Boston has a tough act to follow in FedEx Cup playoffs

Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth shook hands on the 18th green, and then traded text messages later in the night after providing high drama and plenty of star power in the opening FedEx Cup event.

Spieth said he texted him: “Man, congrats. That was a good battle. Let’s do it again next week.”

Johnson’s reply: “Absolutely. I had a good time. That was my turn.”

For the opening act of this lucrative FedEx Cup series that leads to a $10 million prize, the PGA Tour couldn’t have asked for much more. Johnson is the No. 1 player in the world. Judging by the slight spike in television ratings, Spieth is becoming among the most popular.

The Dell Technologies Championship has a tough act to follow.

The second playoff event starts Friday on the TPC Boston because of the traditional Labor Day finish. Johnson, Spieth and Justin Thomas will be in the same group for the opening two rounds because of their standing in the FedEx Cup. And it just so happens they are the three leading candidates for PGA Tour player of the year.

There remains a long road ahead before the deciding of a FedEx Cup champion and player of the year.

The TPC Boston also might pay immediate dividends, though it has little to do with a big cash prize. This is the final week for 10 players to make the Presidents Cup team before U.S. captain Steve Stricker and International captain Nick Price get two wildcard selections.

Kevin Chappell is at No. 11 in the U.S. standings and 23 points — the equivalent of 56th place — behind Charley Hoffman. Chappell would love to be on the team, though his obsession is more on his golf than wondering if he’ll make the team.

If anyone is feeling pressure, it’s Phil Mickelson. He has never missed a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup dating to 1994. Lefty would need a runner-up finish to qualify for the team, and he might need to simply show some good scores to give Stricker a reason to pick him.

Bubba Watson would have to win to be on the team, but he has other goals. At No. 72 in the FedEx Cup, he has to finish among the top 70 after this week to advance to the third playoff event outside Chicago in two weeks.

Watson, Mickelson and Hoffman are the only three players who have made it through to the third playoff event every year since the FedEx Cup began in 2007.

So there’s a big tournament offering US$8.75 million in prize money. There is a race to make the Presidents Cup team. And for some players, there is simply the goal of not having their season ending earlier than they want.

That’s a lot on the plate, and Thomas knows the feeling.

He missed out on the Tour Championship by one putt in 2015. A year ago, Thomas was still in the hunt for a Ryder Cup captain’s pick. He missed the cut.

“It’s hard, it really is,” Thomas said.