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Defending champion Arjun Atwal missed the cut after struggling for two days on the course he played flawlessly a year ago.

He was 20-under last year. After rounds of 73-72 this week, he finished at 145, eight strokes off the cut.

And worse, Atwal is projected to finish 126th in the FedEx Cup standings, one spot out of the playoffs. He could still slip back into the top 125 if one golfer currently projected to finish ahead of him plays poorly enough. Atwal was 120th when the week began.

NAZARETH'S SECOND CHANCE: The second time around was more fun for Starmount Country Club assistant pro Savio Nazareth.

Nazareth, a Monday qualifier for the second time, missed the cut for the second time. But this week's 1-over was better than his 1-over in 2008.

"It's just been an unbelievable experience," Nazareth said. "I didn't play as well as I wanted to, but at least I played pretty well today."

Nazareth, a two-time NCAA Division III All-America and ODAC player of the year at Guilford, shot a 2-under 68 on Friday.

"This time around I was a little more calm," he said. "The first time I was like a kid in a candy store. This time it was a lot better. I just missed a few shots here and there that cost me."

FEDEX CUP UPDATE: Tommy Gainey is 40th in the FedExCup standings. A win would move him to No. 14; he has never qualified for the playoffs. ... Daniel Summerhays ranks No. 178 in the standings and needs a top-three finish to qualify. ... Ernie Els (126th) trails Camilo Villegas (125th) by fractions entering the Wyndham. Points are calculated to three decimal places to prevent ties. Villegas has 320.470 points while Els (126th) has 320.033 points, separated by (0.437). ... Unless David Toms wins, Nick Watney will head into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. ... Matt Jones began the week No. 122 but missed the cut and is projected at No. 129 going into the weekend. He could still move inside the top 125.

OGILVIE ON THE BUZZ: Joe Ogilvie, who shot a 65 today and is 3-under going into the weekend, was asked about the tournament buzz in Greensboro related to the FedEx Cup playoffs.

"They do a hell of a job for us, hospitality is fantastic, and it's just kind of an easy golf course on the eyes," Ogilvie said.

"Going forward as the FedExCup grows, we're only in our fifth year now, it's going to build momentum. It's going to be -- on paper you look at this date and you're like oh, it's going to be tough. It's actually a pretty darn good date."

VACATION FOR LIFE: The "Vacation for Life Hole-In-One Challenge" at the Wyndham Championship, wasn't so much of a challenge for Derek Lameley.

Lamely made a hole-in-one at the 16th hole Friday and wins vacations for life from Wyndham Vacation Ownership, a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family.