Winners and Losers from the 2016 Barclays
At The Barclays on Sunday, Patrick Reed returned to the winner's circle for the first time since last year's Hyundai Tournament of Champions, edging out a pair of challengers at eight under par.
The Texan is doubly a winner this week, having locked up a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup squad thanks to his performance at the first event of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Reed was not the only winner this week. An American beverage found its way into the "winner" column, this in association with Jordan Spieth, while there were some losers afoot as well.
Read on for the full story and the rest of the list.
Winner: Patrick Reed
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Don't underestimate the power of Ryder Cup motivation.
The top eight golfers in the Ryder Cup standings at the end of The Barclays earned a spot on the U.S. squad. Finishing outside the top eight means a golfer has to rely on a captain's pick from Davis Love III. Patrick Reed, who gets turned up to 11 for international play, entered The Barclays in the No. 8 position.
Reed burst out of the gate with an opening-round 66 and never looked back, marching confidently in his Tiger Woods red and black to a final-round one-under 70, while playing partner Rickie Fowler faltered Sunday.
Reed took home The Barclays trophy and secured a spot playing for his country at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.
Loser: Adam Scott
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If golf were a game played from tee to green, Adam Scott would have 100 wins. Unfortunately for Scott, you need to putt the ball once you hit it on the green.
The Australian, who had developed some level of competence when using the long putter, has been awful with the flatstick since his forced transition to the conventional-length putter. He's 126th on tour in strokes gained from putting this season.
In contrast, he's first on tour in strokes gained from tee to green.
This week was a microcosm of what ails Scott. He was first in strokes gained from tee to green (14.70) and 76th in strokes gained from putting (minus-4.81), as bad as anyone who made the cut.
He finished tied for fourth—two strokes behind Reed. If he had just about anyone else who made the cut putting for him, he would have won the tournament.
Winner: Sean O'Hair
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Starting the week in the No. 108 position in the FedEx Cup standings, Sean O'Hair played brilliant golf at Bethpage Black. O'Hair fattened his wallet ($748,000) with a tied-for-second finish and moved all the way into the No. 15 spot in the season-long race.
O'Hair, who had missed three of his last four cuts and had only one top-10 finish this year, fired a final-round five-under 66 out of nowhere to finish a stroke behind Reed.
Fine work from one of the tour's class acts.
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Loser: Rory McIlroy
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New putter, same results for the former world No. 1. Rory McIlroy hasn't had a season to remember.
In recent weeks, the Ulsterman has struggled with the flatstick.
With his equipment manufacturer's impending exit from the golf-equipment space, McIlroy returned to his old putter-maker, Scotty Cameron, this week. However, the results were the same, as he lost 5.6 strokes to the field with his putting and settled for a tie for 31st.
Winner: The Mustache
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While CBS' mustachioed Gary McCord tried to throw shade on Rickie Fowler's whiskers during the Sunday telecast, suggesting he was dying his stubble, neither the golfer nor his 'stache were to be deterred.
Fowler and pal Justin Thomas decided to put their own spin on the time-honored tradition of the playoff beard. And we can't help but assume the upper-lip scruff was the causal agent behind the pair's quality play at Bethpage.
Thomas presented a poll to his Twitter followers early in the week, asking if he and Fowler should grow playoff mustaches. When his followers voted overwhelmingly for hair growth, the pair obliged (although not in terribly impressive fashion).
Given the duo's top-10 finishes this week, we'll see if anyone else hops on the 'stachewagon.
Losers: Olympic Medalists
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Olympic letdown?
Things didn't go well for Rio medalists, though it's understandable after an adrenaline-filled week with media obligations and travel.
Olympic silver medalist Henrik Stenson was forced to withdraw after dealing with soreness in his surgically repaired knee. Matt Kuchar, the bronze medalist, tied for 64th, failing to shoot better than 72.
Justin Rose was the best of the bunch, tying for 31st. The Englishman did, however, don his gold medal to hole his final putt, which was fantastic.
Winner: Bethpage Black
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The 1936 A.W. Tillinghast design isn't a regular tour stop.
It's been in The Barclays rotation, hosting the 2012 edition of the tournament, as well as this year's competition. The USGA famously held the 2002 U.S. Open at the venue—the first at a truly public course—as well as the 2009 U.S. Open.
Tough, long, fair and located on a beautiful piece of property in Farmingdale, New York, it's a shame we don't get to see more of Bethpage.
Losers: Those Who Say You Have to Wait Until After a Round to Get an Autograph
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A video posted to Total Frat Move's Instagram shows a pair of golf-loving bros trying to get Jordan Spieth's attention for an autograph during his opening round at The Barclays. That's right: during his round.
You can get tossed out of a tournament for asking a player to sign during a round. Further, signing (presumably) empty beer bottles isn't done.
It was surprising, then, when Spieth replied "toss it" to the request, scribbling his signature on the Budweiser and throwing it back.
Stats are courtesy of PGATour.com.
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