Five punch their ticket to PGA TOUR Playoffs

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GREENSBORO, N.C. -- J.J. Henry may not get to play a practice round next week before the first event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

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J.J. Henry has a life-changing week ahead.

What it took

J.J. Henry's 2008 season

Starts 25 Cuts made 12 Top-10s 2 Top-25s 2

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Normally, that would be important since The Barclays is being played on a new course at Ridgewood Country Club. Henry has a pretty compelling reason, though.

He's going to become a daddy again.

After Henry played his way into the Playoffs with a final-round 62 at the Wyndham Championship, he was headed home to Fort Worth where his wife was scheduled to deliver their second child on Monday.

"Just a great way to end what's going to be an even better week tomorrow," Henry said after tying for fourth to post his only top-10 finish of the year.

Henry was one of five players who moved into the top 144 in the FedExCup standings on Sunday -- jumping from 177th to 137th. Henry, who is in the final year of his exemption for winning the 2006 Buick Championship, made a similar move on the money list.

"It was that kind of week where I had nothing to lose -- kind of a win-win whether I play great and move on to next week or obviously, sometimes there's more important things in life than playing golf," Henry said.

"I've been out here a long time and I've had success (but this has) been kind of a rough year. Hopefully this will really turn it around. ... I'm looking forward to playing a lot this fall and maybe trying to give it a run the next couple of weeks as well."

Rich Beem made the biggest FedExCup jump of 52 spots Sunday after closing with consecutive 63s at Sedgefield to finish third. He was one of last year's big Playoff movers -- starting The Barclays at No. 134 and moving up to 113th with his seventh-place finish there.

He nearly didn't get the chance for a repeat performance, though. Beem was even par for the tournament through 14 holes on Friday and well below the cut line before he eagled the 15th and birdied No. 16 to make the cut on the number.

"(This is) kind of the same premise, but right now it's totally different because I wasn't even in the Playoffs," Beem said. "I had to fight like hell just to get in the Playoffs. For me right now I think this is actually a little bit more gratifying to actually make it.

"Now I can use this as a stepping stone to try to do something a little better going into the Playoffs. Certainly I'm playing well and my confidence is there so I'm going to keep working at it, and who knows?"

Beem was well aware that he was on the outside looking in at No. 166 when he came to Greensboro. But he was more than happy to change that flight to Austin to one to New York after posting his best finish -- and only top-10 -- since tied for 20th at the FBR Open.

"I knew I had to play my butt off just to make it up there," Beem said. "I didn't want to have four weeks off, and I'm glad at least I got into the first one. I've got a chance for the first one and second one, so on and so forth. I'm there now.

"You can't win it unless you get in it."

Like Beem, Martin Laird was hovering near the cut line on Friday. The rookie from Glasgow had opened with a 63 but was struggling in the second round and came to the ninth hole needing a two-putt par for to stay around for the weekend.

Once he put the finishing touches on that 74, Laird set a goal for himself. He wanted to shoot 12 under over the final two rounds, which he figured would be good for a top-10 finish and a move from 164th into the Playoffs.

"That was my No. 1 goal," said Laird, who moved 33 spots with his tie for fourth. "Obviously to do it, it's good. I guess right now I am 122 so have a good week next week, and I'll be in a couple more. That was my No. 1 goal and I got it."

Laird said he watched the Playoffs last year but he didn't study the various permutations and mathematical possibilities. He learned one thing, though.

"All I know is you want to get in there," said Laird, who came to Greensboro with momentum after a tie for fourth at Reno. "If you're playing good, you have a chance to go on. I've been playing great the last month. Keep on next week and keep going."

Playing their way in

Player   Playoffs position entering Wyndham Wyndham result Playoffs position after Wyndham Rich Beem 166 3rd (17 under) 70-67-63-63 114 Martin Laird 164 T4 (16 under) 63-74-64-63 128 J.J. Henry 177 T4 (16 under) 70-66-66-62 135 Justin Bolli 153 T15 (13 under) 68-66-68-65 141 Lee Janzen 154 T15 (13 under) 67-66-67-67 144