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2014 PGA The Barclays Championship Betting Odds Preview | Picks

FedEx Cup Playoffs – Barclays Championship Prediction

The 2014 PGA season is in the books – its FedEx Cup Playoff time! Qualifiers from a year long points gathering quest will tee it up this week at Ridgewood CC – a 7,319-yard, par of 71 track.

2014 The Barclays

Location: Paramus, New Jersey, United States
Course: Ridgewood CC
Date: Aug 21-24, 2014
Total Purse: US $ 8,000,000
Defending Champion: Adam Scott ($1,440,000)
PGA Betting Odds from Bovada

There are three par 5s, four par 3s and 11 par 4s on this course – the same one that hosted the Barclays in 2008 and 2010.

Ball striking will be paramount this week as well as par 4 scoring average – there are 10 par 4s on the course that present opportunities to score. The par 3s on the course were also somewhat generous the two times the Barclay’s has been played here. The par 5s on this course can make or break you – they rated the toughest for non-majors in the two previous tournaments. Accuracy off the tee, precise long irons and a hot putter will get it done this week – sounds easy – doesn’t it?

So – can anyone slow Rory this week? Let’s take a look.

Barclay’s Betting Favorites: (4/1)

Rory McIlroy 4/1

Not much explaining needed here – Rory is scorching and is a most deserving World #1. He has won three straight starts and has to be in every conversation ahead of this week. He’s ninth in GIR, second in adjusted scoring, T1 in par-4 scoring – tremendous form heading into this weekend.

Adam Scott 14/1

Defending champion in this event although it wasn’t played here – but he did have a 10th place finish the last time the Barclays was held on this track. He has six straight top 15 finishes and although not lighting it up like Rory has been as solid as they come. He is #1 on TOUR in adjusted scoring and, as always, will be in the hunt.

Henrik Stenson 16/1

Is coming off his best result of the year – a 13th at Valhalla which should act as a major confidence booster. We know this guy is talented – he just needs to put it all together – and he’s close!

Barclay’s Betting Contenders: (20/1)

Justin Rose 20/1

Has been consistently good this year – seven top 10s including two wins. Rose has the all-around game to get it done every given week and his affinity for par 5s (T9 in par-5 scoring) could serve him well this week.

Phil Mickelson 20/1

Hadn’t looked great before a breakthrough performance – a well-earned solo second at Valhalla which was Phil’s first top 10 of 2014. The crowd will be on his side as it always is on the east coast which could propel Phil for sure! But he missed the cut here four years ago and is a risky bet based on that.

Rickie Fowler 20/1

May be the player most due for a huge win on TOUR – Fowler has been terrific versus the best fields in golf. He has three top 3s in Majors this year and was T8 at Firestone – seven top 10s on the year already. Ricky is really coming into his own making him an intriguing 20/1.

Sergio Garcia 20/1

Sergio enters in the best form of his career – contending almost every time out except for Valhalla where he has a dreadful history. He has three runner-up finishes in his last five starts (T2 Travelers, T2 Open Championship, Second WGC Bridgestone) and lost in a playoff in this event here in 2008. The fact that this isn’t a Major helps Sergio as the stars seem to be aligning for the Spaniard.
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Jason Day 28/1

Is coming off a T15 at Valhalla and he did have a T5 the last time the Barclays was held here in 2010. I just haven’t seen enough from Jason to go with him this week but he’s certainly trending upward!

Jim Furyk 28/1

Has finished inside the top 20 in his last six starts overall and is deserving of a win. He ranks second in proximity, first in scrambling – his consistency makes him a weekly contender.

Brandt Snedeker 33/1

Sneds is finally back to the Sneds we all know and love but is still sneaking under the radar a bit. He has five top 15s in his last eight starts overall and is coming off a T5 at Sedgefield. He finished T3 at the Barclays when it was held at Plainfield in 2011 and was second at Bethpage Black in 2012. Snedeker loves this time of year and is a most interesting 33/1.

Matt Kuchar 33/1

Sat to the PGA Championship, sadly but has remained the most consistent guy on TOUR all year long. He has a TOUR leading 10 top 10s on the year and won this tournament the last time it was held here in 2010. Somebody has to anchor the US Ryder Cup team this year – Kuch will be out to prove that he can carry the torch!

Barclay’s Betting Sleepers (50/1):

Charl Schwartzel 50/1

There is some class at 50/1 – that’s for sure. Schwartzel has 10 top 20s in 15 starts this year. He was T15 at Valhalla and T4 at Firestone against the best fields golf has to offer. At 50/1 Charl deserves some consideration.

Graeme McDowell 50/1

Has never played this track before and will be looking for a bounce back effort after his T46 at the PGA. Before that were five straight top 10s! He ranks #1 in strokes gained putting on TOUR – something that will be handy this week.

Keegan Bradley 50/1

Another in the long line of players that started the season slowly but are coming on of late. Since the US Open Bradley has three top 4s and is due for a win on TOUR this year.

Graham DeLaet 66/1

Arguably the best ball striker on TOUR is yet another guy deserving of a win. He is coming off a T15 at the PGA Championship and has top fives in his last two tries at this event.

Ryan Moore 66/1

Moore’s game suits this track very well and with a Ryder Cup spot on the line we can expect to see Ryan’s best this week. He has four straight top 15s ahead of this week – another may mean a Captain’s pick to the US team!

The Barclays Championship Free Golf Pick:

My pick this week is one of value – Matt Kuchar at 33/1 gets my nod. His game is perfectly suited for this track and the fact that he was forced to miss the last Major of the season should be a tremendous motivator.

My sleeper is Graham DeLaet at 66/1. The best ball striker on TOUR has to win sometime!


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