Big three to do battle at Deutsche Bank

Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are in the field for the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs – The Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston.

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

After his victory at The Barclays last week Jason Day heads the FedEx Cup standings, and is in the form of his life – he’s won three of his last four tournaments (including the USPGA Championship.) But the Australian is only 290 points ahead of Jordan Spieth. The Masters and U.S. Open champion had a disappointing Barclays and will be keen to bounce back this week.

Rory McIlroy is down to 15th on the standings but has only played nine counting events compared to 16 by Day and 21 by Spieth. The Northern Irishman will be looking towards a win here to put himself right back in the mix, with 2,000 points going to the champion.

Rory McIlroy - how I became a champion:

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, Steve Stricker and Henrik Stenson have all been victorious in this event. Last year Chris Kirk completed his final 36-holes without a bogey to win by two.

The TPC Boston opened for play in June 2002, it’s a private members’ course designed by Arnold Palmer course design. It tends to be one of the easier courses visited by the PGA Tour and produces low scoring.

The weather looks settled, a little breezy but nothing that should interrupt play.

Venue: TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts Date: Sep 4-7 Course stats: par 71, 7,242 yards Purse: $8,250,000 Winner: $1,485,000 Defending Champion: Chris Kirk (-15)

TV Coverage: Friday 4 – Sky Sports 4 from 7.30pm Saturday 5 – Sky Sports 4 from 7.30pm Sunday 6 – Sky Sports 4 from 6pm Monday 7 – Sky Sports 4 from 4.30pm

Player watch: All eyes will be on the expected scrap between Rory, Jordan and Jason. Who else deserves consideration?

Henrik Stenson – the 2013 champion comes into this event after a second place finish at The Barclays. When he’s on his game he’s a match for anybody, even a red-hot Jason Day.

Dustin Johnson – He’s too good to discount. Tied ninth last week, he has the game to overpower the course here – he’s twice been tied for fourth in this event.

Bubba Watson – Has been lurking around, suggesting he’s going to pop up and win again. He was third on his own last week and that was his fourth top-three finish in his last seven starts.

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.