Leaders Play "Hot Potato" at The Barclays.

Little did Steve Stricker know that the lead is the worst thing to have at The Barclays. After grabbing the 2nd round lead, Stricker coughed it up with emphasis after a 3rd round, back nine 43 derailed his chances. A triple bogey 7 on the par four 11th hole just made the hole in his boat much larger. He ended up in a tie for 11th place. Aiming for a Ryder Cup bid from Paul Azinger, Stricker became the 2nd man in a row to spit the leader's bit. Similarly, Hunter Mahan, following a 1st round 62, ballooned with a 73, 74 to drop him into a tie for 11th with fellow plunger Stricker. Kevin Streelman inherited the 3rd round lead with a superb 68 today and sits overnight at 205.

Four players took advantage of moving day with excellent rounds to form a logjam for 2nd place at 206. They were Paul Casey, 69, Sergio, 69, Vijay, 66, and Mike Weir, 67. All were prudent to play well enough to be right there in contention, but without assuming the jinxed position of being in the lead. I sure hope that nothing unfortunate happens to the winner of this event on Monday. Two more strokes back at 205 was the foursome of Robert Allenby, Angel Cabrera, Jason Day, and Kevin Sutherland.

It'll be fun to see how tour rookie Sutherland handles the lead. A win here might lock up rookie of the year honors for him. The paycheck and exemption wouldn't hurt either. He's made impressions with his play this year coming out of nowhere to be paired with Woods at Torrey Pines in January and holding the first round lead at the US Open. Gut check time now. Average Golfer says he better double team Sergio and Vijay.

Til' next,