Playoff scenarios: What players need to advance

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NORTON, Mass. -- This week at the Deutsche Bank Championship, 99 players will tee off in the second stage of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. The only player not playing is J.B. Holmes, who is missing the Playoffs for health reasons.

By the end of the tournament, 30 players (including Holmes) will be officially eliminated from the Playoffs, while the top 70 in FedExCup points will advance to the BMW Championship in two weeks.

Using last year's points total, it's expected that the top 56 players at the Deutsche Bank Championship likely have enough points to move on. That would leave 43 players (not including Holmes at No. 77) to vie for the remaining 14 spots.

Last year, four players from outside the top 70 bubble entering TPC Boston played their way inside the top 70. In 2009, it was seven players.

The winner of the tournament will likely move to either first or second in the standings going into the BMW Championship.

The top 30 is important because only the top 30 after the BMW will advance to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and have a chance to win the FedExCup. Put yourself in the top 30 going into the BMW, and you would only need to maintain your position at that point.

MORE FEDEXCUP: Outside Looking In | Guidebook | Bubble Watch | Playoffs Tracker