THE top 30 players in the FedEx standings have reached the Tour Championship finale this weekend and if the last three play-offs are anything to go by this one could be a titanic battle.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy failed to qualify for this week at East Lake and the only former champion returning is Jordan Spieth (2015). In fact there are only 14 players from last year, with eight newbies taking part.
The 7362 yard, par 70, lost a few trees over the winter but changes have been minimal for this year. The finish is now a 590-yard par five which gives players the chance of going for it if they are in contention. Looking at past results accuracy and GIR could be important with good putting always a prerequisite.
I stayed away from Rickie Fowler last week as I thought he had gone off the boil recently but he looked as if he was back to his old self with a T2. He’s had six top-10 finishes from his last 10 outings and it’s time for him to get another victory under his belt.
He won the Honda Classic in February and to be honest since then has looked like he just hasn’t been able to push the little bit extra to get over the finishing line. Really like the look of Rickie even although he has only one top-10 finish from three outings here. Driving Accuracy: 64.68% (47th) GIR: 67.67% (33rd) SG:Putting: 0.788 (2nd).
Although he can be a bit erratic off the tee I think Jon Rahm will be there or therabouts come Sunday evening. He is the first debutant to start the Tour Championship inside the top five since Chris Kirk in 2014. He looks the form guy as he has finished T3-T4-T5 in the playoffs. If he wins this week it will be a super finish to a superb season for the big Spaniard. DA: 59.10% (122nd) GIR: 68% (24th) SG:Putting: 0.366 (32nd).
One man who has shown great form at East Lake is Paul Casey. In three appearances here Casey has finished in the top five each time. He let me down last week with a T33 finish but overall his form in the playoffs has been good over the last couple of years. It’s hard to believe the Englishman has only won once on the PGA Tour (Shell Houston Open in 2009). He is due to get that monkey off his back and this could be it. DA: 64.20% (T51st) GIR: 69.96% (T4th) SG:Putting: 0.4 (93rd),
Recommended Bets
- 1.5pts ew Rickie Fowler (Betfair, 9-1)
- 1.5pts ew Jon Rahm (Betfred, 14-1)
- 1.5pts ew Paul Casey (Coral, 20-1)
GambleAware
Marc leishman delivered the goods for me last week at 40/1 so would be remiss not to go again within him this week all be it shorter odds of 20/1
Also on Jordan speith at 5/1 not best of odds but will be firing to clinch the crown
For napthwrcoutsidwrclook at Patrick cantalay at 40/1 whose had a great year
Good luck