Baddeley, Mahan covet win for different reasons

ATLANTA -- The cup is close enough now for Hunter Mahan and Aaron Baddeley to seriously consider how much it's worth to them.

Even if they're not thinking about the same cup.

Baddeley knew when he showed up at the Tour Championship that it was his final chance to convince captain Greg Norman that he was worth a spot on the Presidents Cup team in his native Melbourne.

He made quite an impression Saturday at East Lake, running off four straight birdies on the back nine for a 6-under-par 64 and a share of the lead.

"That's a huge goal of mine, to make that team and play down in Melbourne," Baddeley said. "It was definitely on the forefront of my mind to be able to knuckle down, play well this week and show Greg that I've got some form."

Mahan is No. 21 in the FedEx Cup, and, after he narrowly wrapped up a spot on the U.S. team, said last week he looked forward to the Tour Championship and "not having to worry about 10 things."

Now he has 10 million things to think about.

Of the top five players in the FedEx Cup, only Luke Donald remains in serious contention. That means Mahan has a shot at the FedEx Cup and its $10 million bonus if he were to win the Tour Championship -- and its $1.44 million payoff.

"I honestly didn't think that was a possibility," Mahan said after holing a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 66.

Mahan and Baddeley were at 9-under 201.

Jason Day recovered from a ragged start and had a 69, leaving him two shots back. The 23-year-old Australian was tied with K.J. Choi, who also started poorly and shot 70.

Donald, the world No. 1 who still can add his name to the prestigious list of players to have captured the FedEx Cup, had a 70 and was three shots behind.

Bill Haas, who had a chance to make the Presidents Cup team last week until a 42 on the back nine at Cog Hill, was among those tied for the lead until the final two holes. He went bunker-to-bunker on the 17th and had to scramble for bogey, then hit his tee shot on the 18th into the crowd, missed a 4-foot putt and made double bogey.

Haas was followed by his father, Jay Haas, an assistant captain for the Presidents Cup. He settled for a 69 and was so steamed he refused interview requests.

Ten players were separated by five shots, and the group includes Phil Mickelson, who won the event two years ago. He had a 67 and was four shots behind.

"I feel like the first three rounds, I had three possibilities of 63, 64 that I turned into 68, 69," Mickelson said. "If I can just not do that and keep it where I feel the round should be, I think I can make a run."

Former UNLV star Adam Scott, the second-round leader, led until a 39 on the back nine, compounded by a three-putt double bogey on the 14th. He shot 74 and was five shots behind.

The pressure is building on so many fronts going into today, and while it's easy to focus on the $10 million to the winner of the FedEx Cup -- $9 million of that in cash -- for Baddeley it could provide a chance to show his national pride by making the Presidents Cup team.