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Deutsche Bank Championship preview

Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Tom Clarke
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Defending champion Steve Stricker

Lowdown: This event starts on Friday instead of the usual Thursday as it is Labor Day in America on Monday and the Tour have decided the tournament would attract a bigger crowd on that day.

The event is held over TPC Boston and was won last year by Steve Stricker after the American held off Jason Dufner and Scott Verplank by shooting a final round 67.

The last four winners have been Stricker, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, showing that usually the cream rises to the top in this tournament.

The vociferous Boston fans are known for being superb vocal supporters of their sporting teams and this will be in full force over the tournament with the American players getting huge home advantage.

The American Ryder Cup wildcard picks get announced after this tournament and this should give added drama to this event.

Venue: TPC Boston
Date: 3-6 September
Course stats: par 71, 7,214yards
Purse: $7,500,000 Winner: $1,350,000
Defending Champion: Steve Stricker

TV Coverage:
Friday 3 - Sky Sports 4 and HD4, 8.00pm-11.00pm
Saturday 4 - Sky Sports 3 and HD3, 8.00pm-11.00pm
Sunday 5 - Sky Sports 3 and HD3, 8.00pm-11.00pm
Monday 6 - Sky Sports 3 and HD3, 7.00pm-11.00pm

Player Watch:

Dustin Johnson: For all his high and lows this year Johnson seems to be unflappable, had a tied 9th last week at The Barclays and is hitting the ball as well as anyone on Tour, only doubts are his nerves over the final round.

Steve Stricker: He is the defending champion and finished T3rd last week at The Barclays. In superb form and should do well on a course where he has had fantastic results in the past.

Matt Kuchar: Has had ten top 10s this year and is coming off the back of a win. Confidence was already high having made the Ryder Cup side.

Key Hole: 18th, par-5, 528 yards. This par 5 finishing hole will undoubtedly have drama. Players can choose to carry two bunkers in the middle of the fairway and leave themselves a chance to reach the green with a fairway wood. Or the longest hitters can carry the right fairway bunker around 320 yards, giving themselves a mid-iron approach for a chance at eagle. The players choosing to lay up on their second shot will still need to avoid a pot bunker in the center of the fairway in order to score well. There will be plenty of birdies, bogeys, and heartbreak on this finishing hole.

Skills required: TPC Boston is known for being one of the easier courses from tee-to-hole, so it sounds like it should suit the big hitters. However there is some strong winds being forecast that could protect the course somewhat. There could be rain on the way on Friday which would soften things up which would again mean more advantage for the bigger hitters.