Lee Hodges may breathe easier knowing that the FedExCup Playoffs are two weeks away. This is what Justin Thomas cannot afford.
After nearly two rounds of the 3M Open on Friday, Hodges led Tyler Duncan by four strokes after birdying four of his final six holes for a 7-under 64.
The play was halted due to darkness following a roughly two-hour weather delay in the afternoon, with six players still to finish and none within 10 strokes of the lead.
Hodges was at 15-under 127 as the first-round leader and 74th in the FedExCup points standings. He added a 33-foot birdie putt on hole 13 to his front nine scores of 3 under par, then made birdies from 14 feet on holes 14 and 17 and from 11 feet on hole 17.
“I’m out there with a terrific attitude. We have 70 or so points on the list between me and my caddie (Andrew Medley), so what do we have to lose, right? Every shot we have made thus far has been made with commitment, which is fantastic. We’ll keep doing it because we have nothing to lose” Hodges said.
Thomas attempted to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, but a couple of poor holes and a long last-hole putt were too much to overcome. He finished with a score of even par after making birdies on 4 of his final 5 holes, giving him a tournament total of 2 strokes under par.
In his last seven starts, Thomas, who is ranked No. 75 in the FedExCup standings, has missed five cuts. Following the Wyndham Championship the following week, the top 70 will advance to the Playoffs. Thomas, who hopes to remain a strong contender for a spot on the American Ryder Cup team, has only finished in the top 10 twice in 14 tournaments since mid-February.
Thomas started the back nine, but he dropped to 1 under after hitting two balls into the water on the 18th par-5. On the 4th par-3, a bad tee shot and poor chip led to another double bogey, but a solid final stretch was capped by a 30-foot putt on hole No. 9.
“This is an excellent opportunity for me to develop, challenge myself, and learn more about myself. You are not given anything in this game, by the way. For the past five or six years, I’ve had excellent opportunities to win the FedExCup, and right now, I’m attempting to reach the Playoffs. That is simply how this sport is. You only need to go out and get it since everybody can experience it.” Thomas said.
He wasn’t the only player whose failure to make the cut prematurely derailed hopes of making the FedExCup Playoffs. The weekend is off for No. 70 K.H. Lee (1 under), No. 72 Davis Thompson (2 under), and No. 90 Gary Woodland (3 over).
Duncan fired a 67 despite missing cuts in six of his last eight tournaments and 17 of 27 this season. He has two rounds without a bogey.
Even though I’ve been working hard, you never know when it may appear. You just keep hoping. However, it doesn’t always appear when you want it to.
Tony Finau, the defending champion, J.T. Poston, Brandt Snedeker, and Kevin Streelman all finished at 10 under par.
Streelman is in a unique position this season with one top-10 in 25 starts.
“I’m looking forward to being in the final groups on a Saturday because I haven’t been there in a while. I don’t have much to lose at my age, so this weekend I’ll just go out and have some fun.” 44-year-old Streelman said.
