NORTON, Mass. – After play was delayed Sunday by early-morning storms, the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship finally got underway and, as expected, low scores were abundant. Here’s what You Oughta Know heading into the final round at TPC Boston, where Sergio Garcia holds a two-shot lead over Henrik Stenson:
• This marks the 11th time that Garcia has taken at least a share of the lead into the final round of a PGA Tour event, most recently at The Players Championship this May where he ultimately tied for eighth. Of the 10 previous instances, the Spaniard has gone on to win three times: 2012 Wyndham Championship, 2004 HP Byron Nelson Championship and the 2001 Buick Classic.
• Illustrating just how far a great week in the FedEx Cup Playoffs can carry a player, Garcia began the week 55th on the playoff points list but is projected to move to third in the overall standings with a win, which would assure him of a spot at both the BMW Championship and the season-ending Tour Championship.
• Stenson is in position to continue a torrid summer stretch that includes four top-three finishes in his last five worldwide starts. In addition to third-place finishes at the Scottish Open and PGA Championship, the Swede was also runner-up at the British Open as well as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He will play Monday alongside Garcia and Graham DeLaet, in search of his first PGA Tour victory since the 2009 Players Championship.
• Beginning the week in 10th place on the International standings for the Presidents Cup, DeLaet has essentially secured a spot at Muirfield Village next month thanks to a second consecutive successful week in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. A co-runner-up last week at Liberty National, the Canadian is in search of his first career PGA Tour win and could secure his first career Tour Championship appearance with a strong showing Monday at TPC Boston.
• Though 100 players began the week, only the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings will move on to the BMW Championship later this month. After 54 holes, six players are currently projected to earn a spot at Conway Farms after beginning the week outside the top 70: Nicholas Thompson (projected 51st), K.J. Choi (61st), Kevin Stadler (40th), Marc Leishman (54th), Ian Poulter (45th) and Brian Davis (60th). In the FedEx Cup era, the most players to move into the top 70 at this event is 10 (2008), while the fewest is two (2007). Last year, nine players were able to advance to the BMW field after beginning the week ranked Nos. 71-100.
• Monday’s final round serves as the last opportunity for non-European players to impress either Fred Couples or Nick Price in the hopes of earning a Presidents Cup captain’s pick. The top 10 spots on both the U.S. and International squads will be finalized following the conclusion of play at TPC Boston, while Couples and Price will each make their two additional selections known Wednesday morning.
