Deutsche Bank Championship Preview

The PGA Tour travels to Massachusetts this week for the Deutsche Bank Championship and the second leg of the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs. Henrik Stenson defends the title at TPC Boston.

Lowdown: The PGA Tour travels to Massachusetts this week for the Deutsche Bank Championship and the second leg of the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs. Henrik Stenson defends the title at TPC Boston.

After his victory at The Barclays last week Hunter Mahan now leads the FedEx Cup from Rory McIlroy. The top 70 on the points list after this tournament will go through to the BMW Championship with the top 30 playing in the Tour Championship for a chance to win the FedEx Cup and the $10 million first prize.

Played over Labor Day weekend, this tournament finishes on Monday. Labor Day is a holiday celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer.

This tournament began life back in 2003 when Adam Scott took the title. Since then, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Steve Stricker have all been victorious in this event. Last year Henrik Stenson came out on top. The Swede produced four rounds in the 60s to beat Steve Stricker by two shots.

The TPC Boston opened for play in June 2002, it’s a private members’ course designed by Arnold Palmer course design. It tends to play as one of the easiest courses on the PGA Tour schedule so expect to see low scoring this week.

The weather for the start of the tournament looks reasonable but there’s a threat of thunderstorms over the weekend. Don’t be surprised if there are a couple of delays to the play.

Venue: TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts Date: Aug 29 – Sep 1 Course stats: par 71, 7,216yards Purse: $8,000,000 Winner: $1,440,000 Defending Champion: Henrik Stenson (-22)

TV Coverage: Friday 29 – Sky Sports 4 from 8pm Saturday 30 – Sky Sports 4 from 8pm Sunday 31 – Sky Sports 4 from 6pm Monday 1 – Sky Sports 4 from 4.30pm

Player Watch: Keegan Bradley – He’s on home territory here and will receive great support. He’s finished in the top-20 on his last two starts in this event and has been showing good form in recent weeks

Patrick Reed – He played a great final round at The Barclays and will look to take that form into this week. If he can get his putter going, he could be a factor in this event.

Graham DeLaet – He missed the cut last week thanks to a terrible first round of 78, but he bounced back with a 67 and he had played well in the PGA Championship two weeks earlier. He was third in this event last year.

Key hole: 18th. Traditionally one of the most straightforward holes on the course, this par 5 was altered slightly for 2012. It’s still reachable in two for most of the players (only measuring 530 yards,) but the green has been moved, lifted and reduced in size. Tricky run-off areas have been created around the playing surface, placing a premium on the short-game here. Expect some excitement if a player needs to get up and down for the title.