watney:
Has played well since the U.S. Open, culminating in his win at The Barclays. Watney underwent swing changes with Butch Harmon that are now being seen with more consistency. Has not had a good year putting but was very good on the greens at Bethpage.

WATCH: Watney opens Playoffs with win at The Barclays

PLAYER PAGE: Click here for more on Nick Watney

Now it’s your turn. How do you think Watney will fare at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola?

CARMEL, Ind. – Nick Watney didn’t make an impact on the leaderboard at the BMW Championship, but it appears his spot in the top five in FedExCup points is safe.

Watney

The top five in points going into the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola are the only players who control their own destiny in regards to the FedExCup.

“If I stay in the top five, that would be great,” Watney said. “If not, that’s not too bad. Bill (Haas) showed last year that there’s always a chance.

“Hopefully I can control my own destiny, but if I go there and win, FedExCup hopefully will take care of itself.”

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

NORTON, Mass. – After Monday’s finish of the Deutsche Bank Championship, the waiting game began for American players hoping to get one of the four captain’s picks from U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III.

Love will announce his four picks at 10:15 a.m. ET on Tuesday ( the announcement will be carried live on RyderCup.com .) But Phil Mickelson seemed to indicate that the picks are fairly well set. He said he has spoken to Love recently.

Indications are that Love would make his phone calls Monday night instead of waiting until Tuesday morning.

“Davis has got such a tough job on his hands,” said Deutsche Bank winner Rory McIlroy, who will be an interested spectator Tuesday as a member of the opposing European team. “He’s got six or seven guys to choose from for four spots. … I really wouldn’t want to be in Davis’ position tonight trying to decide who to pick.”

Here’s a look at seven of the primary candidates after Monday’s finish of the Deutsche Bank Championship:

BRANDT SNEDEKER: If Love wants a hot hand, here’s one of the hottest. Snedeker followed up his second at The Barclays with a sixth-place finish at the Deutsche Bank, shooting 65-67 on the weekend.

The pressure of hearing about a potential Ryder Cup pick forced Snedeker to turn his phone off, just so he wouldn’t have to keep talking about it.

“Just got tired of hearing about it,” he said. “I did a pretty good job of staying in the tournament and not thinking about it. I was obviously really very nervous today on the golf course. Today was a very big day. If I played bad today, it might sway him one way or the other.”

Snedeker said he would be disappointed if he doesn’t get a pick, but that he would only have himself to blame.

“I had two years to qualify, or (win) the PGA (Championship),” he said. “I played bad at the PGA. Anybody that’s got a problem with that needs to re-evaluate their goals the last two years. “

DUSTIN JOHNSON: The only other candidate besides Snedeker with top-10 finishes in both FedExCup Playoff events, Johnson backed up his tie for third at The Barclays with a tie for fourth at the Deutsche Bank, shooting 65-70 on the weekend.

“I’ve had a good past two weeks, so I think I’ve made my case pretty solid,” Johnson said. “… I really think that I can help the team, and it’s something that I really enjoy doing.”

JIM FURYK: The veteran went undefeated last year at the Presidents Cup and has partnered with Tiger Woods in the past. He tied for 13th at the Deutsche Bank, shooting a third-round 65 to move up the leaderboard.  He missed the cut last week at The Barclays but put himself in position to win two big events earlier this year – the U.S. Open and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

“Last week didn’t help my cause,” Furyk said. “… but I feel like I played solid this week.

“I know they want some hot players, they want some guys that are playing well, and I guess guys like Strick (Steve Stricker) and I are going to be hopeful they also want some battled veterans and guys that have been there before.”

STEVE STRICKER: As Furyk mentioned, Stricker also could provide a veteran presence and has been successful with Woods as a partner. And he also finished tied for 13th at TPC Boston with four consistent rounds.

A week ago, Stricker finished tied for 54th at The Barclays , but had three top-10 finishes in his previous four starts.

HUNTER MAHAN: Won twice earlier this year but has cooled off lately. His tie for 39th at the Deutsche Bank was his best result on American soil since a tie for 8th at the AT&T National.

“You want to make the team,”  Mahan said after shooting a final-round 71. “It’s plain and simple.”

RICKIE FOWLER: Shot a 5-over 76 in Monday’s final round to finish tied for 74th; just two players finished below him on the leaderboard. Fowler hasn’t had a top-10 finish since a tie for firth in May at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. He was on the Ryder Cup team two years ago and played with Mickelson.

NICK WATNEY: Entered the conversation after winning The Barclays last week and backed it up with a tie for 20th at the Deutsche Bank.

Now it’s your turn. Which players do you think will become the four captain’s picks?

WATCH TUESDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT LIVE ON RYDERCUP.COM AT 10:15 A.M. ET

Badz/PGA TOUR

Nick Watney ranks No. 1 in the FedExCup standings after his win Sunday at The Barclays.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

NORTON, Mass. -- Nick Watney allowed himself a little time to celebrate his win at The Barclays on Sunday.

