Deutsche Bank Championship Notes

2013 Deutsche Bank Championship pre-tournament notes

Dates: August 33-September 2, 2013
Where: TPC Boston
Par/Yards: 36-35—71/7,216
Field: Top 100 from FedExCup standings
Defending champion: Rory McIlroy
Purse: $8,000,000 ($1,440,000 to winner)
FedExCup: Top 100 players from FedExCup standings after The Barclays advance to the DBC
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Twitter: @DBChampionship

Deutsche Bank Championship storylines

• The Deutsche Bank Championship is the second of four events of the FedExCup Playoffs – with the entire season building toward this four-tournament stretch.
• There is more on the line than the Deutsche Bank Championship trophy – players in the top half of the 100-player field will be looking to move up, jockeying for the coveted top-five position heading to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola; those near the bottom need enough points to survive to the next event at the BMW Championship (70 players).
• The top 125 in the final PGA TOUR Season FedExCup standings following the Wyndham Championship qualified for The Barclays.
• The top 100 players on the FedExCup points list following The Barclays qualified for the Deutsche Bank Championship, with 25 players having been eliminated following the first week of the Playoffs.
• The top 70 on the points list following the Deutsche Bank Championship qualify for the BMW Championship, contested at Conway Farms Golf Club.
• Each Playoffs event offers 2,500 FedExCup points to the winner.
• A points reset will take place following the BMW Championship giving all 30 players in the field at the TOUR Championship a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup. The top five players control their own destiny and can win the FedExCup with a victory at the TOUR Championship.

  Current FedExCup Rankings (top 10)
  1. Tiger Woods 4,009
  2. Adam Scott 3,847
  3. Phil Mickelson 2,624
  4. Matt Kuchar 2,540
  5. Justin Rose 2,397
  6. Brandt Snedeker 2,218
  7. Graham DeLaet 1,806
  8. Bill Haas 1,718
  9. Jordan Spieth 1,684
  10. Gary Woodland 1,633

  Players on various FedExCup bubbles
  30. Jimmy Walker
  70. Tim Clark
  100. Camilo Villegas

  The top five

• The top five in the FedExCup Playoffs is where players want to be after the next two events are played and the 100-man field at the Deutsche Bank Championship is eventually trimmed to 30 for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.
• The top five entering East Lake control their own destiny and can win the FedExCup with a victory.No. 1 – Tiger Woods
• In 2013 – Woods owns victories this season at the Farmers Insurance Open, World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, THE PLAYERS Championship and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. With 79 career victories, he needs just three wins to tie Sam Snead (82) for most victories in PGA TOUR history.
• FedExCup – Tiger Woods, the only player to win the FedExCup more than once, entered the FedExCup Playoffs atop the points standings for the second consecutive year. Woods also entered the FedExCup Playoffs in the No. 1 position in 2007 and 2009; he went on to win the FedExCup title in those two years. In 2012, Woods finished third in the race for the FedExCup behind Brandt Snedeker and Rory McIlroy after finishing T38 at The Barclays, third at the Deutsche Bank Championship, T4 at the BMW Championship and T8 at the TOUR Championship.
• The Barclays – Entered the final round trailing by Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar by four strokes. Battled back spasms throughout the final 18 holes, eventually leaving a chip from 26’8” on the par-4 18th hole just three inches from the hole that would have led to a playoff with The Barclays champion Adam Scott. The runner-up finish was the 29th of his career, to go with 79 wins. Last week marked the eighth start at The Barclays for Woods, with his best finishes both coming at Liberty National (T2 in 2009 and 2013). Along with the Northern Trust Open (9 times professional, 2 as an amateur), The Barclays (eight starts) is the only other tournament that Woods has played four or more times without a victory.
• At the Deutsche Bank Championship – The 2006 Deutsche Bank Championship winner will be making his ninth start at the event, with top 10s in 2006 (1st), 2007 (T2), 2004 (T2), 2012 (3rd) and 2003 (T7). The only time he finished outside the top 11 at the event was in 2005 (T40). Woods has shot 63 on two occasions in the final round at TPC Boston, finishing first in 2006 and T11 in 2009. He has posted par-or-better scores 26 of 32 times.No. 2 – Adam Scott
  In 2013 – Scott is one of five multiple winners in 2013, recording multiple victories in a season for the second time in his career by winning the Masters Tournament and The Barclays. Joined Rory McIlroy (2012) and Tiger Woods (2007) as the only players to win a Major Championship and FedExCup Playoffs event in the same year.
  FedExCup – Enters the Deutsche Bank Championship No. 2 in the standings, jumping nine spots as a result of his win at The Barclays. Here’s a look at his FedExCup rankings: 2007 (No. 12), 2008 (47), 2009 (110), 2010 (19), 2011 (16), 2012 (25).

