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Power Rankings: Deutsche Bank Championship
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August 31, 2015
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM
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Rory McIlroy has two top-5 finishes (including a win) in his last three starts at TPC Boston. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
The scaled-back points structure in effect for the first time during the 2015 FedExCup Playoffs has already had an effect. Stewart Cink tied for 39th place at The Barclays but climbed to only 102nd in points and didn't advance to this week's Deutsche Bank Championship. From 2009-2014, every golfer who finished inside the top 42 at The Barclays survived the first leg of the Playoffs.
While that may be an incidental fact to everyone but Cink, the challenge nonetheless increases at TPC Boston for the DBC, which is scheduled to begin on Friday and conclude on Labor Day. Robert Streb proved this last year. Despite a T9 in this tournament and a rise of 26 spots in the standings, he couldn't crack the top 70, instead landing at 71st. With the 20-percent reduction in points distributed, those just sneaking into this year's top 100 will need to think top-five finish to avoid the exit.
It'll be green-light golf throughout at TPC Boston, but it always has been. The par 36-35=71 averaged 0.527 strokes under par last year, and that was up more than 1.25 strokes over the tournament record-low in 2013. The only significant change for this year's edition was made to the par-3 16th hole, which can now stretch 26 yards longer and tip at 187 yards. It's been the easiest or tied for the easiest par 3 on the course throughout the FedExCup era.
Defending champion Chris Kirk ranked T44 in the field with just 46 greens in regulation. At 63.89 percent, that was nearly two clicks lower than the field average. Yet, he scored 15-under 269 on the strength of clutch putting. He ranked fifth in strokes gained and fourth in scrambling. He also co-led the field in par-3 scoring en route to the two-stroke victory.
Aside from the potential for moderate winds at times, Mother Nature figures to cooperate throughout the tournament. A primarily sunny sky will be allow for gradually rising temperatures into the 80s.
POWER RANKINGS: DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 1 
Jason Day Winner of three of his last four starts. Strong slate at TPC Boston includes three top 10s. Five golfers have won consecutive events in Playoffs history.
2 
Henrik Stenson Fulfilled confidence about being fresh for solo second at Plainfield; three top sixes in last five starts. Tournament-record-tying 22-under 262 here in 2013.
Fulfilled confidence about being fresh for solo second at Plainfield; three top sixes in last five starts. Tournament-record-tying 22-under 262 here in 2013.
3 
Jordan Spieth Even the best are entitled to a bad week. TPC Boston is a soft landing where he spun a final-round 62 in 2013 to place T4 in his debut.
Even the best are entitled to a bad week. TPC Boston is a soft landing where he spun a final-round 62 in 2013 to place T4 in his debut.
4 
Dustin Johnson Overpowered Plainfield for a T9. Led field in distance of all drives and ranked second in par-4 scoring. Pair of T4s at TPC Boston (2009, 2012).
Overpowered Plainfield for a T9. Led field in distance of all drives and ranked second in par-4 scoring. Pair of T4s at TPC Boston (2009, 2012).
5 
Bubba Watson Bomb-and-gouged a solo third at Plainfield; Led field in strokes gained: tee-to-green; ranked third in scrambling. Four top threes in last seven starts.
Bomb-and-gouged a solo third at Plainfield; Led field in strokes gained: tee-to-green; ranked third in scrambling. Four top threes in last seven starts.
6 
Rory McIlroy First action since a solo 17th at Whistling Straits, his only start post-ankle injury. Former winner at TPC Boston (2012); shared fifth last year.
First action since a solo 17th at Whistling Straits, his only start post-ankle injury. Former winner at TPC Boston (2012); shared fifth last year.
7 
Hideki Matsuyama Snapped out of his funk with a T13 at Plainfield where he ranked T13 in GIR and third in birdies or better en route to four red numbers.
Snapped out of his funk with a T13 at Plainfield where he ranked T13 in GIR and third in birdies or better en route to four red numbers.
8 
Justin Rose Scratched all the way back from an opening 77 at Plainfield to place T16. Preceded that with four top sixes. Finished T16 here in 2013.
