EDISON, N.J. — 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 2-under 68 and a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the opening FedEx Cup playoff event.
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. McIlroy is the 14th player since the 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.
Watson was at 7-under 133.
British Open champion Zach Johnson made five birdies to go with four par-saving putts from outside 8 feet for a 65. He was tied for second with Henrik Stenson (66), Tony Finau (69) and Jason Dufner (68).
Champions Tour
ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Paul Goydos and Gene Sauers shared the first-round lead at 6-under 66 on Friday in the Champions Tour’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.
John Huston, who won this tournament four years ago, was a stroke back along with Ian Woosnam.
Czech Masters
VYSOKY UJEZD, Czech Republic— Matthew Fitzpatrick and Pelle Edberg both shot a 5-under 67 on Friday to share the lead after the second round of the Czech Masters.
Fitzpatrick holed a 20-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 12th and finished his round with his third birdie of the day on the 18th for an 11-under total of 133.
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