THIS week the penultimate Fed-Ex tournament moves a short hop from Boston to Lake Forest, Illinois.
The Conway Farms course opened in 1991 and is described as “designed around the traditions of Scottish links golf” and it’s the second time it has been used for this event.
The Fed-Ex has seen some exciting and excellent golf and it looks like it could continue this week at the BMW Championship.
The cream has certainly risen to the top this year, with the top five in the Fed-Ex rankings also the top five in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Everyone is after a top-30 spot which gets them into the season’s finale next week. It also guarantees them entry into the first three Majors and the first two WGC events next season. So the players will all be bringing their A game this week hoping to be in prime position for the finale at East Lake.
At this time of year it’s the guys on form who are the ones worth following and there are few that compare with Jordan Spieth. With two wins (The Travellers followed by The Open) and two seconds in his last six tournaments he is way out there.
At the Northern Trust (first round of the Fed-Ex play-offs) Spieth lost to Dustin Johnson in a play-off then the following week was runner-up to best friend Justin Thomas. He missed two cuts in May but looks to have got back to his brilliant best. Can he keep it going? I think so.
With five wins this season alone Thomas is certainly the poster boy for the PGA Tour. Two of those wins were from his last three outings, including the US PGA and the Dell two weeks ago when I selected him. He also finished T6 in between those wins and form is really strong. With 10 sub-70 rounds from 12 he really looks a strong contender here. If anyone can match Spieth on form just now it is Thomas.
Jon Rahm has had a superb first full year on Tour with one win and nine top 10s. Whenever the Spaniard is playing he is one of the favourites. Like a lot of his peers he isn’t afraid to attack a course which sometimes can be a mistake but will also have its rewards.
To be in the top five in the Fed-Ex Cup with two tournaments to play in his first year is phenomenal. Rahm’s stats look solid, leading the play-offs in strokes gained: putting, third in birdie or better percentage and T7 in in bogey avoidance. Looks solid for this week.
With four top fives from his last six outings Paul Casey has come into form at the right time. Last year at this time he was at the top of his game with a 2nd, 2nd and fourth finishes. Although he hasn’t won this season he has had seven top 10s and coming into some good form with a 5th and a T4 in the last two Fed-Ex play-offs.
Recommended Bets
- 3pts win Jordan Spieth (BetFred 13-2)
- 1.5pts ew Justin Thomas (Betfair 11-1)
- 1.5pts ew Jon Rahm (bet365 12-1)
- 1.5pts ew Paul Casey (Coral 20-1)
GambleAware
3 for me this week
Hideki matsuyama
Not backed him for a month since his collapse at the pga. Maybe collapse is wrong but he struggled under pressure. Think this course will suit his game. Chance to hit back
16/1
Jason day
Played well here in the past but hasn’t had the greatest of years. Helps with decent price though and shown signs last few weeks of return to form.
18/1
Marc leishman
Never won money on this guy but keeps popping up on leaderboard and a decent price.
40/1