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Rickie Fowler earned his first FedExCup Playoffs victory last year at TPC Boston. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
• COURSE: TPC Boston, 7,297 yards, par 71. In the New England countryside about midway between Boston and Rhode Island, the original 2002 Arnold Palmer Design creation stood just five years before Gil Hanse and consultant Brad Faxon were brought in for a thorough remodel. Fairways and greens were regraded as Hanse/Faxon introduced “chocolate-drop” mounds and grass bunkers to give the course more of a regional feel. The Deutsche Bank Championship has been part of the Labor Day calendar since 2003, offering a traditional Monday finish to take advantage of the holiday. For more on the courses in the TPC network, click here.
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 2,000 points.
• CHARITY: The Tiger Woods Foundation has been the tournament’s primary beneficiary since the start, directing proceeds to the Earl Woods Scholarship Program. Additionally, many local New England charities also receive financial support from the Deutsche Bank Championship.
• FIELD WATCH: World No. 1 Jason Day and No. 2 Dustin Johnson join defending champion Rickie Fowler atop the marquee for a lineup expected to number 99 entrants. … Open champion Henrik Stenson, who withdrew after one round at The Barclays with knee trouble, is tentatively in as he awaits results of an MRI. … The only eligible name not on the list is Masters champion Danny Willett, essentially ending his FedExCup run. The Englishman was hoping to jump in at the BMW Championship, but began the playoffs at No.75 and needed to move up.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 262, Vijay Singh (2008), Charley Hoffman (2010), Henrik Stenson (2013).
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Vijay Singh (3rd round, 2006), Mike Weir (1st round, 2008).
• LAST YEAR: Fowler chased down a faltering Stenson over the final nine, turning a three-shot deficit into his third come-from-behind victory in a span of five months. Fowler closed with a 3-under 68, making just two birdies after the turn but holding steady as Stenson produced the crucial mistake at the par-3 16th. Pulling a 7-iron, the Swede watched his tee shot balloon in the wind and splash into a pond short of the green for double bogey that allowed Fowler to ascend into the lead. It was Stenson’s second runner-up finish in as many weeks, though he was six behind Jason Day a week earlier at The Barclays. Fowler’s triumph followed similar comeback wins at THE PLAYERS Championship – erasing a five-shot deficit over the final six holes to force a playoff – and the Scottish Open when he birdied three of his last four holes.
• STORYLINES: While there figures to be a change at the top of the FedExCup table following The Barclays, Day has appeared close to regaining the form that made him dominant in the spring. Runner-up at the PGA Championship, the Aussie was lurking in the top 10 at the midpoint at Bethpage Black. … Stenson, whose Claret Jug and Olympic silver medal made him perhaps the summer’s most consistent golfer, will bear watching if he tees it up at TPC Boston. His WD at Bethpage Black came after an opening 74. … Rory McIlroy, now down to No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking, hasn’t had a top-10 finish on U.S. soil since the Memorial Tournament in May. … The FedExCup cutdown now moves to the top 70 in points for the BMW Championship. A year ago, Keegan Bradley and Jerry Kelly were among four who extended their seasons after coming to Boston outside the cut line.
• SHORT CHIPS: Both Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson are set to make their 35th starts in the FedExCup Playoffs, matching Hunter Mahan for most all-time. Mahan had not missed a Playoffs event until falling short of the TOUR Championship last year. … Each of the past six Deutsche Bank Championship winners have come from behind on the final day. Just four winners of 13 have closed out 54-hole leads, though three came in the first three editions. … Only four men in the past three seasons have notched top-10 finishes at each of the first two playoff events. Last year it was Stenson and Daniel Summerhays.
• TELEVISION: Friday-Saturday, 2:30-6:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC). Monday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (GC), 1:30-6 p.m. (NBC).
• PGA TOUR LIVE: Friday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (featured groups), 3-6:30 p.m. (featured holes). Sunday-Monday, 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (featured holes).
• RADIO: Friday-Saturday, noon-7 p.m.; Sunday-Monday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).
For more on all the courses in the TPC network, visit TPC.
The PGSF FedEx Cup tour rolls into Boston for the second round of the playoffs
congratulations to last weeks winner
KtNole
Some movement in overall leader board leading into point reset
good luck to everyone this week