  Victory at The Barclays came in his 21st FedExCup Playoffs event. His previous-best finish was fourth at the 2007 BMW Championship.
  The Barclays– Entered the final round T13 and trailing Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland by six strokes before a bogey-free 5-under 66 led to a one-stroke victory over Tiger Woods, Graham DeLaet, Gary Woodland and Justin Rose. It marked the largest come-from-behind win in the 47-year history of The Barclays. His 10th official PGA TOUR victory (also won the unofficial, 36-hole 2005 Northern Trust Open) came at the age of 33 years, 1 month and nine days in his 210th career start.

  Victory at Liberty National made him just the fourth player to win a World Golf Championships event (2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational), a FedExCup Playoffs event (The Barclays 2013) and the PLAYERS Championship (2004), joining Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar.

  At the Deutsche Bank Championship – Will be making his ninth start at the Deutsche Bank Championship, with his win in the inaugural event in 2003 representing one of five top-10 finishes, including three consecutive heading into 2013 (1st-2003, T2-2004, T5-2010, T7-2012, T8-2011). Seeking to join Vijay Singh as the only players to win The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship in the same season.

• No. 3 – Phil Mickelson

  2013 – A season highlighted by his fifth Major Championship – The Open Championship – Mickelson also added a victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open for his 42nd TOUR win. Collected runner-up finishes in back-to-back weeks at the FedEx St. Jude Classic and the U.S. Open (a record sixth runner-up finish at the event).

  Mickelson is one of 19 players with at least five major championship victories on his resume: 18 (Jack Nicklaus); 14 (Tiger Woods); 11 (Walter Hagen); 9 (Ben Hogan, Gary Player); 8 (Tom Watson); 7 (Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer); 6 (Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo); 5 (James Braid, James H. Taylor, Byron Nelson, Peter Thomson, Seve Ballesteros, Mickelson).

  Mickelson has won multiple events 14 times in his career. With wins in each of the last 10 seasons on the PGA TOUR, he owns the longest active streak. Mickelson has won at least one tournament in 20 different TOUR seasons, trailing only Sam Snead (24) and Jack Nicklaus (21) who have won in more seasons.

  FedExCup – Mickelson is the only player to finish inside the top 15 in each of the first six seasons of the FedExCup, finishing third in 2007, seventh in 2008, second in 2009, 13th in 2010, 15th in 2011 and fifth in 2012. He is one of just three players (Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan) to make it to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola all six years of the FedExCup era.

  The Barclays – Closed with a 6-under 65 to jump 28 spots from T34 to T6. His only other top-10 finish in 12 starts at The Barclays came in 2007 (T7). His previous best score in 43 overall rounds at the event was 67 (R1-2007, R4-2007, R1-2011, R3-2012).

  At the Deutsche Bank Championship – Mickelson’s victory in his inaugural start at the Deutsche Bank Championship (2007), in which he was paired with Tiger Woods in the final round, represents one of three top-10 finishes at the DBC. The others came the past two seasons, finishing T10 in 2011 and T4 in 2012.

  No. 4 – Matt Kuchar

  In 2013 – Kuchar is one of just five multiple winners in 2013, recording multiple victories in a season for the first time in his career by winning the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Memorial Tournament. He has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA TOUR since 2009, with five of his six career wins and 41 top-10 finishes.

