It’s the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs this week as the top 100 players in the rankings make the trip to Massachusetts for the Deutsche Bank Championship, running from Friday to Monday. Jason Day goes into this week’s tournament sitting pretty at the top of the rankings thanks to the 2,000 points he was awarded for his victory at the Barclays last week. Day’s red hot form (he’s won three tournaments in the last four weeks) sees him installed as the bookies’ favourite at a general 6/1 but he has to compete not only with Jordan Spieth but the returning Rory McIlroy.
The venue for the Deutsche Bank remains TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts. The 7,214 yard course is a par 71 that was originally designed by Arnold Palmer although significant changes were made to the tack just five years after opening in 2007. Those alterations were welcomed by the players as this is one of the most popular courses on Tour. The galleries undoubtedly have a positive impact on the players but what they like most is that this a course where a low score is very possible. Henrik Stenson won the Deutsche Bank in 2013 with a score of 22 under par and we could be in line for something similar with this renewal.
Rory McIlroy regained his status as the number one ranked golfer in the world despite not even making an appearance in New Jersey last week. Spieth’s failure to make the cut with a new set of irons gifted the top spot back to the Northern Irishman but he will soon have to start winning tournaments to hold off the challenge of Spieth. That winning run could begin this week. McIlroy won the Deutsche Bank in 2012 and it is a course that really suits his game. A bona fide bombers’ paradise, McIlroy is able to really cut loose at TPC Boston and could start a golden end to a disappointing season at 8/1 with Ladbrokes.
Another big hitter who could challenge the top of the leaderboard this week is Brooks Koepka. The 25-year-old American is just one place below McIlroy in the FedEx Cup rankings so he’ll also be playing without too much pressure for a very strong week. Koepka’s powerful game will stand him in very good stead at TPC Boston where there are drivable par fours and reachable par fives. As well as prodigious distance off the tee, Koepka ranks fifth on the PGA tour in terms of strokes gained putting, a statistic that has proved vital in past renewals of the Deutsche Bank so back him each way at 40/1 with Ladbrokes.
If you are looking for a long odds shot to add to your staking this week, look no further than Will Wilcox. Wilcox is something of a late bloomer in golfing terms at 29 but he has been tipped to reach the very heights of the game by some of those in the know. He has yet to really prove himself amongst the best players but he has no choice this week. At 89th in the FedEx rankings, it is sink or swim time. If he rises to the challenge you can profit by backing him each way at 200/1 with BetVictor.