I SAID last week the Northern Trust would hopefully be a tournament to savour and so it turned out. Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth put up a great show at Glen Oaks and I don’t expect there to be any let-up this week for the second round of the Fed-Ex Cup at TPC Boston.
Ninety six of the top players in the Fed-Ex standings will all appear at this weekend’s Dell Technologies Championship.
The second tournament of the Fed-Ex playoffs begin as normal on Friday and as usual there has been a couple of changes to the par-71 course. The 12th is slightly longer and has three new bunkers while the 13th has a new green complex with five bunkers. Not big changes but ones for players to take note of.
It was great to see big Dustin back to form last week and when DJ is on his game no one can beat him. Can he win two tournaments in a row … of course he can. He has won consecutive tournaments before (i nfact he won three in a row earlier this year) so have no doubts about him winning this week. Although he hasn’t won here he has had three top 10s. Driving distance: 314.8 yards (2nd). Scrambling: 63.09% (16th). Strokes Gained: Putting: 0.292 (50th).
Due to a superb T3 in his debut in the Fed-Ex play-Offs at the weekend Jon Rahm moves up to fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking. It was his first top 25 since winning the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational at the end of May. I think missing the cut at the Memorial then the US Open has knocked the Spaniard’s confidence back a bit but four consecutive sub 70 rounds last week will have given him a boost.
The 22-year-old has bucketloads of talent and is going to be a Major winner soon. He has already won one PGA Tour event, the Farmers Insurance, and has three weeks to add another before the end of the season. I think he will do it and possibly this week. DD: 304.9 yards (21st). Scrambling: 61.74% (33rd). SG:Putting: 0.275 (51st).
Winning the PGA Championship and three other events this season makes Justin Thomas a force to be reckoned with. His T6 last week at Glen Oaks had four sub 70 rounds in it and was all the more remarkable as it was only two weeks after winning his first Major. A close friend of Jordan Spieth we could see them fighting it out for future Majors in years to come. Definitely the form man at the moment. DD: 309.1 yards (11th). Scrambling: 59% (87th). SG:Putting: 0.326 (41st).
Three top fives in his last five outings (plus a T11 at The Open and a T13 at the USPGA) shows Paul Casey is playing really well at the moment. Last year at Boston he was leading after the third round by two but a final round 73 saw him eventually losing out to Rory McIlroy by two shots. Still to win this season he is getting stronger as it progresses and should be close again this week. DD: 296.7 yards (61st). Scrambling: 64.44% (6th). SG:Putting: 0.036 (117th).
Recommended Bets
- 3pts win Dustin Johnson (Paddy Power, 15-2)
- 1.5pts ew Jon Rahm (Betfred, 20-1)
- 1.5pts ew Justin Thomas (Betfair, 22-1)
- 1.5pts ew Paul Casey (Coral, 25-1)
In December 2020 we sadly 
3 bets for me this week
Paul casey25/1 – was close ish last week for me but in truth was over shadowed by speith and DJ. Been playing consistent lately so sticking with him
Jason day 16/1 – another who has been getting into the grove recently after a tough start to season. Finished 6th and 9th in last couple of outings and has played thos course well in past
Patrick reed 33/1 – no idea how much money I lost on him this year but hopefully this week is the week he relays me. Finished in top 5 last 2 years so hopefully good for place money at least
Good luck
Things looking quite good for my tips in the final round today. If Rahm hadn’t had a bit of a meltdown in the final nine holes it could have been better. With all my selections leading or within three shots of leader I’m hopeful but anyone within four/five shots has a chance.
Great day for my tips yesterday when Justin Thomas held off surging Jordan Spieth to win by three at the Dell. Paul Casey and Jon Rahm also gave me a good return by finishing T4.