Deutsche Bank Championship Preview

The FedEx Cup Playoffs continues this week at TPC Boston.  25 players were eliminated from last week’s field leaving just 100 to contend for the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Depending on your interest in the Ryder Cup, a more important plot playing this week is the last chance for players to impress Tom Watson and work their way into one of his three captain’s picks (assuming there are still 3 picks undetermined).

So Who Do We Like?

I think Rory McIlroy will play well, but what if he is still hitting the Jaegermeister bottle more than three quarter wedge shots on the range.  I’m laying off Rory this week just in case he isn’t all the way back.

I’m picking with my heart this week by going with Jordan Spieth (23/1).  He’s playing well below the level he was at earlier this year and I can’t remember the last time television cameras spent any decent time on him.  I am picking him this week because I need him to start playing better so I feel good about him going into the Ryder Cup.  And I hope he feels the same way about his game.  Spieth can’t wait any longer to round into form if he plans on earning the US some points.

A strong showing in his hometown will solidify Keegan Bradley’s spot on the US Ryder Cup team.  Plenty of analysts think he is on the team already, but Keegan is on record as saying he’s not taking this for granted.  He feels the need to play well so he makes the team, which he very much wants to do.  I’ll take 40/1 on a guy on a mission in his own backyard all day.

What about the other team in the Ryder Cup?  I don’t have a problem with Luke Donald (100/1) or Ian Poulter (170/1), especially at those odds.  They both are in similar positions as Keegan, needing to play well to ensure the captain’s picks that the talking heads are sure they’ll receive.

Johnny G has the flyer pick this week: Vijay Singh.  He’s taking 200/1 on Vijay as a former champion that seems to like this course.  Sounds good to me.

PGA Championship Wrap Up

After taking a couple weeks off, I realized I never wrapped up the last major of the year.  It was a popular pick that took on zero risk, but a win is a win as 3 Jack picks another one with Rory McIlroy.

Yet another top 5 finish in a major for Rickie Fowler with a tie for 3rd.  4 rounds in the 60’s got him in strong company with Jack and Tiger as the only golfers to finish in the top 5 of all 4 majors.

There wasn’t much out of the dark horse or flyer pick.  Marc Leishman finished T47 and Ryan Moore just a bit better with T41.

Good luck this week.