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Check out everything you need to know ahead of the 2018 Dell Technologies Championship next week at TPC Boston.
Rory McIlroy, the 2016 FedExCup champion, will jump into the playoff fray after sitting out the opener to fine-tune his game. Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson and Brandt Snedeker also figure to begin their playoff quests after injury breaks.
FIELD NOTES
Barring any lingering injury woes, the lineup is expected to boast 99 of the 100 players eligible. Open Championship titleholder Francesco Molinari is the only name missing.
Fowler, who began the Playoffs at No.17, hopes an extra week’s rest for his strained oblique bodes well for a playoff run. Snedeker (back spasms) and Stenson (elbow) were late withdrawals from THE NORTHERN TRUST.
Patrick Rodgers, who also missed the opener to attend a wedding, is set to tee it up again if he doesn’t fall outside the top 100. He entered the Playoffs at No. 93.
FEDEXCUP
Winner receives 2,000 points.
STORYLINES
McIlroy, 21st in FedExCup points when the regular season ended, begins his playoff push a little farther back but is likely still on track to make the TOUR Championship. Despite two top-10s in his past three starts, McIlroy told reporters after the PGA Championship there were items he wanted to hone ahead of the Ryder Cup.
Three of the past five winners at TPC Boston have gone on to win the FedExCup, with Thomas’ feat preceded by McIlroy (2016) and Stenson (2013).
Tiger Woods continues his playoff comeback at a locale where he’s placed lower than 11th just twice in nine previous starts. He won the 2006 edition and was runner-up twice.
The FedExCup focus now shifts to the top 70 in points to qualify for the BMW Championship. Just three advanced from outside the cut line last year: Stewart Cink, Emiliano Grillo and Rafa Cabrera Bello.
It’s the final event for European players to earn Ryder Cup points, with eight automatic berths up for grabs. Four are taken from a compilation of world ranking points.
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk will announce his first three wild-card picks the day after Labor Day.
Though this marks the event’s final edition, Boston isn’t completely out of the playoff picture. TPC Boston will join the rota for THE NORTHERN TRUST, starting with the 2020 edition.
COURSE
TPC Boston, 7,342 yards, par 71.
Located about midway between Boston and Rhode Island, the Arnold Palmer design was named one of Golf Digest’s 10 best new private clubs upon its 2002 debut. Five years later, the debut of the FedExCup playoffs opened the way to a thorough remodel. Gil Hanse and consultant Brad Faxon set out to give the course more of an old New England feel, introducing “chocolate drop” mounds and fieldstone walls to the landscape. Bunkers also were remade with higher faces and ragged edges. TPC Boston has been the PGA TOUR’s Labor Day stop since 2003, embracing the holiday for the season’s only scheduled Monday finish.
For those visiting the area, must-play courses include: The Cape Club Resort (Falmouth, Mass.), Pinehills GC (Plymouth, Mass.) and Hyannis GC (Hyannis, Mass.). Explore your options at TeeOff.com.
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
Thomas racked up his fifth victory of the season, pushing past Jordan Spieth and Marc Leishman with a pair of birdies in his final seven holes to complete a three-stroke triumph. Thomas carded just two bogeys all week, the last of which left him in a three-way tie with seven holes to play.
The Kentucky native bounced back, though, with a 6-foot birdie at No. 13 and one from even closer range two holes later on the way to a 5-under-par 66. Spieth sent a buzz through the galleries with a birdie/eagle/birdie/birdie start, but lost steam on the back nine and bogeyed twice in his final nine holes.
It was his second runner-up finish in as many playoff starts, after he was chased down by Dustin Johnson at THE NORTHERN TRUST. Leishman held a two-shot lead after a front-nine 30, but quickly bogeyed the first three holes after the turn.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TELEVISION: Friday, 2:30-6:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 3-6:30 p.m. (GC). 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 p.m. (featured holes).
RADIO: Friday-Saturday, 1-6:30 p.m.; Sunday-Monday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).
We roll into the second week of the playoffs with a rookie on a hot streak
Congratulations again to last weeks winner @Tom81
The season long leader board doesn't have many changes as we head to Boston
@NoleLizards still leads. We have 3 new 10k point club members. @Bill From Tampa , @fsu67810 and yours truly crossed the barrier while @DFSNOLE made up some ground while passing 11k. Looking like an exciting finish
good luck to everyone this week
