Spieth begins playoffs with lead, FedEx history in mind

EDISON, N.J. – In Jordan Spieth’s defense, he wasn’t a math major before bolting the University of Texas early to start collecting trophies.

“I could finish solo second and I think still win . . . no, that's not true,” he paused as his mind raced through the different FedEx Cup scenarios. “Top 5 wins . . .”

Put another way, after winning the year’s first two major championships and finishing tied for fourth – just one stroke out of a playoff – and second at the final two Grand Slam stops, Spieth enters the playoffs at this week’s Barclays with a commanding, some would even say insurmountable, lead.

But for the top-ranked player heading into the postseason, the reality is much more complicated…