  FedExCup – In the first three seasons of the FedExCup, Kuchar finished 92nd (2007), 115th (2008) and 40th (2009). He has since found his stride in the competition, however, finishing a career-best second in 2010, sixth in 2011 and 18th in 2012.

  The Barclays – With rounds of 66-65-70, held the outright lead after the second round and shared the third-round lead with former U.S. World Cup teammate Gary Woodland at The Barclays, but struggled to a final-round 7-over 78, including a triple-bogey 7 on the ninth hole, to finish T19.

  At the Deutsche Bank Championship – Kuchar will be making his 10th start at the Deutsche Bank Championship, with his only two missed cuts coming in 2003 and 2008. His best finishes came in back-to-back seasons, finishing T15 in 2009 and T11 in 2010.

  No. 5 – Justin Rose
  In 2013 – Season highlighted by his win at the U.S. Open and runner-up finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Barclays.

  FedExCup – Continues to make significant progress in the FedExCup Playoffs. Finished T16 in the inaugural competition in 2007, then fell off to No. 114 in 2008 and No. 85 in 2009. Strong showing the last three seasons, finishing 15th (2010), fifth (2011) and sixth (2012).

  The Barclays – Missed a 4’11” putt for par on the final hole that would have placed him in a playoff with Adam Scott. With the runner-up finish (the sixth of his career), moved from No. 7 to No. 5 in the FedExCup standings.

  At the Deutsche Bank Championship – Teeing it up at TPC Boston for the 10th time, with six made cuts and top-10 finishes in 2003 (third) and 2006 (T4)

  No. 6 – Brandt Snedeker

  In 2013 – Entered the FedExCup Playoffs with a career-high eight top-10 finishes, including wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the RBC Canadian Open. Snedeker is seeking to become the first FedExCup champion to return to East Lake Golf Club for a chance to defend his title.

  FedExCup – Has finished inside the top 10 in six of his last nine FedExCup Playoffs events: 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship (T5), 2011 Deutsch Bank Championship (T3), 2011 The Barclays (T3), 2012 The Barclays (2), 2012 Deutsche Bank Championship (6) and 2012 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (Won).

  Snedeker began as a PGA TOUR rookie in 2007, the first year of the FedExCup, and was the first and only rookie to reach the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (since then only five rookies have accomplished that feat). Snedeker finished 20th in the FedExCup that year, the best performance by a rookie, matched by Marc Leishman in 2009 and Keegan Bradley in 2011.

  Last year, Snedeker entered the TOUR Championship at No. 5 in the standings and in control of his own destiny. With his victory at the TOUR Championship, Snedeker became the fifth different player to win the coveted FedExCup, joining Bill Haas-2011, Jim Furyk-2010, Tiger Woods-2009, 2007 and Vijay Singh-2008.

  The Barclays – Missed the cut at The Barclays to fall to No. 6 in the FedExCup standings.

  At the Deutsche Bank Championship – Snedeker has shown continual improvement in six previous starts at the event, including top-6 finishes in his last three starts (6-2012, T3-2011, T5-2010, T32-2009, T27-2008, T47-2007). Ten out of his last 13 rounds at TPC Boston have been in the 60s and overall he owns just four over-par scores in 24 rounds.
  No. 8 – Bill Haas
  2013 – Won for the fourth consecutive season by claiming his fifth PGA TOUR victory at the AT&T National. His season includes career-best numbers in top-10 (9) and top-25 finishes (15).
  FedExCup – One of three previous winners of the FedExCup (2011) inside the top 10 heading into the Deutsche Bank Championship. After winning the FedExCup in 2011, Haas missed a chance to defend his title last year, finishing No. 32 following the BMW Championship.

  The Barclays – Finished T25 with rounds of 73-66-71-70 at Liberty National.

  At the Deutsche Bank Championship – Has never missed the cut in seven previous starts at the event, with his lone top-10 finish coming in his first start (T9 in 2004). Other top-25 finishes came in 2006 (T15), 2009 (T15) and 2010 (T22).

