Local Knowledge: TPC Boston and the Deutsche Bank Championship

The PGA Tour returns to TPC Boston this week for the second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs -- the Deutsche Bank Championship. Vijay Singh enters as the defending champ looking to avoid his first winless season since 2001. Tiger Woods, the 2006 winner, is back after missing the 2008 event while recovering from knee surgery. Just before things heat up, TPC Boston Head Professional David Corrado was kind enough to put his never ending work aside for a few moments to tell us a little about what to expect.

PGA.com: Tell us a little about the excitement of the tournament coming back this year, specifically what it's like to have Tiger Woods back as a part of a world-class field after missing the event last season while recovering from knee surgery.

Vijay Singh is the defending champion at TPC Boston. (Lecka/Getty Images)

Corrado: Well, this is my first year at the Deutsche Bank Championship as the Head Professional. While I wasn't here last year since I was working at TPC Michigan, I was here for the first few tournaments as an Assistant Professional. Over that time, the support for this tournament has been fantastic. With Tiger back this year, it just adds an extra level of excitement. It's an incredible opportunity being a part of the FedExCup Playoffs and having a great field. We're very fortunate to have the big names like Tiger, Phil, Vijay and Ernie showing up year after year. And it was that way before we even became a Playoff event.

PGA.com: Vijay Singh is your defending champion. Phil Mickelson, Tiger and Adam Scott [who did not qualify for the field this week] are all among the winners at TPC Boston in the tournament's short history. Aside from being a playoff event, is it safe to say that the tournament is made all the more prestigious as a result of the list of champions?

Corrado: The list of the champions right out of the shoot with Adam Scott in 2003 and winners such as Phil, Tiger and Vijay absolutely makes this all the more prestigious. We have a great course and it would be hard to argue that it isn't identifying the best players. We couldn't ask for much more, really.

PGA.com: It's no secret that after the first couple of Deutsche Bank Championships contested at TPC Boston that several players griped about the course. Over the course of the last few years, a number of changes have been made and now the players rave about it. What is it that the guys love so much about TPC Boston now?

Corrado: The course has changed immensely since we opened in 2002. One of the main goals in the renovation was to bring the New England feel to the course and also take a new course, but make it look and feel as though it's been here for years and years even though it's only really been seven years. There's been a lot of tweaking with the bunkering, the tee boxes and the rough. No. 4 is a reachable par 4, which can be very exciting. Scoring is always at a premium here and that adds to the excitement of the event. I think the positive feedback from the players recently has to do with the fact that they appreciate that we've taken their comments and suggestions to heart to improve the course and the event.

PGA.com: You guys have the only scheduled Monday finish on the PGA Tour schedule. Is that a nice little title to hold?

Corrado: It's unique. It's nice because it's Labor Day and everyone is off work to have access to the course. It helps drawing out the crowds when people have a long weekend. Also, it helps that we have the best sporting event on TV on Labor Day.

PGA.com: Lastly, the final hole at TPC Boston is a par 5 that is reachable in two for most players. Personally, I love the fact that if things are tight as play winds down in the final round the player has the choice to go for broke. Since these are the playoffs, they can throw up a Hail Mary as time winds down on the clock, so to speak. Can you tell us about the hole and what it is that lends itself to such a dramatic finish?

Corrado: The tee shot is somewhat demanding because of the bunkers in the center of the fairway. Players need to decide whether to play over those bunkers or to the left. Then they have a decision to go for it in two, which is a forced carry over a wetland area that guards the front of the green. Or the can lay up. With the decisions that need to be made off the tee and with the wetlands in front of the green, they could set up an eagle try, or a sure birdie, or if they miss they need to take a penalty stroke and they're looking at a potential disaster. A par-5 finishing hole tempts people, but also takes in a risk and adds to the excitement for the fans in the grandstand behind the green. Some are successful, some aren't, but it sure makes for a great finish that's a lot of fun to watch.