FedExCup update: Spieth keeps his season alive

JERSEY CITY. N.J. – Jordan Spieth produced his lowest Sunday round this season to extend his FedExCup dreams at least one more week.

Spieth entered THE NORTHERN TRUST with his season on the line, ranked 69th in the FedExCup, and knew he needed to perform to stay inside the top 70 before next week’s BMW Championship.

Everything was going to plan through two rounds as Spieth sat second on the leaderboard, but on Sunday, a 3-over 74 sent him scuttling down the boards and in danger of packing up his clubs if he repeated that performance on Sunday.

Given he’d broken par in just three of his 15 Sunday rounds before this week, Spieth fans could have been forgiven for being nervous this season for the 2015 FedExCup champion.

RELATED: FedExCup Standings | FedExCup: Power Rankings | FedExCup Playoffs primer, new format detailed

But the Texan stepped up at Liberty National, posting a 4-under 67 to finish at 12-under and into a tie for sixth. It was enough to take him from 69th to 44th in the FedExCup standings and keeps his hopes of making it back to East Lake for the TOUR Championship alive.

“It was big, off of yesterday's round, and on this golf course in general,” Spieth said.

“Michael (caddie) told me when we finished the round, he goes, "That's probably the least Jordan golf course that we play all year." And I agree, it's probably one of the worst tracks for my game.

“Overall it was a strong improvement on the mentality side and physical side tee-to-green, even though it may not show up that way. But you know being able to roll those putts in, and on 18, I know the difference of dropping back to 11 versus 12 what that does for my chances next week is big.

“I looked at that as big as a putt to win a golf tournament because my ultimate goal is to make it to East Lake and that was a strong finish.”

Of course, Spieth will need another high finish at Medinah Country Club to make it to the TOUR Championship. Only the top 30 in the FedExCup will survive. While official projections aren’t out yet, it is likely he will need to target another top 10 or higher.

Should he do so, he feels he can win it all, even if he starts 10 shots back of the FedExCup leader at East Lake.

“I do think I can make that up. Especially with the progression I've made through the bag this week in my approach game, it was really, really solid,” Spieth added.

“Clear up that tee game a little bit next week and maybe work my way into East Lake, I think anything can happen.”

FINDING THE ANCER

Abraham Ancer started his week hoping he could hang on to a place in next week’s BMW Championship. He ended it with a ticket to the TOUR Championship.

The Mexican’s runner-up finish at THE NORTHERN TRUST sent him from 67th in the FedExCup all the way up to eighth and secures his first ever trip to East Lake.

Making it to the TOUR Championship secures the 28-year-old a spot in the Masters for the first time and will see him return to both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship next season.

He also locked up a place in the International Team for the Presidents Cup to be held in December this year.

“Making it into the TOUR Championship is huge. I obviously wanted to finish first but it's really pleasing to know that with the work that I put in today and this week, and all year, really paid off in a way, still without getting the W,” Ancer said.

“When I got here, I knew where I stood. I knew I had to play a solid tournament just to advance, so it was no option. But I didn't want to just to focus on that. I wanted to get obviously the highest finish I could get to make it to THE TOUR Championship, which it was definitely one of my goals starting this year.”

SCHENK FALLS JUST SHY

The most nervous character in the Liberty National clubhouse was Adam Schenk. Starting the week in 84th in the standings. he needed a big week to push into the top 70. On Sunday, he shot a 4-under 67 to move to 7-under and, when he signed his card, was projected just inside the mark to get to Medinah.

But over the next few hours, his number jumped outside and in a few times as other players continued to play. When the final putt fell, Schenk fell just two FedExCup points behind Joaquin Niemann, who finished T30 at Liberty National after a 66 on Sunday.

MERRITT REBOUNDS MID ROUND

Troy Merritt started THE NORTHERN TRUST in 72nd place in the FedExCup standings. He was on the outside of the BMW Championship bubble looking in. But then, he led the tournament after round one and it seemed a mere formality he would continue his season.

Fast forward to Sunday morning and he was tied 10th, but still very comfortably moving on.

Then he bogeyed the third hole. No big deal. Then he made triple bogey on the fifth hole … that was a big deal.

All of a sudden, Merritt’s place at Medinah Country Club was now up for grabs.

But he failed to let the train derail any further. Five birdies over his last 11 holes left Merritt in a tie for 12th at THE NORTHERN TRUST and moving on at 59th in the FedExCup.

“Just staying positive. Just stayed with it,” Merritt said of his mentality.

“Didn't give myself a lot of stress really the last two days. Didn't have to make many par putts and made some birdie putts today. Finished strong. Made several birdies coming in and got the job done.”

VARNER BUSTS ONE BUBBLE, EYES ANOTHER

Harold Varner III was a long shot to continue his season, having to start from 102nd spot in the FedExCup standings. But not only did he bust through the top 70 bubble with his performance at THE NORTHERN TRUST, he put his TOUR Championship destiny completely in his own hands.

Varner III shot 3-under 69 on Sunday to take third place alone, sending him all the way to 29th in the FedExCup standings.

He now is in position to make the top 30 and TOUR Championship, should he play well at Medinah during next week’s BMW Championship.

It is the first time Varner III has made it to the penultimate Playoffs event, let alone East Lake, and it is his first top-3 finish on the PGA TOUR.

“I've been playing really well this whole year. I just have had one bad round. It was nice to put it all together and the greatest part about it is like you just keep waiting for opportunities. You stay patient and you keep doing the things that you believe, and you know, it paid off today,” Varner III said.

“This is the best finish I've had on TOUR. So I'm going learn something from this. It's my journey. I'm running it and I'm super excited to be on it.”

TOP 10 SHAKE UP

Patrick Reed’s win sent him from 50th to second in the FedExCup. The new top 10 in order is Brooks Koepka, Reed, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schaufelle, Abraham Ancer, Gary Woodland and Dustin Johnson.

They have one more week to secure their starting position for East Lake.

The FedExCup leader heading to the TOUR Championship will start at 10 under, second place at 8 under, third 7 under, fourth 6 under with fifth at 5 under. Players ranked 6-10 will start at 4 under, 11-15 at 3 under, 16-20 at 2 under, 21-25 at 1 under and 26-30 at even par.

SEASON OVER

With the conclusion of THE NORTHERN TRUST, 55 players are officially done eliminated from FedExCup contention.

Four players played their way in from the outside: Harold Varner III, Troy Merritt, Wyndham Clark and Joaquin Niemann. The four to fall out were Sergio Garcia, Danny Lee, Matthew Wolff and Kevin Streelman.

Lee shot 73-77 on the weekend to fall out. Wolff was unable to make a move over the weekend and finished T71. Garcia and Streelman missed the cut.

Here is where all 55 eliminated players finished in the standings this season and the bonus payout they will receive.