  No. 9 – Jordan Spieth

  Seeking to become the youngest two-time winner in TOUR history, Jordan Spieth lost on the second hole of sudden death to Patrick Reed at the Wyndham Championship, but the runner-up finished moved him from 16th to eighth in the FedExCup (now ninth). The 20-year-old Spieth won his first PGA TOUR event last month in a playoff at the John Deere Classic.

  Spieth won the John Deere Classic at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 18 days in his 24th career start on the PGA TOUR, his 16th as a professional. Spieth is the youngest player to win on TOUR since Ralph Guldahl won the 1931 Santa Monica Open at the age of 19 years, 2 months and 4 days. He is one of nine rookies to advance to the FedExCup Playoffs.

  No. 36 – Rory McIlroy (defending champion)
  2013 – McIlroy owns five top-10 finishes in 14 starts heading into the Deutsche Bank Championship, with a runner-up finish at the Valero Texas Open his best outing. A T8 finish at the PGA Championship represents his lone top 10 in the major championships this season.

  FedExCup – Making just third appearance in the FedExCup Playoffs, finishing 36th in 2010 and second in 2012.

  The Barclays – Equaled his low round of the season with a 6-under 65 in the second round, eventually finishing T19 at Liberty National.

  At the Deutsche Bank Championship – Will be making just his third start at the Deutsche Bank Championship, finishing T37 in 2010 (including an opening round 64) and winning in 2012.

  A look back at his win at the 2012 DBC – After entering the day three strokes behind Louis Oosthuizen, McIlroy birdied five of his first eight holes en route to a final-round 4-under 67 and a come-from-behind win by one stroke over Oosthuizen at the 2012 Deutsche Bank Championship. His fifth career PGA TOUR victory (added his sixth a week later at the BMW Championship) came at the age of 23 years, 3 months and 29 days, making him the youngest winner of a FedExCup Playoffs event.

