EDISON, N.J., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- William McGirt, the last player to qualify for the PGA Tour's playoffs, was tied for the lead Thursday when first-round play was suspended at The Barclays.
McGirt was the 125th and final qualifier for the four-tournament series that will determine the winner of the FedEx Cup and the $10 million first prize that goes with it.
If McGirt should win this week, he would likely vault all the way from last to first in the points standings.
There is much golf left to be played and a hurricane to contend with before the Barclays comes to a close, however, and 51 players in the 123-man field could not even finish the first round before dark Thursday.
Action was delayed by rain for 3 hours, 15 minutes.
McGirt was one of those unable to complete his round and he stood at 7-under through 11 holes when play was halted at the Plainfield Country Club. Defending champion Matt Kuchar was 7-under with two holes remaining and Harrison Frazar was in the clubhouse with a 7-under 64.
Vijay Singh and Jonathan Byrd both shot a 65 and Chris Stroud was tied with them at 6-under with five holes to go.
Adam Scott was in the group at 5-under and the large crowd at 4-under included Nick Watney, who came into the playoffs leading the points list. Phil Mickelson and newly crowned PGA champion Keegan Bradley were still on the course at 2-under.
McGirt has only one Top-20 finish this year and he wound up 52nd last week at the Wyndham Championship, a showing that barely got him into the playoffs. He shot a 64 in the second round last week and eventually parred his final 10 holes Sunday. A bogey on any of them would have knocked him out of a qualifying position.
Tournament officials hope to be able to complete the second round Friday, after which a scheduling decision will be made for the remainder of the event. Rains and wind from Hurricane Irene are expected to reach northern New Jersey Saturday.
