PGA Betting – Barclays Preview & Pick
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Date: Aug. 26 – 29
Event: The Barclays
Course: Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey
Purse: $7,500,000
Defending Champ: Heath Slocum
Admittedly, I haven’t warmed up to the PGA’s “playoffs” just yet. Sorry, but nothing is bigger than the majors.
However, from a betting (and viewing) perspective, there’s plenty to gain from FedEx Cup “playoff” tournaments.
Beginning with the Barclays this week, we’ll see some amazing fields.
Here are the main picks on my radar this week.
THE TIGER CATEGORY
Tiger Woods
Barclays odds: +1215
Tiger gets his own category this week because he’s not an elite pick, a contender, a solid pick or even a sleeper. He’s nothing more than a golfer everyone will follow closely this week. I’m just including his name so you don’t forget about him. Don’t pick him or do anything crazy like that. He’s mentally checked out for the year.
THE PHIL CATEGORY
Phil Mickelson
Barclays odds: +1215
Lefty Mickelson gets his own category this week because of his consistently high odds to win. You could do worse than choose him this week. He was a respectable 12th at the PGA Championship and he cracked the top 20 at least year’s Barclays, notching two eagles on the way.
THE CONTENDERS
Rory McIlroy
Barclays odds: +1215
Careful here. McIlroy is quickly becoming a star and recognizable face on Tour – and the books are starting to get manipulative about it, putting his odds at the top alongside Tiger’s and Phil’s. The host course, Ridgewood Country Club, is more about ball striking, scrambling and putting, whereas McIlroy is more about using his power to make shots few others can.
Steve Stricker
Barclays odds: +1615
His all-around game and ability to scramble and knock down big putts make him intriguing. However, if you’ve read my picks over the last two seasons, you’ll know I never back Stricker in the big tournaments. His nerves can’t handle the pressure.
SOLID PICKS
Jim Furyk
Barclays odds: +2550
Furyk has the ball-striking pedigree and scrambling ability to warrant consideration this week. He was 12th at Ridgewood in 2008 and has flirted with the big win all season. He’s certainly earned it but can he string four straight good rounds together?
Matt Kuchar
Barclays odds: +3250
Kuchar has to be the educated choice this week. He leads the Tour with nine top-10s this season. He leads the Tour in scrambling. He leads the Tour in all-around ranking. He’s 10th in greens and second in adjusted scoring. The guy is absolutely locked in right now.
THE SLEEPERS
Zach Johnson
Barclays odds: +4550
The good thing about star-studded fields: they relegate relatively big names like Zach Johnson to “sleeper” betting value. Johnson hasn’t set the world on fire this year but any tournament with the words “ball striking” attached to it put him on my radar. Not a bad pick considering his pedigree and value.
Bo Van Pelt
Barclays odds: +6050
Van Pelt gives a nice ROI and is having a good year; usually, bettors get one or the other. Van Pelt is 31st or better in scrambling, scoring and greens. It’s just a matter of putting everything together and finally scoring a “W.”
THE PICK
The wily Furyk could steal the show and I like Johnson’s sleeper potential. However, I almost feel like I owe Matt Kuchar the respect of my pick. There’s been no more consistent golfer on Tour, so it would be appropriate to see him take the first playoff tournament.
Pick: Matt Kuchar +3250
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