FedEx Cup heads to Boston
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship | Preview | 01 Sep 2010
The FedEx Cup playoffs move north from New Jersey to Norton in Massachusetts around 30 minutes drive south of Boston.
The TPC Boston plays host to the second of the playoffs, the Deutsche Bank Championship, where the leading 100 on the FedEx Cup points table continue their quest to reach the Tour Championship and the riches awaiting for those who do make it to Atlanta in three weeks time.
At the completion of this week’s event the field will be reduced to 70 for next week’s BMW Championship in Chicago before a break of one week prior to the leading 30 head to the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
The original Arnold Palmer designed TPC Boston underwent significant changes in 2007 but has played host to this event since its inaugural staging in 2003.
Former winner and twice runner up in this event, Tiger Woods, gave an indication at last week’s Barclays Championship that he was not too far from where he needs to be to factor this week. He started and finished last week’s event well and he will be heartened by some good positive signs.
Steve Stricker has a good record at this venue in recent years, winning it in 2009 and finishing no worse than 13th in his three previous starts. Stricker’s form of late gives every indication that it will carry over to this week’s venue which clearly fits his eye. His 3rd place finish last week has him primed for a successful defence.
There is every reason to believe that Adam Scott could this week add a second victory at this venue. He has finished 9th in two of his previous three starts this season and, as the inaugural winner of this event back in 2003, it is an event he plays well and carries good memories into.
Dustin Johnson must surely be rewarded for bravery if nothing else before long. He bounced back from his demise at Pebble Beach to all but win the PGA and after the final round horror at Whistling Straits he was again in the mix last week before finishing 9th. He finished 4th in this event last year and so must be a strong chance to finally convert one of the many opportunities he is creating.
Sean O’Hair might just bounce back this week to the form he was in a few weeks ago. He has played this tournament well and it would not surprise to see him back in contention. He was joint leader at the half way mark last year before finishing 8th.
While backing up after a big win is always a difficult task there seems no reason why Matt Kuchar can’t do just that this week. He has been consistent all season and he has played reasonably well on occasions at this venue. There is little doubt he has taken his game to a new level in 2010 and another week in contention would not surprise. He currently leads the FedEx Cup points table.
The Australian contingent in the FedEx Cup playoffs has been reduced to 12 following the departure of Nathan Green last week.
As outlined earlier Adam Scott has a genuine chance to contend but fellow countrymen who have also done well to make it this far are; Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Jason Day, Steve Elkington, Matt Jones, Marc Leishman, Michael Sim, Geoff Ogilvy, and John Senden.
