DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP | 19
“Player feedback was outstanding (in 2007) and the course has really matured with some of the fescues and native grasses,” Faxon said. “The course really doesn’t favor one style of player, and it can be played conservatively or aggressively. We made lots of holes with choices and a chance to make some birdies on the last few holes.” The changes were not made to lengthen the
course as is the norm in course reinventions today. Instead, the course is now 200 yards shorter than the original design, but offers a more strategic test where players have to consider whether to exercise power or precision. The wispy grass surrounding the fairways and greens, the rock walls and difficult bunkering—another area that was lessened in numbers from 102 to 52—add both natural beauty and also difficulty. The result has been an assortment of noteworthy champions. Phil Mickelson outdueled Tiger Woods in 2007. Vijay Singh rode a final- round 63 to the 2008 championship. Steve Stricker opened with a 63 on the way to victory in 2009. Charley Hoffman’s final-round 62 in 2010 catapulted him to first place. Then Webb Simpson beat Chez Reavie in a playoff this year.
SIMPSON’S HOT FINISH Simpson was seemingly caught in the wake of Reavie’s back-nine surge at this year’s Deutsche Bank Championship. He was two strokes back entering the final hole at TPC Boston after Reavie made birdies on four of six holes. Simpson responded with a birdie from 30 feet to shoot a final-round 65 and move within one of Reavie, who was in the next group to play the par-5 finishing hole. “When it went in, it was pretty exciting,”
Simpson said of his final putt. “I knew it was still a long shot, but I felt pretty lucky to get in a playoff.”
Reavie had a questionable lie in the left rough
after his drive and chose to lay up. His third shot with a wedge then sailed over the green and he made bogey to force a playoff. On the 18th again, the first playoff hole, Simpson made a 15-foot birdie putt to stay alive as Reavie had a tap-in birdie. On the second playoff hole, the par-4 17th, Simpson made an 8-foot birdie putt to claim the title, the second of his career and the second in three weeks. ■
With the win, Simpson moved to first in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup with two events remaining.
PAR/YARDAGE
WEB SITE www.
deutschebankchampionship. com
DATES September 2-5
SITE
TPC Boston, Norton, MA;
www.tpcboston.com
TELEVISION Golf Channel and NBC
36-35—71, 7,207 yards. TPC Boston’s five sets of tee boxes per hole allow for the course to challenge the greatest golfers in the world, while not intimidating the high handicapper.
TPC LIFE & LEISURE
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