However, there won’t be 70 players in the field in Delaware, Aussie World No.2 Cam Smith withdrawing from the event with hip soreness, a decision that won’t cost him a spot at next week’s Tour Championship when another cut is made to 30 starters. But it will likely push him down the rankings and staggered start in Atlanta.

Zalatoris took top spot on the rankings after his win in Memphis, a place World No.1 Scottie Scheffler will be keen to regain, while a number of the big names will be attempting to bounce back from missed cuts.

Four Aussies will tee it up this week, with all currently sitting outside the top-30 cut-off that will advance to the final event of the Playoffs at Eastlake.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Patrick Cantlay got exceptionally hot with the putter at Caves Valley last year to take the title on his way to eventually winning the FedExCup.

The American holed a long putt at the 72nd hole to send the tournament to extra holes, with a six hole play-off required to separate Cantlay and Bryson DeChambeau, who missed a birdie putt at the last hole of regulation to take the trophy.

RIGHT: Patrick Cantlay claimed this event in 2021 after an epic play-off with Bryson DeChambeau. PHOTO: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images.

It was another birdie from long range for Cantlay at the sixth play-off hole to separate the pair who finished at 27-under for the tournament.

COURSE: Playing host to the PGA Tour for the first time, Wilmington Country Club will unveil its renovated South Course that is set to challenge the world’s best with its combination of length, bunkering and large undulating greens.

Using a reconfigured hole order this week, the original course was designed by Robert Trent Jones after the club purchased new land in the 1950s and moved from its original location where the club started in 1901.

Opening for play in 1960, with the North Course opening the following year, this week’s venue received extensive damage at the hands of a tornado in 2020.

The club had already engaged course architect Andrew Green to conduct work on the property, with the South Course becoming his main focus, and bunkering replacing some of the lost trees on the par 71 that will measure 7,534 yards this week.

Manipulating the order of holes has created a daunting finish that starts at the long par-3 15th followed by a short par-4 at the 16th that could have the tees pushed up this week to make it reachable, before the penultimate hole featuring plenty of bunkers precedes the 446 yard last.

PRIZEMONEY: US$15,000,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: After his maiden PGA Tour win last week, Will Zalatoris is one to watch this week with the monkey off his back and clearly in great form.

Zalatoris loves the big stage and is the sort of player that rides confidence to good results, and with the FedExCup in his sights will be up for this one on a course that should suit his ball striking prowess.

The man who Zalatoris deposed at the top of the standings, Scottie Scheffler, had a rare weekend off last week that will have given him the chance to refresh before the final run of two events.

Will Zalatoris sits on top of the rankings after his win last week, with two events remaining in the season. PHOTO: Andy Lyons/Getty Images.

Leading the Tour for much of the season, the World No.1 has a game that matches well with both the closing venues, and will want to take the chance to create more distance between himself and Cam Smith on the world rankings with the Queenslander skipping this week.

Rory McIlroy will be worth keeping an eye on here after missing the weekend at TPC Southwind, whereas Tony Finau remains one of the hottest players in the game adding a T5 last week after two consecutive wins.

Matt Fitzpatrick also finished fifth at the St Jude and finds another venue that will suit his impressive driving and putting talents.

The Aussies have plenty to do to stay alive with a good performance this week, with Cam Davis arriving on a run of T8-6th-T16-T14-T13 that will surely have him among considerations for Trevor Immelman’s Presidents Cup side that will have its eight automatic qualifiers decided at the conclusion of this week.

Davis will likely need a Captains pick, so will Lucas Herbert who missed the cut in Memphis.

Marc Leishman needs to reverse his recent run of poor form to move up the International team standings and keep his season alive at No.70 in the FedExCup but has often found his best form at this time of year and is a past champion of this event.

Sitting inside the automatic spots for Immelman’s team after a T5 last week, Adam Scott has a great Playoffs record and showed plenty last week to suggest another win is just around the corner for the 42-year-old.

72-HOLE RECORD: 260 (Justin Rose & Keegan Bradley)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Marc Leishman (2017), Jason Day (2015)

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Marc Leishman, Cam Davis, Adam Scott and Lucas Herbert

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 5am – 9am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 5am – 9am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 5am – 9am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 2am – 8am)
*AEST, check local guides