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Luke Donald continues his bid to become the first winner of the US and European money lists in the same season when the PGA Tour play-offs begin on Thursday.

The Barclays is the first of four FedEx series events, the end-of-season competition in which the world number one lies fourth on the points list.

The 33-year-old leads the overall money list in the US and is also top of the European Tour equivalent Race To Dubai.

He partners Phil Mickelson and USPGA champion Keegan Bradley in round one.

Also in the field at the par-71 Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, are Sergio Garcia, the current world number 47, and defending FedEx champion

Aside from Donald, the Great Britain and Ireland challenge is led by England's Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, Scotsman Martin Laird, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and former Open champion Padraig Harrington.

The Barclays event comprises the top 125 players in the FedEx standings, but only the top 100 will make it through to the next event in the series, the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston from 2-5 September.

The penultimate tournament in the series, the BMW Championship in Illinois from 15-18 September, will comprise the top 70 players in the standings, while only the top 30 will play in the finale, the Tour Championship in Atlanta, from 22-25 September, where a $10m (£6m) bonus stands to be won.

Donald, yet to win a major title, has won the World Match Play, BMW PGA Championship and Scottish Open titles this year.

In the majors he recorded top-10 finishes at the Masters and US PGA but missed the cut at the Open.

"Winning trophies rather than the title of being leading money winner is much more important to me. I'm obviously in a position where I have a great chance," he said.

"I've been working very hard the past week, and you know, it's nice to have certain things to chase after and focus (on) and it makes everything a little bit more meaningful."