Scratched all the way back from an opening 77 at Plainfield to place T16. Preceded that with four top sixes. Finished T16 here in 2013.
9 
Zach Johnson On cue, returned to form with a T4 at Plainfield where he ranked second in GIR and 13th in proximity. Top 20s in three of last six trips to TPC Boston.
On cue, returned to form with a T4 at Plainfield where he ranked second in GIR and 13th in proximity. Top 20s in three of last six trips to TPC Boston.
10 
Brooks Koepka After eight straight top 25s, met his match at The Barclays, missing the cut by three. Hasn't missed consecutive cuts anywhere since July of 2014.
After eight straight top 25s, met his match at The Barclays, missing the cut by three. Hasn't missed consecutive cuts anywhere since July of 2014.
11 
Robert Streb Weekend fade at Plainfield yielded a T39. Had top 20s in previous five starts. Ranked fifth in birdies or better during a T9 in debut here last year.
Weekend fade at Plainfield yielded a T39. Had top 20s in previous five starts. Ranked fifth in birdies or better during a T9 in debut here last year.
12 
Bill Haas Benefit of the doubt as a horse for a course. Five top 25s in nine appearances, including a personal-best-tying T9 last year. T6 two weeks ago at Sedgefield.
Benefit of the doubt as a horse for a course. Five top 25s in nine appearances, including a personal-best-tying T9 last year. T6 two weeks ago at Sedgefield.
13 
Justin Thomas Shook off forgettable week at Sedgefield for a T16 at Plainfield, his fourth top 20 in five starts. Still devouring par 5s; also seventh in the all-around.
Shook off forgettable week at Sedgefield for a T16 at Plainfield, his fourth top 20 in five starts. Still devouring par 5s; also seventh in the all-around.
14 
Jason Bohn Capitalized on career-best opening position (33rd) and finished T9 at The Barclays. Four top 15s in last five starts. Led field in proximity to the hole.
Capitalized on career-best opening position (33rd) and finished T9 at The Barclays. Four top 15s in last five starts. Led field in proximity to the hole.
15 
Jim Furyk Remains consistently strong. A T11 at The Barclays was his ninth top 15 in 17 starts this season. He's logged six top 25s in 10 starts at TPC Boston.
Remains consistently strong. A T11 at The Barclays was his ninth top 15 in 17 starts this season. He's logged six top 25s in 10 starts at TPC Boston.
16 
Webb Simpson He's played well with a non-anchored stroke where it's made sense (Quail Hollow; Sedgefield). The 2011 champ is 3-for-3 since with a T9 last year.
He's played well with a non-anchored stroke where it's made sense (Quail Hollow; Sedgefield). The 2011 champ is 3-for-3 since with a T9 last year.
17 
Ryan Palmer Not too surprisingly following his father's death, found strength within the comfort zone inside the ropes at Plainfield (T6). T16 here last year.
Not too surprisingly following his father's death, found strength within the comfort zone inside the ropes at Plainfield (T6). T16 here last year.
18 
Matt Kuchar Tied for fourth here in 2013 and sat one off lead at midpoint last year before fading to a wind-aided T29. T2 and two T7s in last six starts.
Tied for fourth here in 2013 and sat one off lead at midpoint last year before fading to a wind-aided T29. T2 and two T7s in last six starts.
19 
Rickie Fowler On a weird ride of top 10s (five, including two wins), T30s (three) and missed cuts (four) in last 12 starts. T11 after 54 holes here last year; placed T23.
On a weird ride of top 10s (five, including two wins), T30s (three) and missed cuts (four) in last 12 starts. T11 after 54 holes here last year; placed T23.
20 
Keegan Bradley He's arrived misfiring before, but has no worse than a T16 (twice) in his last three trips. Buoyed by the home crowd never hurts.
He's arrived misfiring before, but has no worse than a T16 (twice) in his last three trips. Buoyed by the home crowd never hurts.
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Winner of three of his last four starts. Strong slate at TPC Boston includes three top 10s. Five golfers have won consecutive events in Playoffs history.