The PGA Tour has a Friday start this week as the Dell Technologies Championship takes in Labor Day to finish on Monday. It is the second event in the FedEx Cup play-offs and at the end of the week only the leading 70 in the rankings will progress to the penultimate event of the season.
Justin Thomas won this tournament last year and if he can defend the title successfully he will be in a really good position to land the mega bunce at the end of the year. As ever a top class field is looking to deny him.
Recent Winners
2017 – Justin Thomas
2016 – Rory McIlroy
2015 – Rickie Fowler
2014 – Chris Kirk
2013 – Henrik Stenson
2012 – Rory McIlroy
2011 – Webb Simpson
2010 – Charley Hoffman
2009 – Steve Stricker
2008 – Vijay Singh
The Course
We are back at TPC Boston again this week for a course which has only had one change done to it which is to take the bunker in the centre of the fairway on 12 out. I would imagine that will help the scoring although it doesn’t need any help as this is always the lowest scoring event of the four in the play-offs.
The course remains a par 71 which measures 7,342 yards but we’ve seen throughout America some hot and humid weather in recent times so the ball is likely to fly much further than normal so it won’t play to a full yardage. Scrambling and putting are always the key statistics around here but the recent trend is also edging towards length off the tee too.
The Field
Francesco Molinari and Rickie Fowler are the two eligible players who are giving the tournament a miss here so we have a field of 98 teeing it up with all the other leading contenders in the field. Former champions and genuine challengers make up the field.
Justin Thomas is here as the defending champion while last week’s winner Bryson DeShambeau is also in the field. Former winners Rory McIlroy, Chris Kirk and Webb Simpson also tee it up as do the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Jason Day and Jon Rahm. This should be a good week of golf.
Market Leaders
Dustin Johnson is a 17/2 favourite to win the title this week. He should go well on this course but even so that is a mighty short price to be taking on a field of this quality with. As ever I wouldn’t be completely surprised if he goes on to win the tournament but he would have to do that to deliver any sort of decent return and the field is just too good to guarantee it. I’ll pass him over this week.
Justin Thomas is a best price of 11/1 to defend his title successfully. He is also a little short although he is the sort of player who can smash in four rounds and blow any field and tournament apart. You would think he will be competitive but I’m never a fan of taking defending champions so in this field and at this price he is pretty easy to pass over for me.
Brooks Koepka would probably be the favourite for this tournament if it was a major championship but his record in events that don’t carry the major tag is a little underwhelming for how good he is. That puts me off taking him at 12/1 although as with the two above him in the market he could destroy and course and any tournament at any given moment.
Rory McIlroy and Jason Day are 16/1 fourth favourites. Both are well suited to this course with McIlroy having won around here twice and Day one of the best scramblers and short game artists in the world of golf right now. Neither can be looked over easily even allowing for the quality of field. These two would be my starting place to attack this market. It is 20/1 bar.
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Main Bets
I really like the look of Rory McIlroy here. He has won twice around here so he knows what he is doing on this course and his putting has improved no end in the latter part of the summer. There hasn’t been anything wrong with his driving all year so if he can dial in a few irons and have his short game in good order then after a week off to recharge the batteries I think he is the one to beat this weekend.
Jon Rahm was fourth here on debut last year and I expect him to come on for the run as debutants don’t have the greatest record here. Rahm ticks a lot of boxes. He is powerful but largely solid off the tee and he has a wonderful touch on and around the greens and when he gets it going he scores very low as we saw in Ireland last year and a couple of other places. Rahm needs a big week soon to become a genuine contender for the FedEx title and I fancy it will come here.
Outsiders
Xander Schauffele is another who is in need of a big week although his is to attract the attention of his Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk. Schauffele is another player who ticks plenty of boxes heading here. He is long and straight off the tee and it wasn’t long ago at The Open he was displaying all of his short game skills and touch on the greens. Schauffele won the Tour Championship last year so he can mix it in this company and looks a big price.
Kevin Na is seeing his game trending in the right direction at the minute and I see no reason why that can’t continue here. He might not be as long as some on the tour but his wedge play is very crisp and he has been going wonderfully well on the greens for a while now. If he can put four rounds together here instead of the three he has been doing then he’s entitled to be right in contention for the tournament.
Luke List has had a really good campaign with all he has lacked being a win but on a track like this he would have every chance. His length should get him in positions on the key holes and if he can knock a few approach shots stiff he certainly has the ability to score well. His season feels better than him being a three figure price this week and so I’ll pay to see what he can get out of the tournament.
Tips
Back R.McIlroy to win Dell Technologies Championship (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 17.00 with BetVictor (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
Back J.Rahm to win Dell Technologies Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
Back K.Na to win Dell Technologies Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Betfred (1/5 1-7)
Back X.Schauffele to win Dell Technologies Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Betfred (1/5 1-7)
Back L.List to win Dell Technologies Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Betfred (1/5 1-7)
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