FedExCup champ Horschel starts defense this week

Reigning FedExCup Champion Billy Horschel will make his 2014-15 PGA TOUR Season debut this week at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. With his opening tee shot, he will also make history.

Horschel, who lifted the FedExCup at East Lake in mid-September, will be less than five weeks removed from the biggest triumph of his career. His start will mark the earliest for a defending FedExCup champion following his victory, edging Henrik Stenson's six-week mark of a season ago.

Horschel, has played the TOUR's annual stop at TPC Summerlin just once, finishing tied for 16th in 2011. He tweeted Sunday about his excitement to get the new season under way.

The journey starts today for the 2014-2015 PGA Tour season. Excited to start playing again @ShrinersOpen! #defendthecup

— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) October 12, 2014

No player has ever defended his FedExCup title and just two -- Stenson last season and Brandt Snedeker in 2013 -- have returned to East Lake the season following their FedExCup triumphs.

Here's a quick look at how past FedExCup champions have fared in their first official starts after claiming the FedExCup: