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PGA playoff fever, and all the math that comes with it

Michelle Wie, of the United States, takes part in the pro-am at the 2017 CP Women's Open of the LPGA Tour in Ottawa on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Michelle Wie, of the United States, takes part in the pro-am at the 2017 CP Women's Open of the LPGA Tour in Ottawa on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) Michelle Wie, of the United States, takes part in the pro-am at the 2017 CP Women's Open of the LPGA Tour in Ottawa on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

By Associated Press 4 min read

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) – The Northern Trust might be one tournament that can change a player’s season without even having to win.

Sean O’Hair fits into that category.

A year ago at the FedEx Cup playoffs opener, O’Hair closed with a 66 at Bethpage Black and wound up in a tie for second. That shot him up from No. 108 to No. 15 in the FedEx Cup, and he did just enough to remain in the top 30 and get to the Tour Championship. More than picking up a $190,000 bonus, he got into all four majors.

The best example was Heath Slocum , who actually won at Liberty National after narrowly qualifying for the PGA Tour’s version of a postseason. Winning what then was called The Barclays moved him up to No. 3, and he still was in the top 5 when he reached the Tour Championship.

Something along those lines is sure to unfold this week at The Northern Trust, which moves this year to Glen Oaks.