  More on McIlroy’s win at the 2012 DBC

  • Joined Tiger Woods (2007) and Vijay Singh (2004) as players to win the Deutsche Bank Championship the same year of a major championship title.
  • Became the third international-born player to win the Deutsche Bank Championship since its 2003 inception, joining Adam Scott (2003) and Vijay Singh (2004).
  • Became the sixth Deutsche Bank Championship winner to record all four rounds in the 60s.
  • Became the second player to come into the week as the world’s top-ranked player and claim the Deutsche Bank Championship title, with Tiger Woods achieving the feat in 2006. Vijay Singh overtook the world’s top spot after his 2004 win at the Deutsche Bank Championship.Rookies in the FedExCup Playoffs
  • Five rookies have reached the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in the FedExCup era and all five were voted Rookie of the Year: John Huh (2012), Keegan Bradley (2011), Marc Leishman (2009), Andres Romero (2008) and Snedeker (2007).
  • Rickie Fowler won Rookie of the Year honors in 2010 but missed making it to East Lake with a 32nd place finish in the FedExCup.
  • Of the 11 rookies who advanced to the PGA TOUR Playoffs in 2012, John Huh was the only one to advance to the TOUR Championship by Coca Cola, finishing 29th in the FedExCup.
  • Nine rookies made their first trip to the FedExCup Playoffs this year, with five still remaining: Jordan Speith, Russell Henley, David Lingmerth, Luke Guthrie and Derek Ernst.Miscellaneous Deutsche Bank Championship notes
  • Adam Scott (2003) and Phil Mickelson (2007) are the only players to win the event in first start. Vijay Singh is the only multiple winner of the event (2004, 2008).
  • Luke Donald has finished T2 (2010), T3 (2011) and T26 (2012) in his last three starts at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
  • The only players in their 20s to win the Deutsche Bank Championship were Adam Scott (2003), Webb Simpson (2011) and Rory McIlroy (2012).
  • Vijay Singh is the only player to win The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship (2008) in the same season.
  • 2003 Deutsche Bank Championship winner Adam Scott finished T7 in 2012 for his fifth top 10 in eight starts at the event (1/2003, T2/2004, T5/2010, T8/2011, T7/2012).
  • Ryan Moore has finished T10 in the last two Deutsche Bank Championships.
  • The 54-hole leader/co-leader has gone on to win four of 10 times at the Deutsche Bank Championship (Adam Scott/2003, Vijay Singh/2004, Olin Browne/2005, Steve Stricker/2009).FedExCup Playoffs notes
  • Hunter Mahan is the only player who has never missed a start in the FedExCup Playoffs (25 overall following The Barclays).
  • Only three players have finished inside the top 10 in all four FedExCup Playoffs events in a single season: Rory Sabbatini in 2007 (finished No. 4 in FedExCup), Padraig Harrington in 2009 (finished No. 7) and Dustin Johnson in 2012 (finished No. 8).
  • Eight players missed the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time in their career: David Toms, Padraig Harrington, Chad Campbell, Vijay Singh, Jonathan Byrd, Troy Matteson, Sean O’Hair and Robert Allenby.
  • In the history of the FedExCup Playoffs, the highest-ranked player entering The Barclays to go on to qualify for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola was Heath Slocum in 2009 at No. 124. Slocum finished No. 8 on the strength of a victory at The Barclays. The only other player to advance to the TOUR Championship after starting the FedExCup Playoffs outside the top 100 was Kevin Streelman in 2010 at No. 102.
  • Most top ten finishes in the playoffs: Jim Furyk (11), Steve Stricker, Camilo Villegas, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods (10)
  • Three players have made it to the TOUR Championship all six years of the FedEx Cup: Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan
  • Phil Mickelson is the only player to finish inside th etop 15 in the FedExCup standings in the first six seasons.
  • Five players entered The Barclae sranked 101 – 125 in the FedExCup standings and played their way into this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship: Martin Kaymer, Greg Chalmers, Erik Compton, Stuart Appleby and Camilo VillegasDeutsche Bank Championship history
  • Founded in 2003, the Deutsche Bank Championship is the TOUR’s only scheduled Monday finish. The winner’s roster includes Adam Scott, two-time winner Vijay Singh, Olin Browne, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Charley Hoffman, Webb Simpson and Rory McIlroy:
  • 2012 – With the Deutsche Bank Championship celebrating its 10th anniversary, Rory McIlroy posted his fifth PGA TOUR victory in come-from-behind fashion over Louis Oosthuizen, becoming the youngest-ever winner of a FedExCup Playoffs event.
  • 2011 – Webb Simpson outlasted Chez Reavie in the first-ever playoff at the Deutsche Bank Championship, giving him two wins in three starts on TOUR (Wyndham Championship).
  • 2010 – Charley Hoffman carded a career-low 62, including 11 birdies, en route to a five-stroke win over Luke Donald and a pair of Aussies (Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day).
  • 2009 – Steve Stricker made his 250th career cut on the PGA TOUR and went on to record his seventh win (including a season-high third) by one stroke over Jason Dufner and Scott Verplank.
  • 2008 – Vijay Singh carded a tournament-record 22-under 262 to cruise to a five-stroke victory over Mike Weir and ultimately the FedExCup.
  • 2007 – Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh were paired together for first two rounds; Mickelson, Woods, Brett Wetterich and Arron Oberholser dueled with Mickelson winning to take over FedExCup lead.
  • 2006 – With two eagles in his first seven holes in the final round, Tiger Woods erased a three-shot deficit and posted an 8-under-par 63, overcoming the 54-hole leader Vijay Singh to win by two.
  • 2005 – Olin Browne clipped Jason Bohn by a single stroke for his third career win. In the process he surpassed $1 million in season earnings for the first time in his career.
  • 2004 – Vijay Singh, in claiming one of nine PGA TOUR titles on the year, moved to No. 1 in the World Golf Ranking as he out dueled Tiger Woods and Adam Scott. Woods had been No. 1 for a record 264 weeks.
  • 2003 – Adam Scott, playing on a Sponsor Exemption, earned first win of TOUR career at the inaugural Deutsche Bank Championship.SOURCE: PGA TOUR