Hoffman wins Deutsche Bank Championship

Charley Hoffman put on a Labor-day exhibition by blitzing the TPC Boston course in 62 strokes to win the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoff series, the Deutsche Bank Championship by five shots.

Hoffman, without a win on the PGA Tour since the 2007 Bob Hope Chysler Classic had started the day four shots behind the overnight leader, Jason Day. But as the Australian player faltered, Hoffman powered his way into the lead with a run of four straight birdies from the second.

A further birdie on the 7th hole was sandwiched between bogeys on the 6th and 8th, but the back nine holes were error free for Hoffman, who scorched the par-35 closing stretch in 29 to come home well clear of Geoff Ogilvy – carding his first top 10 finish since the SBS Open earlier this year, Luke Donald and Day, who could only muster a level par 71. Hoffman finished with a 22-under par total for his four rounds, five clear of his nearest rivals.

United States’ Tom Gillis and Brandt Snedeker finished in a tie for fifth place on 16-under par alongside tipster selection Adam Scott, providing a small return while John Senden was a further two shots behind, having finished with a 67 for 14-under.

The top 10 places were filled by defending champion, Steve Stricker, who dropped his first shots of the tournament enroute to a 71 and ninth place, while D.J Trahan carded 70 to take tenth spot on 12-under par.

World number one Tiger Woods held onto top spot in the rankings following a closing 68 to move into a tie for 11th place, but Phil Mickelson slumped to a disappointing 76 to drop into a tie for 25th place after holding a prime position to challenge the lead after the third round. Mickelson fell apart on the back nine with a triple and double bogey among the scores on his card on the closing holes.

Hoffman’s win catapulted the Californian player up to second spot in the FedEx Cup rankings, while also making him eligible to compete in all four majors next year, after missing out this season. And now a surprise Ryder Cup wild-card could be in the offing, with captain Corey Pavin due to reveal his four picks later on Tuesday.

But Hoffman’s main aim was just to break into the top-70 bubble and advance to next week’s event, and he did it in style with a mixture of breath-taking golf, some hot putting and a good slice of luck to tie the tournament record, set in 2008 by Vijay Singh.

“The Playoffs, that’s what you try to do,” Hoffman said afterwards. “I wasn’t even close to anything for the most part starting the Playoffs. Played decent last week, and just got it going this week.”

“The best perk, hopefully, will be a Ryder Cup berth. Obviously, I wasn’t in contention, but I hope I am now. It would be an honor to play, and I think I can play well.”