The FedExCup playoffs are set to continue on Thursday when 2013 champion Henrik Stenson tees off at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Massachusetts. The purse for the event is $8 million and the winner earns 2,500 points in the FedExCup standings.
The Deutsche Bank Championship is one of three remaining FedExCup playoff events for the 2014 PGA season. It will take place at TPC Boston, a par 71 course that is 7,216 yards long. Two groups will be the first to tee off at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning: Henrik Stenson, Scott Langley and Shawn Stefani will start things off on the first hole while David Hearn, Brendan Steele and Stewart Cink tee off on the tenth.
The FedExCup playoff events are the most crucial in terms of season rankings. The four events - The Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship, and The TOUR Championship - are worth a total of $32 million and award the winner with the most FedExCup points he can earn all season, with 2,500 per event. With a win last week at The Barclays, Hunter Mahan took over the season standings after surpassing Rory McIlroy and Jimmy Walker with a new total of 3,276 points.
These events are also crucial for players who hope to land a spot on this year's Ryder Cup team. Captain Tom Watson will be selecting the team's final members and naming the captains next week after the results of the Deutsche Bank Championship. Thus far, the US team consists of Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Bubba Watson, along with vice captains Raymond Floyd, Andy North and Steve Stricker. The match-play event will feature 16 players on each squad (US vs. Europe).
With those last three spots up for grabs and Tiger Woods withdrawing his name from consideration earlier this month, a number of players have an opportunity to represent their country in the biennial competition. Hunter Mahan's win last week may earn him a spot, while Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Kevin Na, Cameron Tringale, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, and others vie for Watson's selection.
Other notables that will be teeing off at the event tomorrow include Adam Scott (8:56 a.m.), Jason Day (9:08), Martin Kaymer (9:20), Rory McIlroy (9:20), Phil Mickelson (12:52 p.m.), and many more you can see on the PGA Tour website.
Check out the official FedExCup standings to see who's in the lead for the season.