For Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley and Robert Allenby the equation in week one of the US PGA Tour playoffs is simple: perform or perish.

While Adam Scott and Jason Day lead an impressive 10-man Australian contingent at the Barclays for the opening event of the four-week playoff run, it could be a short stint for the foursome if they cannot produce the goods at Ridgewood Country Club.

With players progressively being cut from FedEx Cup contention over the next month, those at the back of the pack must find a way to jump inside the important bubbles.

The Barclays this week has 125 starters but only 100 will make it through to the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston next week before 70 compete at the BMW Championship in Denver and just 30 remain for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

With the first two events those with a halfway cut, it is imperative you make an early move while it is easier to do so, as some players will fail to garner any points at all.

Ogilvy (90th) and Appleby (98th) start inside the top 100 this week with Ogilvy likely safe if he makes the cut and finishes inside the top 68 players and Appleby needing to target the top 57 to move on.

Baddeley at 102nd knows his magic number will fall somewhere around a top 51 finish at Ridgewood.

The Victorian was in a similar position last year and looked odds on to advance before making bogeys on his final three holes to fall agonisingly to 101st, ending his year.

But he’s not after any payback, instead seeing the playoffs as an opportunity to do something great in a year where he’s had two top 5s but precious little else.

Allenby, who seemed dead and buried late on Sunday as he watched his projections stay outside the top 125, was left to thank Heath Slocum’s bogey bogey finish in the last regular season event.

It ensured he held on to the 125th position as last man in the field. The veteran Victorian now must aim for the top 33 finish this week to survive.

Scott (15th), John Senden (26th), Marc Leishman (27th), Day (34th), Matt Jones (40th) and Steven Bowditch (52nd) are all safe through to week two regardless of their results this week.