First-timer Hoffman among 13 assured of spot in TOUR Championship

ATLANTA -- Charley Hoffman collected his second PGA TOUR victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship Monday, and in doing so, punched his ticket to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola for the first time in his career. Hoffman, who improved to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings with the victory at TPC Boston, assured himself a spot in the field when THE TOUR Championship returns to East Lake Golf Club, Sept. 22-26. Former Georgia Tech All-American Matt Kuchar continues to lead the FedExCup points list following his victory at The Barclays and a T11 last week outside Boston.

On the strength of a career-best 62 (9 under) in the final round, which featured a tournament-record tying 6-under 29 on the closing nine, Hoffman erased a four-shot deficit to claim his second TOUR title and jump from No. 59 to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings. The victory was Hoffman's first since the 2007 Bob Hope Classic and, by qualifying for THE TOUR Championship, he has assured himself a career-best finish in the final FedExCup standings. Prior to this year, his best finish in the FedExCup was 37th in 2009.

The top 13 players in the FedExCup standings have mathematically assured themselves of a spot in the field at THE TOUR Championship, regardless of how they finish this week at the BMW Championship. They'll all spend this week at Cog Hill working to improve their positions in the FedExCup standings and jockeying for one of the coveted top-five seeds. Here is a look at the top 13 who have already claimed a trip to East Lake Golf Club:

1. Matt Kuchar 4,235
2. Charley Hoffman 3,259
3. Steve Stricker 2,972
4. Jason Day 2,553
5. Luke Donald 2,439
6. Martin Laird 2,197
7. Ernie Els 2,051
8. Hunter Mahan 1,900
9. Geoff Ogilvy 1,898
10. Justin Rose 1,860
11. Jim Furyk 1,853
12. Bubba Watson 1,851
13. Ryan Palmer 1,851

THE TOUR Championship's defending champion, Phil Mickelson, checks in at No. 14 in the FedExCup standings following a T25 at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Mickelson, along with Adam Scott (No. 15), Dustin Johnson (No. 16), Zach Johnson (No. 17), Ben Crane (No. 18) and Jeff Overton (No. 19), are highly likely to finish inside the top 30 and qualify for THE TOUR Championship regardless of where they finish this week at the BMW Championship. The 11 players ranked between No. 20 and No. 30 will need to play well this week outside Chicago to ensure a start at THE TOUR Championship. Among those players are Rickie Fowler (No. 25) and Rory McIlroy (No. 29), the only two rookies remaining in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

Tiger Woods, who is the defending champion this week at the BMW Championship as well as the defending FedExCup champion, improved to No. 51 in the FedExCup standings with a T11 over the holiday weekend at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Woods, who entered the Playoffs at No. 112 in the points standings, has improved

each week with top-12 finishes in each of the first two Playoff events. To move safely inside the top 30 and advance to THE TOUR Championship, Woods will likely need at least a top-five finish this week.

Joining Woods currently outside of the top 30 and in need of a good finish at the BMW Championship are former TOUR Championship winner Camilo Villegas (No. 33), Anthony Kim (No. 34), Georgia Tech Alum and recent Ryder Cup captain's selection Stewart Cink (No. 35) and 2008 FedExCup champion Vijay Singh (No. 63).

FedExCup points are reset prior to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, ensuring a real shootout as all 30 players in the field will have a mathematical chance of winning the FedExCup with a victory at the event. The top-five players in the FedExCup standings entering THE TOUR Championship are guaranteed to claim the FedExCup should they be victorious in Atlanta.

THE TOUR Championship is annually contested at Atlanta's renowned East Lake Golf Club, the formative home of the legendary Bobby Jones. In 2009, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola made contributions totaling more than $1 million to charities, which primarily benefit the East Lake Foundation and The First Tee.

Since 1998, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola has donated more than $10 million to charity, both locally and nationwide.