Slocum survives star-studded challenge to win Barclays

Heath Slocum drained a 21-foot par putt on the final hole to claim a one-shot win at The Barclays, the first of the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff series

Heath Slocum hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during round two of The Barclays on August 28, 2009 at Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey. Slocum drained a 21-foot par putt on the final hole Sunday to claim a one-shot win at The Barclays, the first of the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff series.

Slocum's effort denied a possible playoff that would have included world number one Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker - who is second on the FedEx Cup points list - as well as three-time major champions Ernie Els of South Africa and Padraig Harrington of Ireland.

Slocum shot a four-under 67 Sunday for a nine-under total of 275.

Woods and Harrington also carded 67s, while Els posted a five-under 66 and Stricker shot 69. Those four shared second on eight-under 276.

With the win, Slocum leapt from 124th on the FedEx Cup points list to third behind Woods and Stricker.

"That's what is unbelievable about this system," said Slocum, who earned 1.35 million dollars for his third US PGA Tour win.

"I was sweating it out last week not knowing if I'd even be here. I found out late Sunday and I came in with the attitude that I've got nothing to lose and I'll let it hang out and play the best I can."

Overnight co-leaders Paul Goydos and Steve Marino both struggled in the final round at Liberty National.

Goydos carded a 75 for a share of ninth place on 279, while Marino faltered with a 77 to finished tied for 15th.

Slocum birdied the second, then holed out for eagle on the fifth to seize a share of the lead. He got up and down for birdie on the par-five sixth, but gave a shot back to fall back into a tie for the lead with Marino with a bogey at seven.

Marino faded on the back nine, as Slocum parred five straight from the eighth - retaining a share of the lead all the while.

Meanwhile Els and Stricker joined the lead. Els's bogey-free round included a birdie on the third and two posted a bogey-free round that included a birdie on the third and two braces of back-to-back birdies - at seven and eight and 13 and 14.

After Els, Harrington was next in on eight-under. He birdied three in a row from the 12th to reach seven-under, the sank a 13-footer at 18.

Slocum got to nine-under with a four-footer at 13. Stricker was nine-under after a five-footer for birdie at 13, but bogeyed 15.

Stricker regained a share of the lead with a birdie at 16.

At 18, both Slocum and Stricker were in bunkers off the tee. Both got out onto the fairway, and Stricker put his next shot within 10 feet as Slocum put his 21 feet away.

Slocum made his putt to put the pressure on Stricker, who missed on the left edge.

"Obviously, when I hit the drive I was a little concerned," Slocum said. "I putted beautifully all week so if I just gave myself a chance, I felt like I can make one.

"It was beautiful," he said.

After a bogey at the fourth, Woods made his move with three birdies in four holes from the fifth.

At 14 he sank an 11-foot birdie attempt an 11-foot birdie attempt, then got within one of the lead with a three-footer at 16.

At 17, Woods saw a 20-foot birdie attempt slide right, and his seven-footer at the last missed left.

"I just misread that one," said Woods of his putt at 18. "That's the way it goes. I hit the ball well all week and to putt as poorly as I did all week and still have a chance on the last hole, says something about my ball-striking. Unfortunately I didn't make enough putts on these greens all week."

The top 100 on the points list move on now to the second playoff event, next week's Deutsche Bank Championship. Those knocked out this week included South Korea's K.J. Choi and former British Open champion Ben Curtis.