Reigning FedEx Cup champion Henrik Stenson has made a significant move up the leaderboard midway through the second round of the Barclays at Ridgewood Country Club.
The Swede, who took out the US PGA tours lucrative season long prize last season, shot a seven-under 64 Friday morning in the first playoff event to rocket up to six under for the tournament, just one shot off the lead.
American veteran and former US Open winner Jim Furyk (69) is joined by countrymen Kevin Chappell (67) and Brendon Todd (69) in top spot at seven under par while four-time major winner Ernie Els of South Africa joins Stenson in fourth after a tidy 68.
Steven Bowditch leads the Australian charge at four-under early in his second round.
John Senden (-3) and Adam Scott (-2) are also just getting started on Friday.
Stenson was sublime on his way to eight birdies, with only one bogey besotting his card.
“I got off to a great start, made a 60-footer with a triple break and just played nicely and made a lot of putts,” Stenson said.
“It’s nice to get a score like this on a tough day and be in a nice position for the weekend.”
Matt Jones shot his second consecutive 72 to drop to two-over for the tournament, in serious danger of missing the cut although he will survive to week two of the playoffs regardless.
Aaron Baddeley’s season appears over after he also finished at two-over, knowing he must make the cut to have any chance of moving on to next week.
With the cut line currently at one-over he will need the afternoon wave players to falter to survive.
Robert Allenby (73), the last ranked player in the field, is definitely done for 2014 after finishing at four-over.
Geoff Ogilvy struggled to a 76 and will miss the cut and now faces a nervous wait over the weekend to see if he can hold on to one of the final spots in next week’s field.
Only the top 100 on the points list move on with Ogilvy currently projected to fall right around the bubble.
Jason Day and Stuart Appleby head out in the afternoon wave with Day safe regardless and Appleby needing to make the cut.