We’re halfway through the final event of the PGA Tour season now and it is still Henrik Stenson who leads the Tour Championship with two rounds to go.
The Swede, a former winner at East Lake, held a two stroke lead after the opening round and he extended that to three on Friday without striking the ball as well as he did on the first day.
He hasn’t got this one won yet though as the likes of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Zach Johnson and Justin Rose are in hot pursuit of him.
Stenson’s nine under 36 hole total is good enough to have him no bigger than even money to win the tournament now. Spieth is down to 3/1 to pip him to the title while McIlroy is 10/1. Paul Casey is still on the scene after a solid round on Saturday and he’s 16/1, the same price as Zach.
As has been the case throughout the week so far the players are out in twos again on Saturday with the round taking place much earlier in the day due to a weather forecast so the leaders go out as early as 4.30pm UK time.
That might change the dynamic of the play with the ball not likely to fly as far through the air. It won’t change the golf course because the rain on Friday has ensured it is now playing every one of its yardage anyway so I’m expecting the longer straighter hitters to take control from here on in.
Stenson goes out with Spieth in the third round while perhaps the group which might get most of the early crowds is the Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler one. Either that or the Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson pairing.
From a betting point of view I am going to be brave and take on Jason Day. Admittedly if you’ve been doing that recently you’ve been having a swift gallop to the poorhouse but he doesn’t look in tip top form this week.
Whether his exploits have caught up with him or he just isn’t himself I’m not sure but there isn’t really a part of his game that has been working how it has been for the last six weeks and with his early tee time he has had no chance to work out anything ahead of this round.
Day goes out with JB Holmes on Saturday and while Holmes isn’t the most reliable he is capable of having blinding driving days and putting a score together off the back of that. Holmes went well last week and began this week well and if he can put an indifferent round on Friday behind him where he was found out down the stretch then he is worth supporting at a big price.
You can get 2/1 on the American to win that two ball without the draw in play and given Day is off the pace and if he wants the big bounty he’s going to need to take risks this golf course doesn’t want you to take that looks a big price to me.
Back JB.Holmes to beat J.Day (DNB) for a 3/10 stake at 3.00 with Stan James
