Let's TPC Some New England Golf: Full Dell Technologies Championship Preview

Hello friends. Happy Deutsche Bank week I mean Dell Technologies week. Massachusetts rejoice, golf has returned.

I’ve got a soft spot for this event. I went every year in college and while I lived in Boston after. It’s a blast. Boston fans know how to bring it.

Even went with some #chicks one time. Geaux Riggs geaux.

Sunglasses and hat – the best Riggs.

TPC Boston’s hosted the late-season event every year since 2003, but unfortunately will only be a once every few years stop going forward. The event transformed from a whatever tourney to a big-name draw with the inception of the FedEx Cup in 2007; it’s produced elite winners for well over a decade now.

2006 – Tiger Woods
2007 – Phil Mickelson
2008 – Vijay Singh
2009 – Steve Stricker
2010 – Charley Hoffman
2011 – Webb Simpson
2012 – Rory McIlroy
2013 – Henrik Stenson
2014 – Chris Kirk
2015 – Rickie Fowler
2016 – Rory McIlroy
2017 – Justin Thomas

In old Latin, “FedEx Cup” means, of course, “throwing money at the wall and hoping star players stick to it.” And believe it or not, it works. Everybody likes money.

Due to Labor Day, we’ve got a Friday start and Monday finish this week.

The Track

I played TPC Boston once back in 2016. Generally, TPCs stinks, but this one’s as good as TPCs get. It’s been altered more over the last 12 years than Lindsey Pelas and — thanks to Gil Hanse and partner Jim Wagner — has evolved into a solid, interesting golf course.

Sup Lindz.

Here’s my buddy Welchy teeing off through the tight window on the par-4 6th. Also featured, the muppet man.

Rory, same shot.

7,261 yards. Par 71. A classic New England topography. 12 and 13 have been dramatically changed over the last two years. A centerline bunker was added to 12 last year which forced players to decide to be aggressive up the left, conservative up the right, or even take it over the left trees to the 13th fairway.

But the players bitched and the bunker was removed for this year. The Fried Egg does a fantastic job delivering great detail on this whole ordeal.

Getting up-and-down ain’t easy ’round here. It can be firm, dry and tangly, as can be seen here from from near the 231-yard par-3 11th.

Notable Holes

2nd, Par 5, 542 yards

Slight dogleg right and reachable with a good tee ball. It’s all carry along the front and right of this green, and the left side features some tricky mounds to navigate.

4th, Par 4, 353 yards

The staple drivable par-4. There’s bunkers everywhere that’ll catch most tee balls, but a 4 or higher here is a disappointment.

I mean, Dustin roasted iron here.

The holes changes day-to-day based on the tees chosen.

16th, Par 3, 187 yards

Cheeky little 3-par here. Card says 187 but with the different pin locations and tees used, it’ll often play 15-30 yards shorter. There’ll be a lot of good birdie looks here, but with water looming short and left, the misfires go heavily punished.

See: Henrik Stenson 2015.

18th, Par 5, 530 yards

A controversial and interesting finisher, just how we like ‘em. The 18th has been redesigned numerous times, ultimately settling on a wild green-side area featuring a severe drop-off around the back side.

Bump it? Flop it? Try some weird in-between shot? Who knows. Add in that most balls trundle into some rough, on a downslope, and you see why cages become rattled here.

Shoutout to Billy Horschel who chunked one into the trash here to blow it in 2014. A real feel-good video.

LOL Johnny Miller, “that’s what pressure will do folks.”

(sadly, Horschel went on to win the next 2 events, the FedEx Cup, and $10+ million)

Clubhouse

Don’t love it. Don’t hate it.

Clubhouse grade = 5.0.

Weather

The Field

The 100 guys that’ve had the best seasons thus far. Simple.

Predictions

Winning Score

The winner typically goes pretty low here.

I expect much of the same, especially with good weather and the 12th playing easier.

Winning score, -19.

Winner

First, your betting favorites.

The winner from TPC Boston has gone on to win the last two FedEx Cups. Brooks Koepka’s taking down player of the year, with his two majors, so he’s as likely as any to also take down the FedEx. This would be a huge step towards that, and Brooks’ last three starts look like this: 5th, 1st, T8th.

Winner, Brooks Koepka.

DFL

Congrats to Brice Garnett making it this far because I don’t think they’ve ever shown him hitting a single shot. However, four missed cuts in hist last six starts have me targeting Brice for DFL this week.

I don’t like doing it. I have to do it. It’s the job.

DFL, Brice Garnett.

Dark Horse

I don’t like Billy Horschel, but in his last seven starts he’s got three top-5s and five top-17s. He was one swing away from winning here in 2014.

And he’s 40/1 this week. Value hath no allegiance.

Dark horse, Bill Horschel.

Also

Throw some coin on this guy.

Coverage

Friday: Golf Channel, 2:30-6:30PM ET
Saturday: Golf Channel, 3-6:30PM ET
Sunday: Golf Channel, 1-3PM ET; NBC, 3-6PM ET
Monday: Golf Channel, 11:30AM-1:30PM ET; NBC, 1:30-6PM ET

You can watch Tiger on streaming (PGA TOUR Live) at 8:51am Friday, 1:16pm Saturday.

Final Thoughts

Caddies have the best stories, and Austin Cook’s looper Kip Henley tells ‘em as good as anybody. He caddied alongside Tiger this past Sunday and has some great tales to tell.

Enjoy Boston.