Bubble boys Letzig, Weir seeking spot in the Playoffs

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Michael Letzig entered the week as the 125th player in the FedExCup standings.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Michael Letzig and Mike Weir are only two of the players competing in the Wyndham Championship who are feeling the pressure.

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Given their FedExCup ranking of Nos. 125 and 126, respectively, though, the two might just as well be the poster boys this week. And Letzig maintained the upper hand, of sorts, on the golf course with a round of 66 that was one better than Weir.

Only the top 125 in the standings when the final putt is struck at Sedgefield on Sunday advance into the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Hence, the sense of urgency -- although Letzig doesn't feel the quest is a distraction.

"The FedEx(Cup) is kind of the highlight of our year," said Letzig, who moved up four spots in the projected standings. "It's The Playoffs. It's kind of like the way I view it is I played so poorly early in the year that that season is over. Now it's a new season.

"The Playoffs, anything can happen. ... You saw what Heath (Slocum) did last year when he just got in (and won The Barclays). I'm trying to think about that and play good and build some momentum."

So is Weir, who remained in 126th on the projected standings. He hasn't had a top-10 since the first event of the 2010 season, and he's been battling tendinitis in his elbow since the British Open.

"I need to play well," Weir said. "This game is always about pressure, whether it's getting into the Playoffs, trying to get in THE TOUR Championship, trying to win the tournament.

"There's different levels of pressure and this week ... I want to play and keep playing. I'd love to keep playing and get a good number."

Weir rated the pain in his elbow a 7 out of 10 on Thursday after being an 8 or 9 most days over the last two months. Given his position in the FedExCup and on the money list -- where Weir ranks on the bubble at 125th -- he knew he needed to play.

Weir, an eight-time TOUR winner, called his situation a "Catch-22."

"It's a tough sport at the best of times when you're feeling good and it's like taking a knife to you," Weir said. "It's tough to play but hopefully we'll get through this and then get some time off and look at some different options to try to fix it."

Weir has missed the cut in four of his last six starts, and the 67 is his best in his last 17 rounds dating back to the final round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. He's playing in the Wyndham Championship for just the fourth time in his career -- and the first at Sedgefield Country Club.

"It's an old country club, should suit me and you still got to make some putts out there," Weir said. "I left a few out there. I really like the golf course. ... It's a nice track."

Unlike Weir, Letzig has seen a little more light at this end of the tunnel with a tie for fourth at the RBC Canadian Open and a tie for 21st at The Greenbrier. He's cashed checks in five of his last seven events, although he missed the cut in his last two weeks ago at the Turning Stone Resort Championship.

"My year has been a bit of a struggle," Letzig said, echoing Weir's words. "Trying to get into a rhythm. I'm just trying to play well so I can get into another event to play next week, hopefully.

"I've been playing a lot better the last month and a half. Not really watching the scoreboard. I know how it updates the points after every hole and you can see it. You can't worry about it. Just play golf."

Both Letzig and Weir did that well on Thursday.