The Northern Trust 2020: Key stats for this week's opening FedEx Cup Play-Off event in Massachusetts

Seven days later than originally planned, the FedEx Cup Play-Offs get underway in Massachusetts, with this week's Northern Trust event taking place at TPC Boston.

The three-tournament series will bring to an end a PGA Tour season like no other, with as many as 11 events having to be cancelled because of Covid-19.

This week's opening salvo is available to the top 125 players in the FedEx Cup standings, following the completion of the Wyndham Championship on Sunday.

From here, this total will be significantly reduced to 70 for the second play-off event, after which the top 30 head to Georgia for the season-ending Tour Championship.

Back on the rota

TPC Boston, designed by the late Arnold Palmer, returns to the PGA Tour schedule following an absence of one year.

Because of the Tour's decision in 2018 to reduce the Play-Off series from four tournaments to three, TPC Boston will now appear on the schedule every other year.

Opening for business in June 2002, just 15 months before making its pro debut, TPC Boston is the most easterly American venue on the current PGA Tour itinerary.

It is also one of the most northerly and is located around 20 miles south of downtown Boston.

Laid out in woodland, TPC Boston is a traditional parkland course. It has lush undulating fairways and Bentgrass greens, while water comes into play on just four holes - which is unusual for such a modern build.

Excellent honours board

A quick look at the list of champions at TPC Boston, shows that few outsiders ever win over Palmer's course.

Even before the Play-Offs began in 2007, three of the four champions here were Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and a young Adam Scott.

Since then, other winners have included Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Webb Simpson, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Rickie Fowler and Steve Stricker, while Rory McIlroy is a two-time champion - alongside Singh.

And it's highly likely that another 'marquee name' will emerge holding the trophy aloft this Sunday evening, too.

Check out the latest betting ahead of this week's Northern Trust tournament

Man of the moment, the recently crowned PGA winner Collin Morikawa, makes his first start as a major champ, but is the only member of the world's top 15 not to have competed at TPC Boston previously.

DeChambeau, who tied-fourth at Harding Park two weeks ago, is the most recent Boston champion, while Patrick Reed is another who can combine decent current form with a strong course history.

Over the years, Driving Accuracy has not been a particularly key stat in Boston where the ability to scramble successfully appears to hold a greater significance.

With this in mind, Xander Schauffele and Abraham Ancer could find the course to their liking.

World No 10 Schauffele rarely finishes outside the top-15 nowadays, while Ancer tied-seventh on his Boston debut two years ago.

This might also be the type of venue where Hideki Matsuyama could make a return to winning ways.

Without a PGA Tour victory since August 2017, Matsuyama has a steady Boston record, including a tie-for-fourth last time he visited.

Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive

Note: All 125 qualifiers are listed