Edison, N.J. • Tony Finau shot a 5-under 65 on Thursday and is tied for the lead after the first round of The Barclays, which kicks off the FedEX Cup playoffs.
The Salt Lake City native had eight birdies and three bogeys.
If Finau moves from 39th in the standings into the top 30 during the next three FedEx Cup events, he'll not only qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship, but will earn invitations to all four majors in 2016.
The likely accompanying prize would be the tour's Rookie of the Year award.
Former BYU golfers Daniels Summerhays and Zac Blair shot 3-under 67 and 1-under 69, respectively.
Meanwhile, the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs brought out the worst score from Jordan Spieth in three months.
In his first tournament as No. 1 in the world, Jordan Spieth had a pair of three-putt bogeys, hit a tee shot in the water, shot 40 on his back nine and wound up with a 4-over 74 in the opening round. It was his highest score since a 75 in The Players Championship, the last time he missed a cut.
Bubba Watson, Spencer Levin and Camilo Villegas also shot a 5-under 65 on Thursday.
Villegas only got into the top 125 to qualify for the playoffs last week at the Wyndham Championship, with two shots to spare. He's 123rd, with the top 100 advancing to the second event at TPC Boston. Levin secured his spot with a 63 in the final round at the Wyndham, moving up seven spots to No. 115.
Spieth has nothing to lose except the No. 1 ranking he has held for all of two weeks.
With two majors among his four wins, and nine top-three finishes, he's No. 1 in the FedEx Cup and virtually assured of getting to the finale at East Lake with a clear shot at the $10 million bonus.
LPGA Tour
Brittany Lang birdied five of the first seven holes in windy conditions and shot a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala.
Added to the U.S. Solheim Cup team Monday as one of Juli Inkster's two captain's picks, Lang had a two-stroke lead over Tiffany Joh, Sydnee Michaels and Ryann O'Toole.
Tony Finau, right, talks with his caddie Greg Bodine about his putt on the ninth hole during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Tony Finau chips onto the fifth green during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Spencer Levin reacts to missing a putt on the 11th green during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Spencer Levin hits from the 12th fairway during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Spencer Levin hits from the 12th fairway during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Vijay Singh, of Fiji, reacts after hitting a tee shot on the fifth hole during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Luke Donald, of England, tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Camilo Villegas smiles after putting on the final hole during the first round of The Barclays golf tournament, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (Chris Pedota/Northjersey.com via AP)
Phil Mickelson watches a tee shot during the first round of The Barclays golf tournament, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (Chris Pedota/Northjersey.com via AP)
Bubba Watson watches a tee shot during the first round of The Barclays golf tournament, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (Chris Pedota/Northjersey.com via AP)
Jordan Spieth tries to tell his tee shot which direction to take during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (Chris Pedota/Northjersey.com via AP) ONLINE OUT; MAGAZINES OUT; TV OUT; INTERNET OUT; NO ARCHIVING; MANDATORY CREDIT
Jordan Spieth lines up a putt during the first round of The Barclays golf tournament, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (Chris Pedota/Northjersey.com via AP)
Phil Mickelson hits out of the bunker on 18 during the first round of play at The Barclays golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Edison, N.J. (Chris Pedota/Northjersey.com via AP) ONLINE OUT; MAGAZINES OUT; TV OUT; INTERNET OUT; NO ARCHIVING; MANDATORY CREDIT
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