A Friday start on the US Tour this week. Louis Ross (@LouisRoss67) gives us four names to believe in.
Deutsche Bank Championship | Friday – Monday
It is Labor Day weekend in the good old US of A and this weeks Deutsche Bank runs unusually from Friday to Monday. Anyway, this is normally where we speak briefly about last week and the less said the better.
So the FedEx Cup has cut numbers 101-125 and the Top 100 in the rankings go forward to TPC Boston. Well, 99 actually as Sergio takes the week off. You have no idea how much I am looking forward to the Finale at East Lake when I only have to pick from a field of 30. Bliss.
Esentially, this week is about the FedEx Cup but what most commentators will focus on is the race for the world number 1 spot. Rory regained that when Jordan Spieth failed to make the cut at The Barclays and either of those two plus the wonderful Jason Day can take the coveted position this time round. There are also the last few spots in the Presidents Cup to play for. The FedEx itself is the last thing on half the fields mind.
So, TPC Boston then. Quite simply one of the easiest courses the pros play all year. Chris Kirk won here last year with a score of -15, Rory back in 2012 with -20 and in 2013 Henrik Stenson with a course record -22. This Par 71 will play just 7242 Yards and with wide fairways and forgiving rough, the big hitters will love this place. Par 5s on the 2nd and 18th will play less than 550 Yards and the 4th is a driveable Par 4 of just 298. Plenty of Eagles will be seen.
The draw caught me out last week and Friday is forecast to be windy. Please take that into account. I will tweet latest conditions on Thursday. The right draw can give a huge advantage. at the end of last week's 1st Round, 24 of the top 30 had been drawn early. We were in the other half. Obviously !
This will disappoint and infuriate in equal measure but I am staying with a couple of last week's picks. Justin Rose has been in imperious form throughout 2015. I still cannot explain his first round 77 at The Barclays especially as he followed it up with a 65 and then a 63 to have him in the Top 15 on Sunday. His ball striking will serve him well here and he can drive it with the best.
Robert Streb is another that started Sunday with a fighting chance. Like Rose, he had nothing for Round 4 after scrapping his way through Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I am sticking with him. Four Top 10s in his last 11 starts and 9th place here last year is decent course form.
Bubba Watson is in incredible form. Three top 3 finishes in his last four starts. Course form here is nothing to write home about though. 22/1 is tempting though. I may regret leaving him out here. Same with Henrik Stenson. I really like his chances and course form is amazing. I cant be backing him at 14/1 though.
Paul Casey has been so so close on so many occasions this year. The FedEx Cup does throw up winners like Casey. Billy Horschel was a prime example last year, much the same as Chris Kirk. I have a feeling (I could be SO wrong about this) that the top guys have so much more to distract them especially as Jordan and Jason are paired on the first two days, that we may get a more unexpected winner here. Casey fits the bill on almost all criteria and I am going to stick with him for the umpteenth time this year.
Last pick is a nod to a guy who speaks so much sense about golf and sport in general. @RossMcIntosh1 loves Tony Finau. I tipped him earlier in the year and said at the time that I was certain he would win and it would be in 2015. I think the place is set up for him here and he contended for three rounds last week on a course that did not particularly suit. I like his price this week and I think we can get a really good run for our money.
Best Bets
Deutsche Bank Championship – Justin Rose each way (20/1 Skybet)
Deutsche Bank Championship – Robert Streb each way (60/1 Skybet)
Deutsche Bank Championship – Paul Casey each way (66/1 888 Sport)
Deutsche Bank Championship – Tony Finau each way (80/1 888 Sport)
