Field finalized for The Barclays as the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup are set to begin

Paramus, N.J. – The Barclays, the first of four events in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, will feature 123 of the top 125 players from the FedExCup with the likes of Ernie Els, Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jim Furyk and defending champion Heath Slocum included in the field at The Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., August 24-29.

As the fourth edition of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup begin, Ernie Els remains a fixture on top of the current FedExCup standings on the strength of victories at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Els, who is tied for third on the PGA TOUR with six top 10s on the year, has led the FedExCup standings for 22-consecutive weeks.

In 2009, Els shot a 5-under 66 in the final round of The Barclays that boosted him to a T2, an event he has won twice before (1996, 1997). Els’ has seven top-five finishes at The Barclays, the most in tournament history.

At No. 2 and No. 3 in the standings, respectively, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk are the only two players who have played in all 48 rounds in the three years of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. With a sixth-place finish at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola last year, Stricker moved into a tie with Camilo Villegas with a TOUR-best seven top-10 finishes in Playoff events (out of 12 total). Stricker has two Playoff victories, the first at The Barclays in 2007 (the inaugural Playoffs event) and last year at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Woods, winner of the FedExCup in 2007 and 2009, comes to the Playoffs ranked No. 112 in the FedExCup standings. This year will mark the first time Woods has competed at The Ridgewood Country Club after he was forced to miss the 2008 event while recovering from knee surgery. He finished T2 last year at Liberty National, one-stroke behind Slocum.

Scott Piercy was the lone golfer to play his way into the field via his performance in the final week of the regular season at the Wyndham Championship. Piercy finished T8 to move up 15 positions in the FedExCup standings. At T8, Piercy matched his best finish of the 2010 season with his only other top-10 finish coming at the Waste Management Phoenix Open (T8). After bogeys on holes 6, 7 and 8, Piercy played the back nine at three-under par to finish the regular season at no. 125, two points ahead of Jeff Quinney. Chris Stroud began the week at no. 124, but missed the cut and was bumped out of the top 125 by Piercy’s performance.

In his rookie season in 2009, Piercy missed the cut at The Barclays but continued to the Duetsche Bank Championship. He finished the year 88th in the FedExCup standings.

Sergio Garcia (No. 101) and Corey Pavin (No. 110) are the only players who qualified for The Barclays who will not compete this week at The Ridgewood Country Club.

The top 100 players following The Barclays will advance to the next event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Tickets to The Barclays 2010 can be purchased by visiting www.thebarclaysgolf.com and can also be purchased in the pro shop at Paramus Golf Club.

The PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup culminate with the FedExCup Champion crowned at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, Sept. 23-26.

About The Barclays

The Barclays has been a part of the PGA TOUR schedule since 1967 when Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural event at Westchester Country Club. Since that time, some of the greatest players in the game have earned the title including World Golf Hall of Famers Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, Raymond Floyd, Seve Ballesteros, Hale Irwin, Curtis Strange and the new defending champion, Heath Slocum, 2009 winner of The Barclays. Many of the world's current top players have won the event as well, including two-time champions Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia, and four-time champion Vijay Singh. As the first of four playoff events, The Barclays plays a leading role in the FedExCup, the season-long competition that is the centerpiece of the PGA TOUR season. In 2010, The Barclays will be held at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus New Jersey, on August 24-29.

About Barclays

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs nearly 147,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for 48 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.

About Barclays Capital

Barclays Capital is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. With a distinctive business model, Barclays Capital provides large corporate, government and institutional clients with a full spectrum of solutions to their strategic advisory, financing and risk management needs. Barclays Capital has offices around the world, employs over 25,000 people and has the global reach, advisory services and distribution power to meet the needs of issuers and investors worldwide. For further information about Barclays Capital, please visit our website www.barclayscapital.com.

About Barclays Wealth

Barclays Wealth is a leading global wealth manager, and the UK's largest, with total client assets of $241 (£151.2bn) as of December 31, 2009. With offices in over 20 countries, Barclays Wealth focuses on private and intermediary clients worldwide, providing international and private banking, investment management, brokerage and fiduciary services. For further information about Barclays Wealth, please visit our website www.barclayswealthamericas.com or our Twitter page www.twitter.com/barclayswealth.