Phil Mickelson enters the Deutsche Bank Championship ranked No. 9 in the world. (AP)

NORTON — The biggest names in golf have descended on Massachusetts this weekend for the Deutsche Bank Championship as a part of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup. The top 100 players in the standings have qualified, and after play is completed this weekend the top 70 will advance to the next stage of the Cup, the BMW Championship.

Some notable players in the field include PGA Championship winner and New England native Keegan Bradley, world No. 1-ranked player Luke Donald, four-time major winner Phil Mickelson, Worcester-born Scott Stallings and other big names such as Bubba Watson, Steve Stricker and Dustin Johnson.

Charley Hoffman is back to defend his title, as he won the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship by shooting a 9-under 62 in the final round to win by five shots.

The first round begins Friday, with the final round set for Monday.

Here are five players to keep an eye on over the course of the week.

KEEGAN BRADLEY

Bradley should receive one of the the biggest crowd followings of the week as the New England native returns to his roots for the first time since winning the PGA Championship last month. He is ranked No. 29 in the World Golf Rankings and No. 14 in the FedEx Cup standings. He is coming off missing the cut in last week’s rain-shortened Barclays tournament. Bradley has played the course before, back in a high school match. He recalled earlier in the week he shot a 32 and beat his opponent by 20 shots over the nine-hole round.

DUSTIN JOHNSON

Johnson is ranked No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings as he won The Barclays, the first event in the Cup, last week. He finished at minus-19 in a tournament that was shortened to 54 holes due to Hurricane Irene. The win makes him the first player since Tiger Woods to go straight to the Tour from college and win in each of his first four years. He ranks fourth on Tour in driving distance, averaging 312.3 yards off the tee. He has played in the Deutsche Bank each of the past two seasons. Last year he finished tied for 57. In 2009 he finished tied for fourth place at minus-15.

PHIL MICKELSON

Mickelson won the Deutsche Bank back in 2007, finishing at minus-16, which bested Tiger Woods and two others who finished at minus-14. He sits at No. 11 in the FedEx Cup points standings and is ranked No. 9 in the world. Last year Mickelson finished at minus-7, which put him in a tie for 25th place. He also finished at minus-7 in 2009, and that earned him a tie for 27th. Mickelson has shown the ability to score on this golf course and is always a sure bet to be in contention come the final round.

STEVE STRICKER

Stricker has been one of the most consistent players on Tour that has yet to win a major. The 44-year-old is ranked No. 3 in the world and No. 7 in the FedEx Cup. Stricker has enjoyed a great deal of success at TPC Boston. He won the tournament in 2009 and since 2005 he has four top-10 finishes. He is ranked second on Tour in scoring average at 69.09.

JASON DAY

Day is one of the rising stars on the PGA Tour. The 23-year-old is ranked No. 10 in the world rankings and No. 15 in the Fed Ex Cup. He has won once on the PGA Tour, the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship. Day has performed well in the majors this year, finishing in a tie for second at the Masters and second at the U.S. Open. Last year at the Deutsche Bank, Day finished tied for second at -17.

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