THE penultimate tournament before the FedEx finale is at the Cherry Hills club with Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose all returning to action after their lay-off last week.
It’s the last chance the players have to finish in the top five of the points list and put themselves in line to win the FedEx Cup at the Tour Championship the following week.
Looking at Martin Kaymer’s form this year it looks patchy but he has won twice (The Players Championship and the US Open) and had a very good T7 at the Deutsche Bank last week.
Although since winning the US Open he’s had one top-15 finish and the rest have been 56 and worse so not great. Still I get the feeling he’s returning to the Kaymer we know just in time for the Ryder Cup and is well worth an eachway bet.
The last two Fedex tournaments haven’t been good to Henrik Stenson and the 2013 champion is languishing 55th in the points list so he has a bit to do to retain his title. He had a good US Open (T4) and PGA Championship (T3) and with driving accuracy at 69.86% and GIR at 69.11% looks in pretty good shape. If there’s anything that let’s him down it’s probably his putting but it’s time for Henrik to get on top of the winner’s rostrum and it could be this week.
Garcia took a break following The Barclays after a not so impressive T57 and is hopefully is back fully charged. I’ve tipped Sergio on numerous occasions and I’m not going to change now.
He’s second in the ratings for strokes gained tee to green, strokes gained putting and 10th in GIR. He’s had a great season, starting it off with a win in the Qatar Masters and it would be great if he finished it off with a win.
Keegan Bradley had a superb 65 in the first round of the Deutsche Bank last week and was solid for the other three rounds. He’s had one second and finished fourth three times this season and although he’s not been at his best he’s still capable of producing the goods. His scoring average is 70.01 so although it doesn’t look like a great year his scoring isn’t that bad.
Bradley will be buzzing after being handed a Ryder Cup wild card by US skipper Tom Watson – along with Hunter Mahan and Webb Simpson – and could be one to watch.
We’re still waiting on Rickie Fowler to win his first tournament of the season and having finished in the top 10 in five of his last six tournaments he’s certainly on form. He’s 10th in the FedEx standings and only 500 points from fifth place and a chance at the big prize next week. I really like the new “fighter” Rickie and he could do the business this week.
Over at the Omega European Masters I’ve got a feeling Bradley Dredge could do the business. He is in a rich vein of form just now, finishing second in his last two tournaments and could be worth an small eachway bet.
20pt staking plan
Martin Kaymer 2pts ew 50-1 bet365, Betfred
Henrik Stenson 1.5pts ew 25-1, 888sport
Sergio Garcia 1.5pts ew 25-1 bet365, Coral
Keegan Bradley 1pt ew 40-1 bet365, William Hill
Rickie Fowler 1.5pts ew 22-1 Coral, William Hill
Bradley Dredge 2.5pts ew 45-1, 888sport
Ace Venturer
Good call, I’ve gone for
Fowler 22-1, mickleson 28-1, day 12-1, Stenson 20-1, kuchar 25-1
Small stakes e/w
Like the look of Stenson, but also feel Adam Scott is due a big week (14/1).
In the Omega, Ramsay might be decent value at 40/1. Won this event in 2012 and tied 4th last week so current form is good.
I love Webb Simpson to have a good week. This course suits him down to the ground and he has impeccable form when playing at altitude which Cherry Country Club is. So Simpson is one I’ll be backing along with the big easy Ernie Els. This course suits Else just as much and with his form back home on similar high altitude course, he has to love this course this week.
I’m only posting hoping it might help someone so good luck and hope someone tipped up wins!