GREENSBORO, N.C. — Joel Dermen began a long-term bid to close the PGA Tour postseason by closing out three straight birdies at a 9-under 61 on Thursday, matching his career and leading Alex Noren one shot in the Wyndham Championship.
The Wyndham Championship is the final regular season tournament, with the FedEx Cup top 70 making it into a lucrative postseason filled with potential perks.
Damen is 101st in the ranking and must be runner-up with two or fewer other players to reach the FedEx Cup playoffs.
He was happy with the start – 10 birdies on the dry course at Sedgefield – and was also realistic about the possibility of playing at the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week.
He achieved one victory and three runner-ups in 231 tournaments.
“I mean, I liked three top two in my career – I don’t know, four of them, maybe?” he said. “I mean, it’s not even something, right? Yeah, it’s great to make the playoffs. It’s incredible. Give me a lot of time this fall.
“The playoffs are a bonus for me. I’m just trying to get out and play good golf. If I play really well, I think I’ll be able to play another week.”
Damen shot 61 in the second round of the 2020 RSM Classic.
Noren missed six months with hamstring tears, and even a victory couldn’t reach the postseason. The four players of 63 included Mark Hubbard, who was on No. 98 and needed runner-up to advance.
Hubbard is joined by defending champion Aaron Rye and Nicoe Cavalia defending champion Cameron Young, who will need to hold his position in Issue 65.
“I think it’s all about how you see it. For me, it’s really hard to do that, so it’s not something you really think about, so I think it kind of takes away the pressure,” Hubbard said. “I just have to play really well and make lots of birdies, and if that happens to fall like that, that’s great.
“I think it’s easier than if you had to do a top 15 or top 10 because you’re always looking at the board… this week I have to go out and play as good as possible.”
Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott had different objectives this week, rolling them up with the same score at 65. Spieth had four birdies in his final five holes. He is set to 50th in the postseason, but wants to help him get rid of the pressure when he arrives in Memphis, Tennessee.
The top 50 after the first playoff event is guaranteed to take part in all of the $20 million signing events, not only to move on to next week. Spieth had wrist surgery after missing out last year and had to seek exemption from the signature event.
However, Scott is number 85 and needs at least third place to reach the postseason.
“I need to get to under 20, so I have to think about anything, so I’ll either not be under one year from the first day or I’ll leave more work to myself,” Scott said. “I’m so happy to make some birdies, and of course I want to win this tournament as much as I’m thinking about moving on.”
Also, this week marked $10 million for the first FedEx Cup Bonus Pool – Point Leader (Scotty Schaeffler) and $4 million for second place (Rory McIlroy).
Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley is in 10th place and will win $500,000 if he can stay there. Bradley bogeyed his last two holes for 68.
He played with Ben Griffin (67) and Andrew Novak (68).