Bubba Watson, momentarily distracted by a rare warning for taking too long to play a shot, recovered with a birdie on the 18th hole at Plainfield Country Club for a two-under 68.Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Jordan Spieth lost out on a chance to play the weekend at The Barclays.
He also lost his No. 1 ranking.
Bubba Watson, momentarily distracted by a rare warning for taking too long to play a shot, recovered with a birdie on the 18th hole at Plainfield Country Club for a two-under 68 and a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the opening FedEx Cup playoff event.
On an otherwise sleepy afternoon at a course where no one could get any separation, two peculiar moments stood out – a bad time for Watson, bad golf from Spieth.
Trying to rally to make the cut, Spieth hit into a hazard on the 12th hole, and a bogey later became a double bogey when he was penalized one shot for stepping on his ball during the search. He had a 73, the first time since the Tour Championship last year that he had consecutive rounds over par. He missed the cut by five shots. That means Rory McIlroy, who isn't playing this week, returns to No. 1.
"I've reached that peak already and I know it's going to be close enough to where if I just get the job done next week, I'll be back in that ranking," Spieth said. "But again, that ranking, it's great once you reach it but it's not something that I'm going to live or die on each week."
McIlroy becomes the 14th player since the world ranking began in 1986 to get to No. 1 without playing that week.
Watson is in good shape through 36 holes to claim his own No. 1 ranking – a victory would move him to the top of the FedEx Cup. Much like the world ranking right now, that figures to change by the week.
Ultimately, what matters to Watson, Spieth and others is winning the Tour Championship to capture the $10-million (U.S.) bonus.
Halfway through this event, there is no telling what else will happen over the next two days.
PGA Tour rookie Justin Thomas had a few late bogeys for a 69 and shrugged when asked if he was happy with his score. He was seven shots back.
"This is a course where if you make the cut, you have a chance to win," Thomas said.
Watson sits at seven-under 133.
British Open champion Zach Johnson made five birdies to go with four par-saving putts from outside eight feet for a 65. He was one shot out of the lead, along with Henrik Stenson (66), Tony Finau (69) and Jason Dufner (68).
Canadian David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 32nd after shooting a 69. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., dropped down the leaderboard with a three-over 73. He's tied for 40th. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford and Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., missed the cut.
Some players will get a month off after missing the cut, making it impossible to move into the top 100 in the FedEx Cup and advance to the top 100. That group included Tim Clark and DeLaet. Adam Scott also missed the cut and is likely to fall out of the top 100 at the end of the tournament Sunday.