Stateside, the top 144 players in the FedEx Cup point standings have qualified for the four-leg PGA Tour Play-offs, which start with the Barclay’s Golf Tournament (simply known as ‘The Barclays’) at a new venue for the event - the Ridgewood Country Club at Paramus.
The Course: Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey (par-71, 7,319 yards)
This A.W. Tillinghast-designed track was completely remodelled last year, so its playing characteristics are unknown. However, its safe to say that, like many courses in the area, Ridgewood is an old style tree-lined course with dense rough and small contoured greens, meaning players will have to combine length and accuracy off the tee. The signature hole is the fifth, a drivable par four, but with a small putting surface. The par-5’s - the 3rd, 13th (the longest at 626 yards) and 15th - will be hard to reach in two. The poa annua greens are difficult to read and putting will be at a premium.
Ross’ Top Tip: Phil Mickelson @ 10/1 Ladbrokes
Thanks to the new venue, the form book for this event can be safely consigned to the dustbin, which makes finding the winner even harder than usual. Help is at hand, however, in the shape of Phil Mickelson, who is a double winner this year and is now swinging as well as ever. And it can’t be a coincidence that he has played well at other other Tillinghast-designed tracks - Baltusrol, Winged Foot and Bethpage. Lefty won the 2005 USPGA at Baltusrol, should have won the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot, and finished runner-up in the 2002 US Open at Bethpage, where he enjoyed raucous support from the gallery. He can expect the same this week. "In the hole!"
Next Best: Sergio Garcia @ 16/1 VCbet
Garcia’s record in this event of two wins (2001 and 2004), a third (2000), tied-4th (2003) and two other top-25’s at least shows he enjoys playing in this part of the world. What we don’t know is whether his eye will fit this course, although his straight driving and accurate iron play are sure to stand him in good stead around here. There’s nothing wrong with his current game either as, apart from winning, he did very little wrong at Oakland Hills.
Outsider: Steve Flesch @ 100/1 Boylesports
A two-time winner on the Tour last season, Flesch finished an excellent sixth in the recent USPGA, after which I marked him down as a sure-fire winner in the remaining weeks of the season. That might be a tall order in this company, but the 100/1 is too good to resist, especially as he is still has the incentive of a Ryder Cup place to play for.
Tournament Lay (Betfair): Padraig Harrington
Said he was "knackered" before the USPGA, so he might appreciate a longer rest. Besides, his game is all about the Majors these days, and I very much doubt we’ll see him fully focused for this ‘secondary’ event. Worth laying in the outright market and look to oppose him in match bets.
Ross’ Match Bet: Sergio Garcia to beat Padraig Harrington @ 10/11 Skybet
Recommended Bets:
Phil Mickelson 2pts @ 10/1 Ladbrokes
Sergio Garcia 1pt each way @ 16/1 VCbet
Steve Flesch 1p each way @ 100/1 Boylesports
