Henry hopes to keep memorable week going

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After shooting a 62 at Greensboro on Sunday, J.J. Henry tied for fourth and snuck into the Playoffs. On Monday, he welcomed his second child to the world.

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Sure, he bogeyed two of his last three holes on Thursday afternoon during the first round of The Barclays.

J.J. Henry couldn't be too disappointed with the round of 70 he shot at Ridgewoood Country Club, though.

After all, until Sunday, he didn't even know whether he'd get to play in the first event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Oh, and then there was that little matter of the birth of his second child, Carson, on Monday.

Henry had played his way into The Barclays when he closed with a 62 to tie for fourth at the Wyndham Championship. He rushed to the airport and flew home to Fort Worth where 7-pound, 9-ounce Carson was born at 4:36 p.m. Monday.

Henry's wife, Lee, and Carson were able t to come home from the hospital on Tuesday night. So he flew to New Jersey at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday and was able to practice, but not play because of the pro-am.

"I walked a couple of holes late last night but my ace man (caddy Matt Hauser) took care of it for me," Henry said. "He did a good job. I am a little tired obviously, but it's an exciting week to shoot 62 Sunday and have your second child Monday.

"I hope I can just try to carry the momentum on."

Henry, who was pleased to see he was in the last group so he could get some much-needed rest, actually birdied his first hole on Thursday. He made the turn 3 under and held steady at that number until consecutive bogeys at the seventh and eighth holes.

"But you're going to do that on a course like this," Henry said philosophically. "Hopefully I can get out and get 'em tomorrow morning. Good greens and at least I kind of know a little bit what I need to do so hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow."

When he went to Greensboro last week, Henry was on the outside looking into the Playoff picture. He was ranked 177th -- far away from the magic number of 144 who make the Playoffs -- but that tie for fourth at Sedgefield enabled him to jump 42 spots.

Henry, who shot a sizzling 30 on the back nine of the Donald Ross gem on Sunday, said he was surprisingly relaxed even with the birth of his son looming and the prospect of being shut out of the Playoffs. Henry needs the same kind of attitude as he attempts to move into the top 120 and advance to next week's Deutsche Bank Championship.

"It was really a kind of carefree attitude on the golf course and I think that kind of helped me," Henry said. "Obviously, I was more concerned about getting home on Sunday and the next thing I know I made a bunch of birdies on the back nine and ended up with a great finish.

"Sometimes you play good when you least expect it and when you put less pressure on yourself. So I guess it's something to learn from if I can go out and just enjoy what's going on. I'm kind of my own worst enemy out there. So just have fun and make the best of it."