As FedExCup Playoffs begin, Adam Scott looks to rekindle TPC Boston magic

Little remains of the TPC Boston golf course that Adam Scott first decimated almost 17 years ago. But the fond memories are as vivid as ever.

Scott was just a fresh-faced 23-year-old when he captured his first PGA Tour victory here at the 2003 Deutsche Bank Championship, where he lapped the field by four strokes while playing on a sponsor’s invitation. And while much has changed about this venue since, the comfortability Scott channels from it is still on display.

The 40-year-old will look to draw on those experiences once again this week, as TPC Boston takes its first shot at hosting The Northern Trust, the first event in the FedExCup Playoffs. As the longtime host of the Dell Technologies Championship, TPC Boston now rotates between the New York City and Boston areas as host of the postseason opener.

“Every year I’ve come back, certainly TPC Boston has kind of been my adopted home, being my first Tour win so many years ago, and a lot of familiar faces who have been here with me that entire time, so welcoming,” Scott said Wednesday. “The course has changed a lot over the years—a lot of improvements—and it’s really kind of come into its own and matured, so we’ve seen some great events. Fond memories to be here and I have good vibes.”

Scott is one of six Australians inside the 125-man field, joining Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Jason Day, Matt Jones and Cameron Davis. The top 70 players in the standings upon conclusion of The Northern Trust will advance to the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club outside Chicago, while the top 30 will qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship.

Scott, Leishman, Smith and Day are already qualified for the second playoff event, but Jones (No. 86 in the standings) and Davis (No. 91) have work to do to join them. Jones can advance to second leg of the playoffs with a finish of 23rd or better, while Davis will likely need a two-way tie for 20th or better.

Only Leishman and Smith, at Nos.14 and 30 in the standings, respectively, are currently qualified for the Atlanta-based finale at East Lake Golf Club.

All of them could likely lean on Scott for any sage FedExCup advice. The 14-time Tour winner is one of just nine players to qualify for the postseason in all 14 seasons and is tied with Dustin Johnson with 18 top-10 finishes in playoff events. Last season, Scott became the first person in FedExCup history to card top-10 finishes in all three events across multiple seasons, as he also accomplished the feat in 2016.

He carded a solo-fifth result at last season’s Northern Trust, won by Patrick Reed, at Liberty National Golf Club.

“It’s an exciting time of year,” Scott said. “Obviously this run the next few weeks, a lot can happen, and given everything that’s gone on this year, I’m kind of pleased with my position, actually. I feel like a couple good weeks will go a long way in getting me positioned to have a chance in Atlanta. So it’s all very important stuff this week. I’m looking forward to playing at a course where I’ve had past success and a tournament where I’ve had past success.”

Success here would certainly translate to more down the line. Two of the last three winners at TPC Boston—Rory McIlroy in 2016 and Justin Thomas in 2017—went on to win the FedExCup that year. Both players are in the field this week, as is Tiger Woods, who enters in search of a record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour victory.

TPC Boston has “proven itself to provide some exciting events over the years,” Scott said. “The modifications to the course have certainly enhanced that, I feel. So I think the course offers a lot of variety and that’s nice to see, certainly as you come into the FedExCup Playoffs. That’s what you want to see some strategy, where the guys are going for it or not on many holes out here.

“I think it’s worthy of holding this spot, and hopefully it stays in the rotation.”

And, if Scott has it his way, many more fond memories to come.