Tigerless but Exciting Finish Coming at the Deutsche Bank

Golf writer Andy Reistetter is on site at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts and is providing daily reports covering both inside and outside the ropes.

On moving day Tiger Woods shot a 1-over par 72 to fall out of contention in Week Two of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup at TPC Boston.

The World No. 1 golfer is nine strokes back of a Tigerless marquee leader board that includes Steve Stricker, Retief Goosen, and Sean O'Hair at the top.

With 16 players within four shots it's anybody's tournament if they go low on the Labor Day Monday finish.

Others within the Sweet 16 include three-time Major champion Padraig Harrington who has been knocking at the door recently at the PGA at Hazeltine and the first playoff Barclays event last week at Liberty National.

Don’t rule out long hitting Dustin Johnson who gave away three shots down the stretch today with bogeys at No. 13 and 16 and a three-putt par on No. 18. Or Jim Furyk who chipped in on the last hole to salvage a 73 and stay within three strokes.

Long hitting Masters Champion Angel Cabrera and Geoff Ogilvy are four back after shooting 70s in the sunny but cool and breezy day outside Boston.  

Is anyone complaining that Tiger is not in the hunt hunting them?

Certainly not one of the the co-leaders Steve Stricker. "It's good for the tournament when he's there. It's good for TV when he's up there. But as a player, it's nice that if you're up around the lead that he's not."

Nor the other co-leader Retief Goosen. "The players are happy that he's not up top of the leader board. The sponsors are unhappy that he's not on top of the leader board."

The third and final co-leader Sean O'Hair is counting his blessings that Tiger is so far back in the pack that there are 36 players between them to protect him.

"(If) I wake up, and there's a little bit of doubt. It takes me a few holes to get going. I mean, Bay Hill two years in a row, it's taken me seven holes to get going, and I can't do that with a player like Tiger Woods nipping at my heels."

Stricker played with his Wisconsin buddy Jerry Kelly today. Kelly posted a 67 while Stricker came through with a 65 which was the best round of the day. Kelly is two strokes back tied with Kevin Sutherland in 7^th place.

Okay so here is the set-up for tomorrow…

Leaders by two strokes Steve Stricker and Retief Goosen playing in the final twosome. If conditions stay hard and fast as they will and the wind comes up there is a big advantage to these two guys plus Padraig Harrington who is only one stroke back.

No wind, no golf even here in America.

Sean O'Hair the bright and articulate upstart has regained his confidence with the flat stick. But he is paired with Kevin Na one of the slowest players on tour. At THE PLAYERS this year playing partner Angel Cabrera and his caddie actually sprawled out on a knoll 20 feet from the hole on No. 10 while Na took forever and a day to line up his putt.

Never rising until after Na's lag putt Cabrera got the honors when Na three putted for bogey. He promptly walked to the 11^th tee put a peg in the group and hit into the group in front as they were just walking out of his rather lengthy range.

Cabrera's message?

The way to combat slow play on the PGA TOUR is to play faster than the group in front of you not slower!

So who knows if O'Hair gets hotter than hot he may win this thing.

Harrington and Scott Verplank are one stroke back as is Na. Harrington is motivated to win again and say "hey those swing changes I made were the right thing to do and thank you very much to those of you who doubted me."

Then comes Jerry Kelly and Kevin Sutherland. Sutherland finished tied for 9^th last week. Two nice guys with Kelly keeping the atmosphere light hearted. Either or both might catch fire like the water fire celebration in Providence last night.

Look for Furyk, Johnson and Cabrera to make a charge sometime during the final round.

Bottom line… Stricker and Harrington where knocking on the door last week at The Barclays and they are there again this week. Look for one of them to win the Deutsche Bank tomorrow.

Tigerless finish?

Well not exactly…

With Tiger out at 10:30 a.m. a full three hours ahead of the leaders maybe a fierce 59 or something like that will put the fear of the Tiger back in their minds.

Happy Labor Day and good golfing!

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel. Having attended the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Honda Classic, WGC-CA Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, Masters Tournament, Verizon Heritage, Zurich Classic of New Orleans, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open at Bethpage, AT&T National, British Open at Turnberry, PGA at Hazeltine and The Barclays last week this is Andy's 14^th event of the season.  

He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]