Simpson secures first start at TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola

text size

ATLANTA -- The PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup arrive at the bye week with Webb Simpson atop the standings following a dramatic victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Just one event remains, next week's BMW Championship, before the top 30 arrive in Atlanta for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. The BMW Championship will feature the top 70 players in the FedExCup standings and is the last opportunity for players to secure their spot inside the top 30 and vie for one of the coveted top-five positions entering the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, Sept. 21-25 at East Lake Golf Club.

After knocking on the door throughout the 2011 season with runner-up finishes at the Transitions Championship in March and Zurich Classic of New Orleans in May, Simpson broke through for his first victory on the PGA TOUR just two weeks ago at the Wyndham Championship in his home state of North Carolina. He wasted little time collecting his second TOUR win, birdieing the final hole of regulation at the Deutsche Bank Championship to force a sudden-death playoff with Chez Reavie. The pair matched birdies on the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, before Simpson captured the title with a birdie three on the second extra hole, No. 17.

After entering the Playoffs at No. 3, Simpson fell to No. 4 with a T10 at The Barclays, but overtook Dustin Johnson for the top spot with the victory at TPC Boston, assuring himself a start at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola for the first time.

Following the Deutsche Bank Championship, only 70 players advanced to the next round of the Playoffs. Eight players entered the week ranked Nos. 71--00 in the FedExCup standings and played their way into next week's BMW Championship by moving into the top 70, led by Reavie, who improved from No. 87 to No. 9 with the runner-up finish:

Only the top 30 will advance to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Below are the players currently ranked outside the top 30 who will need to perform well next week to move on in the Playoffs. Some notable players include 2010 FedExCup champion Jim Furyk (No. 35), 2010 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Rickie Fowler (No. 37), 2008 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola winner Camilo Villegas (No. 47), Sergio Garcia (No. 53) and Ernie Els (No. 68).

About the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola

The top 30 players in FedExCup points after the BMW Championship qualify for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, the finale of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. FedExCup points are reset prior to the TOUR Championship 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 TOUR Championship is annually contested at Atlanta's renowned East Lake Golf Club, the formative home of the legendary Bobby Jones. The 2011 tournament will be played Sept. 21-25. In 2010, the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola made contributions totaling more than $1 million to charities and proudly supports the East Lake Foundation and The First Tee. The tournament is the number one annual fundraiser for the East Lake Foundation. Since 1998 the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola has donated more than $11 million to charity, both locally and nationwide.