Here is Ian’s take:
The second tournament of the Fed Ex Cup playoffs will once again be held on the TPC Boston course. The first tournament in the Fed Ex Cup playoffs offered up plenty of excitement and drama and the same is to be expected here. I am looking for current form and past form in this event. Twenty five players fell last week; these included some big names such as David Duval, European Ryder Cup vice-captain Sergio Garcia and American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin. This week we are set to lose more big names with Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry, Boo Weekley and Mr 59, Paul Goydos all outside the cut line. I find it hard to imagine that any of these players will have a big week this week so I think that we will be saying goodbye to most of them. With all that being said, I have chosen three players who I think can win this week and I am particularly confident about my top tip.
Steve Stricker each way @ 11/1
He is the man for the playoffs. He is the only player to have played in all the Fed Ex Cup playoffs during the years and has recorded eight top tens in this time. As well as this, but TPC Boston may be his favourite course in the playoffs and here’s why. His record since 2006 has gone: 2006 T7th, 2007 T9th, 2008 T13th, 2009 1st. Now that shows that he can play this course and that he likes it. As well as all this, he recorded a tied third place last week in The Barclays which shows that he’s in good form. Steve has won nine times on the PGA Tour and there is nothing stopping him from making that number rise to double figures this week. This week, Stricker’s the man.
Dustin Johnson each way @ 18/1
Is it possible to give three tips without mentioning this man? I don’t think so. Come Sunday I would really expect this man to be in the shake up. Besides Matt Kuchar, I think that Dustin Johnson is the best in form player in the world at the moment. At some point in the coming weeks Johnson is going to have to capitalise on his great play and win a tournament. His problem is that when he gets into a final round in contention, his putting stroke seems to lose all rhythm and he becomes very tentative with his long putts. If he can sort this out and be a little more aggressive with the long putts, he will be in with a great chance this week. Also, he has form in the event coming tied 4th last year. Johnson’s odds are slack but he’s worth it.
Jason Day each way @ 40/1
I had a really difficult time picking a third pick. My final tip was between Jason Day and Ryan Palmer and, after much deliberation, I chose the young Australian. Day has had a successful season this year, recording one win and three further top tens. Luckily for him, two of these top tens have come in the last three weeks in two big competitions, the PGA Championship and the Barclays. He played in this event last year and finished in a tie for nineteenth. This isn’t overly impressive but at least it has given Day some experience of the course and what the atmosphere will be like. With the young Australian in good form, I think he has a good chance of going lose this week. 40/1 is good odds for Day.
Dustin Johnson is the man bang on form and looks like contending every week at present. His biggest issue remains his putting. Without improvement, he will find it difficult to close out tournaments, similar to Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy. However, these guys are professionals for nothing and while putting might not be his string suit, Johnson is due a tournament where he at least holes his fair share of putts. If that is this week, don’t be surprised to see up near the top. Following on from the disappointment of the USPGA, I , like many of the golfing public would only be too happy to watch him take home the winners trophy this week.
