PREVIEW-Golf-Pacesetting Singh has one eye on Boston challengers

NORTON, Massachusetts, Aug 27 (Reuters) - FedExCup points leader Vijay Singh will be keeping one eye on his closest rivals when he bids for a third PGA Tour title in five starts at this week's Deutsche Bank Championship outside Boston.

Fresh from victory at the Barclays Classic on Sunday, Fijian Singh is in pole position with three playoff events remaining but accepts much can change before the series ends.

"I'm just going to go out there and play hard for the next few weeks," Singh told reporters after beating Spaniard Sergio Garcia and American Kevin Sutherland in a playoff for the Barclays title.

"I've had good outings in Boston. I've won there and finished second once. I know the golf course pretty well so I'm looking forward to that.

"It would be nice to win it (the FedExCup)," added the world number five. "I've got a great start and I just have to go ahead and play hard for the next three other events.

"The guys behind me, the way the system works now, the next guy that wins can just overtake you. It's going to be tough but I've got a head start. I just have to go out there and play consistent, solid golf and hopefully win at the end."

Singh, winner of the 2004 Deutsche Bank Championship, is among 116 players from 16 different countries playing in the second leg of the FedExCup series, where the overall points leader collects a $10 million prize.

Most of the bonus won by last year's champion Tiger Woods came as a deferred payment. This year the playoffs winner will pocket $9 million in cash with $1 million deferred.

The top 70 on the points list following this week's event qualify for the BMW Championship starting on Sept. 4 in St Louis before the leading 30 players advance to the Tour Championship finale, staring on Sept. 25 in Atlanta.