Topsy-turvy year could produce surprise champ

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Vijay Singh has won the FedExCup before, and he's playing well in this year's Playoffs.

Raise your hand if you figured Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker and Gary Woodland would be in the FedExCup top 10 heading into Week 2.

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Or that Keegan Bradley would look like a contender.

Or that Jason Dufner would be ahead of Rickie Fowler and way, way ahead of Jim Furyk, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els.

Or that Harrington and Els would need great opening weeks just to get here. And better ones to move on to Chicago.

Or that Tiger Woods wouldn't even get here.

You wanted topsy-turvy? You got it. You want fresh faces and untold stories? Got those, too.

A little old with your new? Vijay Singh and his German-engineered back are in the serious hunt -- thanks to back-to-back top-4 finishes -- for a second FedExCup title at 48 years old.

Phil Mickelson is there, too, but trending downward -- as the kids he is mentoring are trending upward -- after the opening week.

Dustin Johnson is your leader, which has to come as a bit of a surprise since he wavered from good to fair to middlin' much of the year -- the tie for second at the British Open notwithstanding -- before winning The Barclays last week.

Matt Kuchar? The only player more consistent than him this year is Luke Donald, who has a win. Kuch doesn't. But Donald is fifth in the standings right now with Nick Watney and Simpson between him and Kuch.

This year is for everyone who figured the FedExCup would always be a Woods-Mickleson-Furyk-Singh-Steve Stricker race. If/when they were healthy, that is.

Now you've got a real dogfight unfolding. A top-10 here or there could decide the title. So could a win at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. But they have to get there first.

This week's still-drying-out-from-Irene Deutsche Bank Championship is the big separator. Those spunky kids like William McGirt and Troy Matteson and vets like Els and Harrington need not just good but awesome weeks to fly up into the top 70 and move on. Guys like Furyk can't lose any ground. Not one spot or last year's winner heads home.

Players like Adam Scott and Harrison Frazar have to shake off not-so-great final rounds at The Barclays and get moving. And guys like Ian Poulter, Chris Stroud and Anthony Kim have to make even bigger leaps than they did last week.

Hoffman's 62 last year was electric -- and unexpected -- and pushed him to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, while Day, Donald, Scott and Snedeker fell in just behind him.

Could Johnson win another one? Absolutely. The way he played at Barclays -- and the way he listened to caddie Joe LaCava -- sure got everyone's attention. So did 21 birdies and two bogeys. Yes, he's pushing for majors, but this run has that feel and . . . you never know.

Could Kuchar jump up? Or Donald? Or Scott? Or Stricker? Again, absolutely times four. They're all right there, ready to pounce and,;like we said, they've got good history at TPC Boston. Stricker won there two years ago and Mickelson in '07.

But who aren't you thinking about? Who could make an eye-popping move up the standings and to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola?

We could make a case for at least half of the 100 players left, but we won't. Instead, we'll just leave you with a few folks to think about.

Dufner: He's had a little time to get over the PGA Championship loss and he did finish in a tie for second in Boston two years ago. He's been steady, too. Don't let the baby face and gait fool you. He backed up to 29th on the list last week, but if he shakes that and the PGA off ... the guy can play.

Harrington: You never know. He made a leap last year and now that he's got this latest tweak -- ok about a dozen of them since last year -- on track, don't count him out.

Fowler: He dangled his toes in the Playoffs pool last year and now...making a Playoffs event his first win? We thought it might happen at the British Open, but what he took out of that performance, well, he's spinning it forward. Once he closes one out, look out.

Singh: Don't chuckle. The guy redefines late 40s. We thought Hale Irwin, then Jay Haas and Freddie Couples did. But a healthy Vijay will outwork everyone out here. Yes, seriously possible.

Watney: He keeps sliding under the radar, doesn't he? He's shown us he can close. He's No. 3 on your FedExCup list and has every shot in the bag. He can't jump that far up the list, but lets just say looking past him isn't the smartest move.

Simpson: Caught you by surprise, right? One win, one playoff loss, one other second. Eight total top-10s, including last week. Stealth at its finest. Just like Watney, only not as well known. That might not last for long.

Bradley: Time to take that PGA Championship and channel it toward the Playoffs. He had us at the infectious smile and honesty. Missing the cut last week is, well, understandable. But Boston? This is home. If he can enjoy the early-week ride, then focus...yes, he can.

Scott: Assuming that final round at The Barclays was a one-off, he's on a serious track for the top-5 heading into Atlanta.

Day: Haven't heard much from him lately, which could mean he's saving it up for the Playoffs stretch. He tied for second at the Deutsche Bank last year, which means keep an eye on him.

Jonathan Byrd: Another one of those guys under the radar. Strong start, but not much to talk about this summer. Then a fifth last week. Wasn't just a blip on the screen.

McGirt: That would be one heck of a story, wouldn't it? Jumped 29 places last week and got our attention. Twenty-nine spots won't do it this time, plus he'll need help. Stranger things have happened, but there's a field of strong players between him and 60th place. Not saying no, but...that may be too far to stretch topsy-turvy.