Round 1: The Barclays

Two years ago, Vaughn Taylor failed to qualify for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

A year ago, he did make the Playoffs but his stay was short, bowing out after The Barclays.

But this year, he enters the Playoffs ranked 38th in FedExCup points, thanks to five top-10 finishes, his most since 2006. He’s got his TOUR card locked up for next year, so the pressure’s off. His approach to the Playoffs is simple — it’s a fresh start.

On Thursday, that fresh start translated into an opening-round 6-under 65 at The Barclays to give him a share of the early lead.

"It’ just kind of gravy from here on out," Taylor said. "Obviously want to finish as high as I can on the FedEx and the money list to get in all the majors next year and things of that nature. So it’s pressure off, but also a little bit of pressure to reach your goals."

Of those five top-10 finishes this year, his most recent was a sixth-place at the John Deere Classic. But instead of building on that momentum, he let it evaporate with a tie for 35th at the Reno-Tahoe Open, a tie for 66th at the Turning Stone Resort Championship, then a missed cut at the PGA Championship. He was in such a rut that he even changed caddies just to switch things up.

"I had a nice stretch there for about a month and went out to Reno and just struggled with the altitude," Taylor said. "Just couldn’t figure out how far the ball was going."

Taylor was then reminded that his two career wins have been at the Reno-Tahoe Open, in 2004 and 2005. So how could he not figure out the altitude?

"I know," he smiled. "I can’t figure it out the last two years. Just clueless. I don’t know. … Maybe I got lucky two years."

But he certainly figured out Ridgewood. After an early bogey at the par-5 third hole, he immediately responded by draining a putt of 25 feet, 4 inches for birdie on the fourth, and that jump-started his round. He went bogey-free the rest of the way, and had a five-hole stretch on the back nine in which he posted four birdies — three of them with putts outside 10 feet.

Taylor said he certainly didn’t expect a 65 when he started the day.

"I’ve been struggling a little bit lately," he said. "Just haven’t been hitting it very solid. Not playing bad, but my putter has been a little sketchy, too. Did some good work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and felt like I was on the right track.

"It was good to get out there and get some confidence going."

VAUGHN TAYLOR: FIRST-ROUND STATISTICS