The Barclays: Time for the playoffs
The FedEx Cup playoffs get underway this week at Plainfield Country Club


The 2015 FedEx Cup playoffs get underway this week with The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey. Hunter Mahan defends the title while Billy Horschel defends the FedEx Cup itself.
Lowdown: The 2015 FedEx Cup playoffs get underway this week with The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey. Hunter Mahan defends the title while Billy Horschel defends the FedEx Cup itself.
The top 125 players from the FedEx Cup standings through the regular PGA Tour season are eligible to take part in The Barclays and they’ll all be looking to make it into the top 100 in order to progress to the second playoff event next week – the Deutsche Bank Championship.
In the playoffs there are four times the number of FedEx Cup points available than in regular PGA Tour events, so there’s a chance for players to make a large surge up the standings.
Jordan Spieth leads the way going in, but the new World Number 1 will face strong competition from the chasing pack. USPGA champion Jason Day is in second place with Bubba Watson, Jimmy Walker and Justin Rose rounding out the top five.
Justin Rose swing sequence:
The course at Plainfield Country Club plays host to this tournament for a second time. When the event last visited in 2011, the tournament was cut to 54 holes because of the approach of Hurricane Irene. Dustin Johnson won the shortened competition.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Originally designed by Donald Ross and dating from 1916 the layout was revamped in 1999 to bring it into line with the modern game. But if 2011 is anything to go by we could see some low scoring here – DJ was 19-under-par for 54 holes in that event. However, the course has been lengthened and altered slightly for this year, the par has been reduced from 71 to 70 and the greens are unlikely to be so receptive as in 2011.
In last year’s Barclays, Hunter Mahan birdied five of his last eight holes to fire a final round of 65 and win at Ridgewod Country Club by two strokes from Stuart Appleby, Jason Day and Cameron Tringale.
The weather forecast is relatively settled for this week: dry, mild and with only moderate winds. No hurricanes this time out with a little luck.
Venue: Plainfield Country Club, Edison, New Jersey Date: Aug 27-30 Course stats: par 70, 7,012 yards Purse: €8,250,000 Winner: $1,485,000 Defending Champion: Hunter Mahan
TV Coverage: Thursday 27 – Sky Sports 4 from 7pm Friday 28 – Sky Sports 4 from 7pm Saturday 29 – Sky Sports 4 from 6pm Sunday 30 – Sky Sports 4 from 6pm
Player watch: The battle between Jordan Spieth and Jason Day will surely continue this week and it’s hard to see either of them not being in the shake up come Sunday. Who else might contend?
Brooks Koepka – He’s been on great form of late with eight straight top-25 finishes coming into this event. He’s up to 16th on the Official World Golf Ranking. He’s also one of the very longest hitters out there and could overpower this track if he can keep it on the short stuff.
Justin Rose – Another man on consistently good form right now, Rose’s worst finish in his last four starts was a tie for sixth at The Open. He was tied sixth when this tournament was last contested at Plainfield in 2011.
Dustin Johnson – Won here in 2011 when the tournament was shortened to 54 holes. He’s been on good form recently, but has been unable to close out a victory. There’s no Major pressure on this week and he could just benefit from that.
Key hole: 16th. A par-5 of 601 yards, this hole has been altered over the years. Only the very longest will be able to reach in two and even a lay-up for the second shot is testing, owing to clever cross-bunkering. The green is two-tiers and sloping from front to back. This one is no pushover.
Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.
He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.
Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?
-
I've Written About Golf Deals For 5 Years, And This Might Be The Best Discount I've Ever Seen
With years of experience looking at golf deals, it takes a lot for me to get excited, but this Big Spring Sale deal has certainly done so...
By Sam Tremlett Published
-
Legendary Short Game Instructor Dave Pelz Dies Aged 85
The renowned short game expert, who coached multiple Major winners, passed away at the age of 85, with the golf world paying their respects to Pelz
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Who Is Jacob Bridgeman's Fiancée?
Jacob Bridgeman is one of the rising stars of the PGA Tour, but who is his partner?
By Mike Hall Published
-
Who Is Luke Clanton's Caddie? Meet Jason Wiertel
Luke Clanton was one of the first graduates from the PGA Tour U Accelerated program and has been with his caddie since long before turning professional
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Takumi Kanaya Facts: 20 Things You Didn't Know About The Japanese Golfer
Find out more about Japanese professional golfer, Takumi Kanaya's life and career in the game so far via these facts...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Mac Meissner Facts: 16 Things You Didn't Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Get to know American professional golfer, Mac Meissner, with these facts about his life and career in the game so far...
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Kristoffer Ventura Facts: 16 Things You Didn't Know About The Norwegian Golfer
Discover more about professional golfer, Kristoffer Ventura via these facts about his life and career in the game so far...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Greyson Sigg Facts: 17 Things You Didn't Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Get to know American professional golfer, Greyson Sigg with these facts about his life and career in the game so far...
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Who Is J.J. Spaun's Wife?
J.J Spaun has been married to wife Melody since 2019 - here's what we know about her
By Mike Hall Published
-
Who Is JJ Spaun's Caddie? Meet Mark Carens
Find out more about Massachusetts-born Mark Carens, who has enjoyed a highly-successful career to date and has been on the bag of JJ Spaun since April 2021
By Jonny Leighfield Published