Stallings excited to get back to Boston

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With his Greenbrier Classic victory, Scott Stallings assured himself of a trip home for the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Scott Stallings had never made a PGA TOUR start before this season, but he entered this year with a clear No. 1 goal: Make it to Boston.

Born in Worcester, Mass., about an hour west of Boston, the 2010 q-school graduate and TOUR rookie secured that and more with his victory at The Greenbrier Classic in late July.

Entering the final week of the regular season, Stallings is 30th in FedExCup points and will have no trouble advancing to the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second stage of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

MORE STALLINGS

Wins The Greenbrier
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Video: Winner's interview
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FedExCup performance
2011 Results
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"Being born around the Boston area and being from Worcester and having family all along the New England coast, it's kind of something we'd circled on the schedule and definitely something we looked forward to being a part of through the year," Stallings said.

"Once I won, I knew I was secure through most of the playoffs and I was going to have an opportunity to play there. That was something I'm ecstatic about."

With his victory at The Old White TPC course, Stallings said he'd essentially achieved every goal he'd set out to reach this season, including securing his TOUR card for 2012 and qualifying for the Masters.

After earning a spot in the Deutsche Bank Championship and reaching his other objectives, Stallings is setting new goals and hoping to make his Playoffs stay a long one.

"You want to key on all the Playoffs events and don't want to be overlooking The Barclays because that's a great event and I look forward to playing there next week," Stallings said. "Right now, I'm working towards playing New Jersey next week. Then I'll be working towards Chicago and hopefully Atlanta."

One of 10 rookies currently in the Playoffs picture, Stallings understands the importance of the five-week, four-event push for the FedExCup.

"These are the four events," Stallings said. "I know the majors are huge. The WGCs are huge. But this is the culmination of the entire year. The champion in Atlanta, $10 million and all the exemptions that go with (winning the FedExCup). Good play going into the playoffs is what everyone strives for."

Stallings certainly qualifies under the "good play" umbrella. Since the calendar turned to June, he has six top-30 finishes in nine starts including his victory at The Greenbrier Classic.

He's hoping to carry that strong play over to a TPC Boston layout he's never played before.

"I've actually been to the course, but never played it," he said. "I will play both pro-ams that week and will have a chance to get out and see the course before the tournament starts."

Another bonus awaits Stallings and fellow-rookie Keegan Bradley, who has won twice on TOUR this year. The die-hard Red Sox fans will be able to watch their team take on the rival Yankees at Fenway Park Aug. 30-July 1.

"I'm looking forward to a great week," Stallings said. "Can't wait to get up to Boston."