FEDEXCUP: Steve Stricker will start this week's Deutsche Bank Championship outside Boston at the head of the FedExCup points standings and with one eye firmly fixed on Tiger Woods.
American Stricker ended a six-year title drought on Sunday with a two-shot victory at the Barclays Classic, the first event in the PGA Tour's lucrative four-tournament season finale. Stricker's success lifted him above Woods in the FedExCup pecking order, the world number one having taken last week off to recharge his batteries.
"I'm in a great position now but there's still a long way to go and we all know who is coming back this week," Stricker told reporters after clinching his fourth PGA Tour title, grinning broadly as he referred to Woods.
This week's event at the TPC Boston features a field of 120 which will be cut to 70 for the September 6th-9th BMW Championship outside Chicago.
The leading 30 players in the standings will then qualify for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Padraig Harrington will play alongside Justin Rose and Jerry Kelly in the first two rounds as he continues his US campaign.
World number four Ernie Els has withdrawn from the Deutsche Bank to spend more time with his family. Els returned to his home in England to help his children prepare for a new academic year at school.
"I have been on the road now for almost eight weeks and it is important that I return home where my children will be preparing for their return to school," Els said.
EUROPEAN TOUR: Britain's Paul Casey will defend his Johnnie Walker Championship title this week in the belief he can still catch Padraig Harrington in the race to finish as Europe's top money winner. Casey, who is lying 12th with just the Abu Dhabi Championship title to his credit, has only banked around half money-list leader Harrington's earnings on the European Tour in his bid to avenge last year's frustrating end to the campaign.
Darren Clarke is among a six-strong Irish contingent that includes Graeme McDowell, Damien McGrane, Paul Lawrie, Gary Murphy and David Higgins.
