FedEx Cup Playoffs: PGA Deutsche Bank Tee Times, Preview and TV Schedule

The FedEx Cup playoffs move to the TPC Boston, as the PGA Deustche Bank Championship’s first round begins Friday, with the final round set on Labor Day Monday.

Charley Hoffman is back to defend his title, as he won the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship by shooting a 9-under 62 in the final round to win by five shots.

There will be 99 players instead of 100 competing this weekend. J.B. Holmes is missing the playoffs due to health reasons.

The tournament at this moment is there for the taking. Dustin Johnson, winner last week at The Barclays, leads the standings coming into the weekend over Matt Kuchar and Nick Watney.

Johnson took over the top lead in the standings with his win at last week’s rain-shortened Barclays in New Jersey. With Hurricane Irene zeroing on the tri-state area The Barclays was shortened to 54-holes.

The weather forecast looks excellent for this weekend. With no storm in sight and the ground crews working the extra hour, the 7,214-yard, par-71 TPC course layout looks in great condition.

There are some story lines to highlight for this weekend besides the obvious playoff elimination battle. The PGA Rookie of The Year is at stake.

PGA Champ Keegan Bradley is a two-time winner this year. He might be on the lead over Masters Champ Charl Schwartzel, but he is no lock for it. If Schwartzel looks good the rest of the way he could take it away from Keegan.

The world’s No. 1 ranked player, Luke Donald, is looking for some consolation prize after coming up empty in the majors. He is very much in contention for the title.

So far the top 56 players in the FedEx Cup standings have locked-in their participation for next week’s BMW Championships.

Among the notables in danger of not making the top 70 are the FedEx Cup Defending Champ Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Graeme McDowell and three-time major champs Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington.

Let’s take a look at some of the threesomes and their tee times:

Featured Group - Tee No. 10, 8:10 a.m. - Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney

This is a group of the top three players in the FedExCup standings. It will feature Johnson and Kuchar who battled last Sunday at the Barclays and Watney a two-time PGA winner this year.

The Top 10 Guys – Tee No. 1, 12:40 p.m. – Luke Donald, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker.

Donald, the world’s top ranked player, has finished 10 times in the top-10 this year; Simpson has eight; and Snedeker has six, including last week when he tied for 10th.

The Guys in Trouble Group – Tee No. 1 1:16 pm – John Merrick, Ernie Els, Ben Crane

This is the group of the last three players in the FedEx Cup standings. They need to finish at least 17th to make it to next week’s BMW Championship.

Other notable threesomes:

Tee No. 1

7:22 a.m. – Defending FedEx Cup champ Jim Furyk pairs up the Kevin Streelman and Robert Allenby.

7:58 a.m. – Masters Champ Charl Schwartzel, PGA Championship runner-up Jason Dufner and Brian Davis.

8:10 a.m. – Adam Scott, Hunter Mahan and Charles Howell III.

11:52 a.m. - Sergio Garcia, Brendon De Jonge and Brendan Steele.

12:16 p.m. – 2001 PGA Champ David Toms, Bubba Watson and Bill Haas.

12:28 p.m. – Phil Mickelson, Gary Woodland and Johnathan Byrd.

Tee No. 10

7:46 a.m. – PGA Champ and New England native, Keegan Bradley, Masters and US Open runner-up Jason Day and Mark Wilson.

7:58 a.m. – 2008 FedEx Cup Champ and three-time major winner Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker and K.J.Choi.

11:40 a.m. - Anthony Kim, Harrison Frazar and Charlie Wi.

12:16 p.m. – Defending Champ Charley Hoffman, promising youngster Rickie Fowler and Bo Van Pelt.

12:52 p.m. – Three-time major champ Padraig Harrington, Blake Adams and Jeff Overton.

Broadcast Schedule

LIVE@ on PGATOUR.COM (Watch online: Live coverage for No. 11 and No. 16)

Fri thru Mon: 1-6 p.m.

TV

Fri-Sat: 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel)

Sun: 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel) and 3-6 p.m. (NBC)

Mon: 12-3 p.m. (Gold Channel) and 3-6 p.m. (NBC)

PGA TOUR Network on SiriusXM Radio

Fri thru Mon: 12-6 p.m. ET

For a complete list of Tee Times and Pairings click here.

- Carlos Torres