Johnathan Byrd started the day right on the bubble; number 30 in the Fed-Ex Cup standings and in danger of not playing next week at East Lake Golf Club. Byrd shrugged off the pressure and rose to the occasion. With 8 birdies and 1 bogey, Johnathan Byrd shot a 7-under 64 to lead the BMW Championship by a stroke over Justin Rose and Camilo Villegas.

 "Being 30th and kind of on the bubble, I knew I would have to stay aggressive this week," said Byrd. "I can't say, you know, I've got to finish 15th this week or I'm not getting in or I've got to finish 30th. I don't know what that's going to be because I don't know how the other guys are going to play. I might as well shoot to win the golf tournament."

Byrd and the other players today took advantage of Cog Hill with its pants down. The fairways and greens were , and the rules committee implemented lift, clean and place to assist the players.

Tiger Woods said, "The fairways slowed up, but much more the greens. You know, today when you have ball in hand, you're firing at just about every flag. You know, it's one of those things where you felt like you had to shoot something in the mid-60s or else you're just going to get left behind. I don't know why we went ball in hand today, but as soon as we did, you just knew the guys were going to tear it apart."

Thursday at the BMW Championship was a day of opportunity for many players that had to play well or watch from home next week. Eight of the top ten players after one round lie in 30th or worse in the Fed-Ex standings. The top 30 players will advance to The TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Course.

Byrd said, "Honestly, I want to play next week more than -- just as much as anybody else. It's really important to get in the TOUR Championship. It's a tournament I've never played in. I've never made the Top 30, and I'm competitive. I want to be there.

I want to have a chance to win this tournament and next week. I want to be there."

With everything coming down to the next couple of tournaments, people are finally beginning to realize that it might be someone other than Tiger Woods that wins the Fed-Ex Cup. He currently stands in third place, and a win this week and a strong showing next would certainly wrap things up, there is a possibility that "someone else" might win. When asked about the situation and what the Fed-Ex is indicative of, Johnathan Byrd had this to say.

"I feel the system is set up for the FedExCup champion as a combination of the guy who plays well all year and plays well this week, and I think that's what the PGA TOUR intended, and I think that's what's going to happen. Now, with Steve Stricker up there, he's played well all year, and he's played well in the FedExCup. So has Tiger and Rory Sabbatini, the guys that are up there.