FedEx Playoffs- The Barclays 2012

Its business end of the 2012 PGA Tour season now, with the FedEx Cup playoffs commencing in New York with The Barclays Championship on Thursday. Mega bucks up for grabs for any of the top 125 qualifiers. Of course, those ranked lowest now need to move up the standings (to top 70) to make it to next week but they will find it tough at Bethpage, host of the 2009 US Open where Lucas Glover prevailed over David Duval. The Black course will suit the big accurate hitters this week and will ultimately go against those struggling of late. That said, the 2009 US Open did produce a lot of surprises but I don’t expect the same this week as far too many are in excellent form as of late. One of those is recent PGA Champion, Rory McIlroy and this course will be his cup of tea. He finished top10 in 2009 too! But 7/1? If I was a big punter then maybe yes, and to be honest, I had contemplated half of my staking plan on Rory this week….but its not the value bet for me….there are some players at decent odds that can win this week.

Top of my list is the recent WGC winner, Keegan Bradley. Its been a fantastic 12 months for the 2011 PGA Champion and following his win at Bridgestone, he finished 3rd at the PGA this month, emphasising the form he is currently in. 25/1 for me is great value considering the form he is in and he could be the one to watch over the 4 playoff events. He didn’t play the 2009 US Open but he has played a lot of golf on this course in his amateur days, therefore he should know his way round it. A must pick for me here.

Second pick this week is Adam Scott. I am hoping the playoffs will come as a distraction of some sort following his heart wrenching Open exploits and that he will see this as a new challenge. The course should be right up his alley and if driving well and produces the sort of form he has shown this season a win here could be the perfect tonic to end the season on a high. 25/1 also available and the Aussie is sure to give me a run for my money.


Final pick is outsider, Kyle Stanley. He looked a real prospect earlier this year before going off the boil but the course could suit him also. His recent form has suggested he may be coming back into form, despite missing the cut at the PGA. I’m gonna take a punt at 150/1 with Ladbrokes who are paying 6 places this week