The Barclays: Earthquakes, Hurricanes and a Drivable Par-Four 18th

The words “New Jersey“ and “interesting” don’t often appear in the same sentence. 

However, this is shaping up to be one interesting week in Edison, New Jersey, where the Top 125 players on the PGA Tour are on hand for the start of the 2011 FedEx Cup playoffs.

Yesterday afternoon at just before 2 p.m., an earthquake rattled Plainfield Country Club, which is beyond a rare occurrence in New Jersey.

“Earthquake while on the course in New Jersey. Now that’s something I don’t experience everyday,” 2009 Barclays Champion Heath Slocum tweeted.

“Earthquake in Jersey? Or someone trying to give me a shake down??” PGA Championship runner-up Jason Dufner comically tweeted yesterday afternoon.

The tremors lasted only 15 seconds, but we are by no means out of the woods just yet, as Hurricane Irene is meant to batter the eastern seaboard on Sunday.

Surely not the start the PGA Tour was looking for to the 2011 FedEx Cup playoffs.

But who needs Tiger Woods, Rory McIlory, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke when we have an earthquake and a hurricane to bring some drama and excitement to the festivities in Edison, New Jersey.

Add in a drivable par-four 18th hole, and Plainfield Country Club could really be rocking—both literally and figuratively—over the next four days.

When considering the unpredictability of the 2011 PGA Tour season, suffice it to say that anything can happen during the 2011 FedEx Cup playoffs, and that apparently includes earthquakes and hurricanes.

Who knew that New Jersey could be so interesting?

For more golf news, insight and analysis, check out The Tour Report.