Utah golfers open PGA postseason at FedEx Cup playoffs


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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — When the No. 6-ranked golfer in the world tees off Thursday at The Barclay’s during the opening tournament of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, a local golfer will have a good look at him.

Farmington native Danny Summerhays will open the playoffs as a playing partner with Rory McIlroy, and the two are excited to be together.

“Rory is so nice; we’ve played several times together,” said Summerhays by phone from New York, where he will tee off at 10:44 a.m. MDT. “It’s exciting to play with Rory. I’ve been paired with him before, and guys like Bubba Watson. It’s kind of been-there, done-that.

“I’m looking forward to being around Rory, and putting on a show with him.”

More exciting, though, is Summerhays’ chance to make some waves in the PGA Tour’s annual postseason event. The top 100 in the Cup standings will advance to the Deutsche Bank Championship, with weekly eliminations until the top 30 meet at the Tour Championship.

For Summerhays, who had a breakout season on the PGA Tour in 2016 and will play in his first Masters next April, it’s a good spot to be in.

“I put myself in a nice spot,” said Summerhays, who ranks No. 37 in the FedEx Cup rankings. “Honestly, I just need to have a couple of solid tournaments or one good tournament to push me over the edge and into the Tour championship.”

Fellow Utah golfer Zac Blair, another BYU grad, has a little more of a tough task ahead of him. The Ogden native is ranked No. 103 as the FedEx Cup opens this week, and he knows he has a little work to do to secure his passage to the next round.

No pressure, right?

“It’s the same situation I was in last year,” Blair said. “If you go out and have a good week, you’ll move on. That’s what I am going to try and do.”

Lehi resident Tony Finau will tee off at 5:53 a.m. MDT with James Han and Aaron Baddeley. The West High graduate is currently ranked No. 45 in the FedEx Cup standings.

Play concludes Sunday at Bethpage State Park (Black).

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Rod Zundel

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