Take Phil at Bethpage Black
Best Bets
1 Pt EW (1-5) Phil Mickelson (30/1 Bet 365)
0.5 Pts EW (1-5) Kevin Kisner (110/1 Betfred)
It’s time for the PGA Tour Playoffs this week and The Barclays, which returns to Bethpage State (Black Course). Bethpage is a course that even the most casual golf fans are aware of, and the course isn’t one for mere mortals due to its severe difficulty. It measures out at nearly 7,500 yards and is a par 71 layout. It has staged two US Opens in the 21st century which Tiger Woods and Lucas Glover won respectively. It has also was the venue for The Barclays back in 2012 where Nick Watney took the win. All in all the fairways are narrow, the rough is severe and bunkers lurk around the tiny greens to provide a stern test for any golfer.
As per usual the top 125 players in the Fed Ex standings qualify for this one and nearly all will tee it up this week. The absentees are notable however with, Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Danny Willett all opting not to play. As a side note this week, players will be looking to make a final push for Ryder Cup spots. With regards to the US team all is still to play for, whereas the Europeans only have the three captains picks to come. This could add incentive for players such as Russ Knox who have impressed recently, but the downside to this is there will be extra pressure.
In terms of our selection process we’ve considered current and course form to be the two biggest predictors. We’ve looked back at the 2012 staging of the Barclays as well as the two US Opens staged at Bethpage as a solid indicator.
1 Pt EW (1-5) Phil Mickelson (30/1 Bet 365)
Our headline tip this week is Phil Mickelson, who is up to his usual tricks and playing brilliantly in a Ryder Cup year. He carries excellent current form and went close in a historic Open and had a solid outing at the USPGA. His batteries will now be recharged and we think this is an ideal week for him to start his challenge for the Fed Ex Cup. He loves Bethpage Black, and went close at both US Opens staged here. Back in 2012, when the Barclays was last staged here Mickelson had another solid outing which shows his love for the course. Phil is the kind of player who loves a challenge, and with an elite field on show, he should be inspired to play his best stuff this week.
0.5 Pts EW (1-5) Kevin Kisner (110/1 Betfred)
Kisner has gone quiet of late out on tour, but there were lots of things to like about his performance last week at the Wyndham. In particular his closing 63 showed that good things are just around the corner for the laid back American. Due to some fantastic early season form he sits easily inside the top 20 in the Fed Ex standings which takes a bit of pressure off him this week. We think he could build on last week at Bethpage and enter into Davis Love’s thoughts for a Ryder Cup spot.