Here is the press release from the PGA Tour:<\/p>\n
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The PGA TOUR today announced that The Barclays, the first of four events in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, will be shortened from a 72-hole event to 54 holes, due to the impending threat of Hurricane Irene, which is forecast to move up the East Coast and into the Tri-State area on Sunday.\u00a0 New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a state of emergency on Thursday in advance of Hurricane Irene\u2019s arrival, which threatens to cause severe flooding and damage this weekend, and forecasters issued a hurricane warning for much of New Jersey early Friday morning.\u00a0 The Barclays is being held for the first time at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, N.J.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe weighed all the options available to us, and under normal circumstances, we would obviously prefer to complete 72 holes,\u201d said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s even more true here at The Barclays, considering that this is such an important event to our players as they look to advance through the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.\u00a0 But these aren\u2019t normal circumstances.\u00a0 We realize that \u2018waiting it out\u2019 until Hurricane Irene passes and trying to play golf on Monday or Tuesday would only add unnecessary strain to those who will be trying to help the community recover from whatever potential damage this storm causes.\u00a0 The safety of the community, our fans, players, sponsor guests, television partners and staff is of the utmost importance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re certainly disappointed that the weather will cut short what was on track to be a record-setting event for us,\u201d said The Barclays Executive Director Peter Mele.\u00a0 \u201cThe response from the Edison community and leadership of Plainfield Country Club has been incredible, ever since we announced The Barclays would be coming here in 2011.\u00a0 So many people have worked so hard to set us up for an incredible tournament, but now is the time to keep them and their families\u2019 safety in mind.\u00a0 And while we won\u2019t play on Sunday, I have no doubt we\u2019ll crown a worthy champion tomorrow after an exciting \u2018final\u2019 round.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those who have purchased Sunday tickets to The Barclays 2011 will be contacted by tournament officials and given good-any-day tickets to The Barclays 2012 at The Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y., in exchange.<\/p>\n
This marks the first time in the brief history of the FedExCup that an event has been shortened to 54 holes and the first 54-hole event since the 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.\u00a0 At that tournament, Dustin Johnson was declared the winner after heavy rains on Sunday and into Monday morning deemed the course unplayable. Johnson held a four-stroke lead over Mike Weir at the conclusion of the third round that year. The 54-hole finish will be the second at The Barclays. In 1998, J.P. Hayes birdied the first playoff hole at Westchester Country Club to defeat Jim Furyk in the weather-shortened event.<\/p>\n
The Barclays defending champion Matt Kuchar (64, -8) held a one-stroke lead over Harrison Frazar and William McGirt after completion of the first round this morning.\u00a0 The second round is currently underway, with Kuchar and Dustin Johnson at 12-under-par through 12 holes (as of 12 p.m.).\u00a0 The Barclays field featured 125 players from the FedExCup standings, and only the top 100 in the standings following the completion of The Barclays tomorrow will advance to the next event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, the Deutsche Bank Championship outside of Boston.<\/p>\n
This week represents the 26th 54-hole event on the PGA TOUR since 1990.<\/p>\n
A look at the last five 54-hole events on the PGA TOUR:<\/p>\n
2011 The Barclays (winner to be determined)
\n2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Dustin Johnson)
\n2005 BellSouth Classic (Phil Mickelson)
\n2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic (Luke Donald)
\n2000 BellSouth Classic (Phil Mickelson)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"