He headed into Manhattan with his wife and met up with Adam Scott, Charley Hoffman, Tim Clark, John Mallinger and Justin Rose for a nice dinner. Watney, who was $1.44 million richer after his win on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park took him to No. 1 in the FedExCup, picked up the tab.

"That is true, but I was very happy to do that," Watney said.

Should Watney be one of the four picks U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III announces to complete his team on Tuesday, the day after the Deutsche Bank Championship is over, the lanky Californian has a different kind of celebration planned.

"If I get that call, I could probably walk to Indy just as fast as fly because I'll be super, super excited," Watney said, flashing a big grin, as he pondered the commute to next week’s BMW Championship.

What happens at TPC Boston this week will likely have a big bearing on Love's choices. He has veterans like Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker available to answer his call, along with some of the game's brightest young stars like Watney, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler, Bill Haas and Brandt Snedeker.

"I really don't know (what I need to do)," Watney said. "I haven't spoken to Davis. I got a text from Freddie, but he didn't say anything about it. He said ‘Nice playing.’  So for all I know, I'm not even in the conversation. I'm really not sure. All I can do is go and try to play my best. I know that's watered down and cliché, but it's really true.

"I'm not really shooting for any number or ... if I finish in the top 10 I'll make it because I'm just not sure. I guess I'll just try to continue my momentum, like I said. I always love to play with Tiger, so maybe that can spur me on even more."

Watney, who has drawn Woods and Snedeker for the first two rounds at TPC Boston, was 30th when the automatic qualification process ended after the PGA Championship. But Love has said he's looking for players with the hot hand and after Watney picked up his fifth win on Sunday, a case could certainly be made for him.

"If I were to win this week, I guess ...  I've heard he said he's looking for a hot player, and I would have to classify myself as a hot player if I were to win two tournaments in a row," Watney said. "I could honestly see a scenario where I win this tournament, and Davis says, well, just based on the year, if Brandt or Dustin played well, I'm taking the two or three guys that are really experienced, and Brandt and Dustin have had a better collective season than this guy.
   
"Part of me wishes that I knew what I had to do, and part of me is glad that I don't. I'm excited to play the Deutsche Bank. I feel like I'm in great position as far as the Playoffs go, and if that call comes, like I said, I will be overjoyed, and if it doesn't, then the first five months of the season cost me."

Greenwood/Getty Images

One degree of extra loft in his irons helped Brian Harman to his best finish of the year.

By John Schwarb, PGATOUR.COM

Brian Harman is one of the success stories of the FedExCup Playoffs so far, turning in the best finish of his PGA TOUR career at The Barclays to shoot from 97th in points to 41st.

He was near the bubble at the start of the week at the Bethpage State Park Black Course; now he’s in a pretty good spot to play through this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship and into next week’s BMW Championship.

And maybe one degree did it.

The lefthander doesn’t carry a 3-iron in his TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC set, and found himself pressing on approach shots to long par 4s in an early-week practice round – his first ever on the intimidating Black Course.

So he brought his irons to the TaylorMade van Monday night and had all of them (4-iron through PW) bent one degree strong. Come Thursday, in the first round of The Barclays, he shot 65. He ended the week tied for fifth, showing an impressive aversion to Playoffs pressure.

“It has to creep in, but you let those thoughts come and just let them pass,” Harman said. “You know the best way to assure a spot next week is focus on hitting the 4‑iron, 6‑iron, whatever it is.”

In his case, one degree stronger.

HEAVY METAL: Titleist’s new 913D3 prototype driver has won two of the last three events on TOUR, with Nick Watney’s win at The Barclays coming on the heels of Rory McIlroy’s dominant win at the PGA Championship.

Titleist also debuted its 913 fairway and hybrid prototypes at Bethpage. Graham DeLaet, the biggest mover of all last week with his T5 finish at The Barclays (from No. 106 to No. 44 in the FedExCup), used a 913F fairway.

TWO GLOVES MOVES ON: Tommy Gainey played himself from outside the top 100 in FedExCup points into a spot this week at TPC Boston after a T38 at The Barclays. He made adjustments to his Callaway Razr Fit driver to find some more spin, specifically by changing his upright hosel stting and adding more weight in the toe of the driver while taking it out of the heel.

The result? Gainey could still hit a hard cut but with more than 100 RPMs of spin.

GOLF WITH ZACH: GolfLogix, makers of the game’s best-selling golf app and a leader in GPS technology, is having a sweepstakes where four winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to play golf with nine-time PGA TOUR winner Zach Johnson at his home course in St. Simons Island, Ga.

Existing GolfLogix “Champion” members and those who join or upgrade memberships by Sept. 3 are automatically entered. For more information and to enter without purchase, visit here.

WINNER’S BAG: Nick Watney at The Barclays:
Driver: Titleist 913D3 (10.5 degrees)
Fairway woods: Titleist 910F (15, 19 degrees)
Irons: Titleist AP2 (3-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM4 (54, 60 degrees) 
Putter: Scotty Cameron GSS 
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x