NORTON, Mass. –– Hopefully, Brett Quigley will have another round today like the 2-under-par 69 he posted yesterday at the Deutsche Bank Championship and head into the final two rounds with a chance to advance to the FedEx Cup semifinals next weekend in St. Louis.

Where, even if he qualifies, he won’t play.

With his second child coming next week, Quigley will be heading home to Florida rather than going to the BMW Championship at Belle Rive.

“Golf will always be there,” said Quigley, who wants to be at the hospital with his wife, Amy, when their second daughter is scheduled to be delivered by cesarean section Thursday.

“After seeing Lily be born, I’d never miss it. It’s amazing,” he said.

It’s not a decision every pro golfer would make. There are some who, considering the financial opportunity, and the prestige of playing for the FedEx Cup, might put their job first.

Not Quigley.

His first child, Lillian Sage Augusta Quigley, was born the week of the Masters in 2006. When Brett learned Amy was in labor, he flew from Augusta, where he’d been playing practice rounds, to Florida for the birth, then returned to Georgia in time to play the opening round on little, if any, sleep.

He can’t do that next week.

Of course, a couple of weeks ago, Quigley didn’t know how well he’d be playing, nor did he know the possibilities of moving up in the FedEx point standings.

“I didn’t know how weighted the points were,” he said yesterday. “Shame on me, I suppose, for not paying more attention.”

Because he’s been sidelined since the CVS by a stress fracture in his left leg, Quigley was only 118th in the FedEx Cup rankings before last weekend, when the top 144 qualified. A year ago, that would have meant he’d play the opening tournament and then, barring a high finish, would have been done.

This year, however, the scoring system has been revised, and it’s much easier for players lower down the list to move up quickly.

That was the case last weekend, when Quigley climbed to number 90 by finishing 38th at the Barclays, and fellow Rhode Islander Patrick Sheehan, who was 24th, jumped to 85th, from 120. The top 70 after this weekend get to play in St. Louis.

“I wasn’t even going to play last week,” said Quigley, who hasn’t been able to practice, much less play, because of his sore leg. “I’ve only played four rounds since the (U.S.) Open. But I figured I’d take a chance.”

After the CVS, Quigley was disappointed and disheartened at the prospect of having to take the summer off.

“I viewed it as a negative,” he said. “I thought I’d blown my chance at the (FedEx) playoffs.

“But, about a month ago, I realized I was the luckiest guy in the world. I’ve had the opportunity to spend all summer with my family. I’ve had two months with Lily when she’s such a fun age to be around.”

The decision to be with Amy when Lillian’s sister is born, said Quigley, was made “in a heartbeat.”

“If there ever was any test about what I’d do in that situation,” he said, “it was at Augusta.”

That was Quigley’s first Masters. But it didn’t compare with the impending birth of his first child.

“As soon as I heard that Amy’s water broke,” he said, “there was no question I was going home. Fortunately, I made it in time.”

Unlike that time, when the Quigleys commemorated the occasion by adding Augusta to Lillian’s name, baby number two won’t have Norton in her name.

“Not even if I win,” Brett said with a laugh, adding that, “Amy hasn’t picked a name yet. There are five she’s been throwing around. I like all five, so she can pick.”

In his five previous appearances at the Deutsche Bank, Quigley has failed to make the cut. He should be able to snap that streak today, after playing a bogey-free round yesterday morning.

“I’m happy with my game, and it showed,” he said. “I feel pretty good. My leg is sore, but I’ve been icing it. I’ve got one more week in me, then I’ll sit for three before playing in most of the fall tournaments. It should be pretty good by then.”

There is, of course, another possibility.

“If I win this week,” he said with a smile, “I could skip St. Louis and come back for the Tour Championship at East Lake.”

jdonalds@projo.com