FP – Greg Chalmers boosted his cause with a hole-in-one as he and fellow Australian Aaron Baddeley rose to the challenge in the US PGA Tour playoffs.
Needing good results just to be among the top 100 players who advance to next week’s second play-off tournament, Chalmers and Baddeley both shot six-under-par 66s in the third round on Saturday to charge up the leaderboard at The Barclays tournament in New Jersey.
Baddeley carded six birdies and an eagle, surging into a tie for 13th place, six shots behind leaders Matt Kuchar (70) and Gary Woodland (68), who were at 12-under 201 with one round to play.
Just as importantly it had Baddeley projected to rise 45 spots in the FedexCup season standings to No.74, well inside the top 100 who advance to the Deutsche Back Championship, if he holds his position.
Chalmers made his second ace of the season when he holed out his tee shot at the par 3 14th en route to a share of 19th place on 208, a position which had him projected to rise to No.79 in the standings.
Already sure to contest all of the four playoff tournaments, Masters champion Adam Scott slipped with a 72 to be tied 13th with Baddeley while countryman Jason Day’s 71 was only good enough to be tied 34th.
Among those needing a good final round to advance were Geoff Ogilvy, who stumbled with a 77, and Stuart Appleby (72), both currently projected to finish outside the top 100 in the standings.
Playing with a sore back, Tiger Woods shot a two-under 69 and was four shots back of Kuchar and Woodland.
Despite the back pain, Woods climbed up the leaderboard with four birdies in his final 11 holes.
“It starts off great every day, and then it progressively deteriorates as the day goes on,” said Woods, who had trouble bending over at times on the course. “Hopefully tomorrow it will be one of those days again and fight through it and see if I can win a tournament.”