Top 70 on the Fedex Cup ranking after the regular season are qualified for the first playoff tournament in Memphis, but to play the second tournament next week, it requires being top 50.
For Alex Norén – 42nd on the ranking before the tournament – it's an important intermediate goal. In addition to continued play in the playoffs, a top 50 placement would also mean that the 42-year-old is qualified for the absolute biggest tournaments on the tour next season.
Brilliant start
During Thursday's first round at TPC Southwind, not much worked out for Norén – he came in three strokes over par. It went better on Friday.
Norén got a brilliant start with two straight birdies before the only bogey of the day came on the fifth hole with a bogey. Then, Norén responded with four birdies and nine pars, which gave 65 strokes (five under par). With that, he is –2 going into the weekend's two final rounds.
World number four Ludvig Åberg has a more favorable starting position in the playoffs – the 24-year-old was sixth on the ranking before the stop in Memphis.
He went the first round in 71 strokes (one over par) but started Friday with two straight birdies. Then, it was a real rollercoaster ride for the Swede. On holes 3 to 11, there were indeed two birdies, but also three bogeys.
World number one in form
After three pars, Åberg could, however, respond with two straight birdies, but on hole 17, it became a new bogey. After a closing par, he could sign the scorecard for a 68-round (two under par for the day) and –1 overall after two rounds, placing him in a shared 42nd place. A bit above him, Norén is in a shared 33rd place.
Denny McCarthy, USA, and Hideki Matsuyama, Japan, lead on –11. World number one and Fedex Cup leader Scottie Scheffler, USA, is nine strokes under par.
+ First tournament (top 70 on Fedex Cup ranking)
Takes place 15–18 August at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
+ Second tournament (top 50)
Takes place 22–25 August at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado.
+ Tour final (top 30)
Takes place 29 August–1 September at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia.
