Deutsche Bank Leaderboard: Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Jim Furyk Trying To Play Their Way Onto Ryder Cup Team

With the field now cut in half at TPC Boston, a number of players on the FedEx Cup bubble will try to make a move on Sunday to put themselves in the contention. Keegan Bradley has already demonstrated that more low numbers are available in Norton, Mass., posting a third-round 63 and moving 51 spots up the leaderboard. The local kid went crazy with the belly putter, draining his putts to move to 6-under for the championship. No one in the morning wave has come close to matching Bradley’s 63, so the afternoon tee times will simply need to keep it in the high 60s to be set up for Monday’s finish.

Last week’s winner, Nick Watney has yet to make a bogey on Sunday and has also moved 15 spots up the leaderboard to 4-under for the week. Even with the win last week, it’s unlikely Watney will be a Ryder Cup captain’s choice, but Davis Love III has stated he wants a hot golfer, so two more low rounds should at least keep his name on the short list.

While the Deutsche Bank is the instant headliner, the backdrop of the Ryder Cup is dominating the early conversation in the third round. Both Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan, two bubble boys, have played unremarkably on Sunday. Fowler has yet to break par this week and he posted a third-round 72 on Sunday. He is said to be a favorite of Love’s, someone who he wants in the “team room.” But he hasn’t taken advantage of the amenable course conditions this week.

Just a month ago, it was inconceivable that Mahan would not be a part of the American group at Medinah. But the Okie State Cowboy struggled in August and has not played well during the playoffs. His day began with an abominable snowman at the par-5 second, and he dropped another shot with a bogey at No. 6. He’s already fallen 26 spots on the leaderboard and is 1-over.

Jim Furyk, another Ryder Cup vet, was thought to be teetering on the edge of the 12th and final spot. He needed a good week in Boston, and while he hasn’t lit it up, he’s currently 2-under for the day and 3-under for the championship. Brandt Snedeker is 1-under through eight holes and even with Watney at 4-under for the tournament.

One player who has not done particularly well during the team match play events is Dustin Johnson. He was considered to be on the outside-looking-in this summer, but his play over the past six weeks is impossible to disregard. The bomb and gouger has been consistently in the top ten, and he’s already picked up another shot through his first three holes on Sunday. He’s currently T10 at 8-under.

While the Ryder Cup shuffle dominates the morning wave, two players who already have reservations for Medinah -- Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy -- are finishing up their routines on the range and putting green. They’re playing in the final two groups of the day and looking to take control of the top spot in the playoff standings.

For a live leaderboard, visit Golf.com.

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