MCILROY ON THE UPBEAT
Irishman banking on strong Boston record to defend title
NORTON I think just mentally you’re just a lot more comfortable.
“You’ve hit great shots on that golf course before, you’ve shot low scores, and you’ve seen birdies out there.
“That’s the thing — once you know you can make birdies on a golf course, it makes it easier to do that again.”
Do it again indeed. The Northern Irishman won at this course in 2016 and 2012, joining FijianIndian Vijay Singh as the only golfers to win this event more than once. Singh won in 2008 and 2004.
World No 1 Dustin Johnson moved to the top of the playoff standings with a win last week over Texan Jordan Spieth.
“Winning last week is big, because I’m probably guaranteed to be in the top five going into Atlanta, which is where you want to be,” Johnson said. “Because you win the tournament, you win the FedExCup championship and that’s the biggest thing for me.”
The top 70 players on the playoff points list after this event advance to the BMW Championship, set for September 14-17 at Conway Farms Golf Club in Illinois.
Then the top 30 players following the BMW Championship will qualify for the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, beginning September 21. A points reset will take place prior to the Tour Championship, giving all players in the field a mathematical opportunity to win the Tour title.
As Johnson alluded to, the topfive players control their own destiny and would claim the playoff bragging rights with a victory at East Lake.
Four players, comprising J.B. Holmes, Scott Piercy, Brandt Snedeker and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, are skipping this event because of injury. Piercy and Snedeker are out for the rest of the year and Stenson, who has been red-hot lately, has a sore knee.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Aussie Adam Scott chose not to play last week at The Northern Trust but are back in action this week. AFP