Round 1: Deutsche Bank Championship

Stan Badz/PGA TOUR

Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker and Martin Laird (l-r) each had solid starts Friday.

The threesome of Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker and Martin Laird — the top three players in the FedExCup points rankings — shot a combined 16 under in the first round.

That’s nothing to sneeze at. It’s also nowhere close to the 23-under cumulative score that another threesome — Ryan Palmer, Jason Day, Zach Johnson, ranked 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively — shot Friday morning.

Still, for the day’s most notable FedExCup group, it was a solid start as each looks to maintain a stranglehold on their top-5 positions, which is key in the Playoffs. The top five going into THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola are the only players to control their own fate in regards to winning the FedExCup.

"We had a good group," Stricker said. "We all played well … Any time you can do that it gives you a lot of good feelings, a lot of good vibes as you all feed off one another, so it was a good day."

In the Playoffs, pairings for the first two rounds are determined by a player’s FedExCup position. That’s what the top three were playing together Friday and will be paired again in the second round.

The No. 2-ranked Stricker eventually produced a bogey-free 6 under 6, with four of those birdies coming on TPC Boston’s front side, which was the group’s final nine after starting their rounds off the 10th tee.

"I’m playing with Martin, who obviously hits it a lot longer than Matt and I, but they both hit it great and kind of fed off both of them," Stricker said. "They got off to a fast start and I was kind of lagging behind but made a good run at the end."

Kuchar — No. 1 after winning The Barclays last week — suffered a late double-bogey at the par-4 sixth when his approach shot landed out of bounds. He finished at 5 under.

"Played some steady golf except for the double bogey," Kuchar said. "… Considering all the congratulatory stuff, all the stuff that goes on after winning a tournament, the next week it’s hard to continue good play.

"But I was happy to have an opening round of 5-under par."

Laird, No. 3 in points, also was victimized by a double bogey en route to a 66. He third shot at the par-5 second sailed over the green, and then his chip shot coming back went back over the green. His fifth shot then landed short of the green.

The threesome was just about to finish their rounds when the horn sounded to suspend play due to electricity in the air. Stricker and Laird had already hit their tee shots on their final hole, the par-4 ninth. The threesome then had to wait out the 80-minute delay before getting back to the course.

Stricker ended up with birdie on the last hole, as did Kuchar, while Laird took par.

"We basically had an iron shot into the green and had to putt, so that makes things easier," Stricker said. " We were just hoping to finish for the day and not have to hang around just to play one hole."

"You never know how you’re going to come out (after a delay)," said Kuchar. "Just to make a three on No. 9 is a good score."

TOP THREE IN FEDEXCUP POINTS