(Image Source: The Star-Ledger)

BY WEI GAO

Hurricane Irene could make the shortest FedEx playoff on record. The PGA Tour announced The Barclays -- the first of four tournaments in the FedExCup Playoff -- will be shortened from a 72-hole event to 54 holes due to the impending threat of hurricane Irene.


For the record, Harrison Frazar is leading the Barclays -- but the only name anyone was saying was Irene
PGA Tour tournament director Slugger White tells USA Today...

"Sunday obviously is not going to be here. We are looking upwards to maybe 10 to 12 inches of rain between Saturday night and Sunday evening, and that puts Monday out and Tuesday out, as well,"  "If we don't get 18 in (Saturday), we will resort back to 36 holes, and the FedEx points would go to that. They would be spread there and sent to Boston.”


Golf events are notoriously subject to whimsical weather. Ferocious weather has been causing big damage in the PGA Tour during last decade.

PGATOUR:"Mother nature...ouch...that was just behind our screen."

Eugene Oregon’s Register Guard reports...Hurricane Irene talk has dampened the Barclays’ start before the event- or the hurricane- even got started...

“Whatever enthusiasm there was for start of the FedEx Cup playoffs was dampened Thursday — first by rain that halted the first round for nearly three hours, then from the gloomy forecast of Hurricane Irene. That left players and officials wonder when, how or even if they can finish the opening playoff event.”

With the decision to shorten the event, some- like Golf Week, say the hurricane has already done its damage. Check out their headline.....

“PGA Tour officials have thrown in the towel. Hurricane Irene wins.”

Others say -- predicting the Barclay’s is like predicting Irene’s path.  It’s hard to say.  The New York Daily News quotes the man atop the leader board.

"We haven't been told of any plans,There (are) right now nothing but rumors. But I think the last thing that we want is to have a cancellation of the tournament."

Especially if you’re in Frazar’s position.
PGA officials will wait into the weekend -- before making a final decision.