Masters champ Garcia absent as race for playoff riches begins

The FedEx Cup playoffs start at the Glen Oaks Club, Long Island, on Thursday and the big guns of golf have assembled for the first of four mega-bucks gatherings.

Masters champion Sergio Garcia is the only member of the top ten in the world rankings who has failed to enter The Northern Trust. It is the third year in succession the Spaniard has skipped the event.

Rory McIlroy, having hinted after the USPGA that he may not play any more competitive golf this year, is in the 120-runner Northern Trust field.

Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama and Sunday’s Wyndham Championship victor Henrik Stenson are also in attendance. The top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings progress to the second leg of the playoffs.

The European Tour stages the Made In Denmark, where Thomas Pieters headlines the field as defending champion. The Belgian star will be joined at the Himmerland Resort by Martin Kaymer and Thorbjorn Olesen.

bet365 – Made In Denmark (starts Thursday, Himmerland Resort):
8 T Pieters, 11 S Kjeldsen, 16 T Olesen, 18 M Kaymer, 22 B Dredge, 28 P Dunne, 33 bar.

bet365 – The Northern Trust (starts Thursday, Glen Oaks, Long Island): 10 H Matsuyama, 11 J Spieth, R McIlroy, 12 R Fowler, 14 D Johnson, 18 J Day, 20 J Thomas, B Koepka, 25 H Stenson, 28 bar.