Preview and Predictions for 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship

Following The Barclays and yet another convincing Jason Day victory, we're on to the second of four playoff events: the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts. 

The top 100 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings will be teeing it up in this Friday-to-Monday tournament, with the top 70 continuing on to the BMW Championship.

Rory McIlroy returns to action after sitting out The Barclays, and along with the recently deposed Jordan Spieth and the surging Jason Day, he'll headline the field south of Boston. 

And speaking of headlines, there is no shortage of storylines this week, including the end of automatic Presidents Cup qualifying.

We'll dive into all of the above with the full preview after the jump.

Where to Watch

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Defending Champion: Chris Kirk

Where

TPC Boston: Norton, Massachusetts

What

Total Purse: $8,250,000

Winning Share: $1,485,000 

FedEx Points to Winner: 2,000

When

Friday and Saturday: 2:30-6:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Saturday: 1-2:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel; 3-6:00 p.m. ET, NBC

Sunday: 1-3:00 p.m. ET Golf Channel, 3-6:00 p.m. ET NBC

Monday: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET Golf Channel, 1:30-6 p.m. ET NBC

Biggest Storylines

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With a six-stroke victory in the first playoff event, Jason Day's brilliant form (which includes three wins in his last four starts) is the leading storyline entering the Deutsche Bank Championship. Day is also the leader in FedEx Cup points. 

On the other end of the spectrum in Edison, New Jersey, last week, Jordan Spieth missed the cut at Plainfield Country Club and in doing so lost the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. He'll arrive at TPC Boston looking to rebound and reclaim his prime perch. 

Rory McIlroy, who took the first playoff off to allow his injured ankle to heal further, was the beneficiary of Spieth's poor play, returning to the top spot in the OWGR. This will mark just McIlroy's second start since June and a 17th-place finish at the PGA Championship. 

Also of note, this week marks the end of automatic qualifying for the Presidents Cup. The top 10 U.S. players in a two-year tally of FedEx Cup points make the U.S. team. The top 10 non-Europeans in the Official World Golf Ranking earn spots on the International Team.

The Favorites

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Rory McIlroy

The former and recently restored world No. 1 returns to action at a venue where he tasted victory in 2012. There will be concerns about rust, to be sure, but if we assume the 26-year-old's ankle has healed and he's been able to dial things in on the practice range, he has to be considered a threat. His pedigree and past play at TPC Boston more than prove he's capable of winning this week. 

Jason Day

The golfing man of the moment, Jason Day enters the Deutsche Bank Championship a winner in three of his last four starts. Day leads the PGA Tour in birdie average, is third in scoring average, second in strokes gained putting and fourth in strokes gained total. 

Jordan Spieth 

Following a second-place finish at the PGA Championship, Jordan Spieth never really got anything going at The Barclays, where he missed the cut by five strokes. Assuming the performance was a fluke, it's worth remembering that Spieth finishing tied for fourth at TPC Boston in 2012. The tour leader in scoring average and with four top-10 finishes in his last five starts, it's tough to count the 22-year-old out this week.

The Dark Horses

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Webb Simpson

2011 Deutsche Bank champ Webb Simpson tied for ninth last year. He arrives at TPC Boston off a 30th-place finish at The Barclays and finished sixth at the Wyndham Championship prior to that. Simpson has five top-10 finishes in 20 starts this season and is fifth on tour in strokes gained tee-to-green. If the putter cooperates, he'll contend. 

Robert Streb

Robert Streb tied for ninth at TPC Boston last year and has tallied nine top-10 finishes in 27 starts this season, including a win. Streb finished 39th at The Barclays in his most recent start and finished 10th at the PGA Championship prior to that. He's 10th in strokes gained total and has had no problem contending at a variety of tracks this season.

Prediction

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Winner: Henrik Stenson

Stenson won at TPC Boston in 2013, so he's more than capable at the Boston-area track. He finished second at The Barclays in his most recent start and has finished sixth or better in three of his last six starts. Thus, he's in form. 

The Swede leads the tour in greens in regulation, is second in strokes gained tee-to-green, third in strokes gained total and sixth in scoring average.  

Horse for the course with good recent play and statistically solid: Stenson is as solid a bet as any this week.  

All stats courtesy of PGATour.com.