Golf: Pádraig Harrington crashed out of the FedEx Cup play-offs without managing a single birdie in Boston today, while Graeme McDowell was likely to pay a heavy price for bogeying the 17th and then missing a six-foot birdie chance at the last.

Needing to move through the field at the Deutsche Bank Championship to progress to the third leg of the series in a fortnight's time, Harrington scored only a four-over-par 75 to finish down on three over.

It was not a good day either for Justin Rose or Martin Laird. They shot 74 and 73 for two-over and four-over totals respectively, but were already safely inside the top 70 who will contest the BMW Championship in Chicago.

Laird was heading for something much worse, but birdied the 16th and eagled the 18th to climb away from joint last place in the tournament.

McDowell's bid to stay alive in the series was going to the wire after he carded three birdies and three bogeys for a 71 that left him four under and 73rd on the points standings, meaning he needed three players to mess up over the closing stretch to let him back in.

Six under for the day, American Chez Reavie held a two shot on 16 under lead with two to play. Compatriot Webb Simpson was in second place with one to play, while Brandt Snedeker was the clubhouse leader on 13 under.

Jim Furyk and Luke Donald were 12 under with one to play, while Jason Day was on the same score after 15.