The Barclays is a tournament with a hugely stacked field both in quality and quantity but that doesn’t mean there is no value to be had in the event down the outright market.
There are some bookmakers paying out six places in the event and with injury doubts over a couple of the main competitors there is still time to take them on with a couple at big prices which I will do here.
Once again I’m going to keep to my plan of backing men who rarely leave the fairway but who are reliable with the putter and there a couple of those who standout at decent prices.
One man down the betting at 50/1 is actually sixth in the points list going into the playoffs and that is Robert Streb. The fact Streb is sixth in the points list without winning a WGC or a major shows how consistent he has been this year and that is seen in the fact that only Jordan Spieth has more top 10 finishes than him on Tour this season.
Streb has won a tournament this year and lost in the playoff of another. He ranks 10th in total strokes gained and he is 11th in Greens in Regulation and par 4 scoring which are big things this week. In his last nine starts he’s only been out of the top 20 once which was in the US Open on a Chambers Bay course that was both too long and had shocking greens which he didn’t get on with. This course is perfect in length and greens and I fancy a solid run.
Putting is going to be a big thing this week and with that in mind I’m going to take the man I think is the best putter on tour at the minute outside of Jordan Spieth and that is Russell Henley. Henley has shown some good form in recent times and on a course where putting is vital he becomes a leading player especially as it isn’t the longest.
Henley won’t have too many problems from tee to green on this track and with that in mind I think he is overpriced at 80/1 even in this field because as his seventh in Strokes Gained Putting on the PGA Tour show us he is going to lap the field when it comes to getting it in the hole on these greens.
Back R.Streb to win The Barclays (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 51.00 with Paddy Power (1/4 1-6)
Back R.Henley to win The Barclays (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Paddy Power (1/4 1-6)
