AFTER banking profits but clattering the woodwork with two of last week’s selections it’s time to turn our attention to the first instalment of the FedExCup Playoffs, a PGA Tour initiative which, despite grand intentions, has had a greater effect on the sport’s grammatical constructions than its history books.
Because, yes, the words really are all squeezed up like that. If in previous years it appeared no more than clumsy and ugly marketing, in modern times it resembles a reckless example of sloppy social distancing.
Last year the tournament was played at Liberty National – indeed this column tipped winner Patrick Reed – but it now heads to TPC Boston, previously the long-term host of the Deutsche Bank Championship. Let’s see if our selections can go back-to-back.
Winner – Justin Thomas 12/1
In recent years it has been notable that the winners in Boston had dropped a hint earlier in the season by thriving at Muirfield Village. 2018 winner Bryson De Chambeau actually completed the double, winning at both venues, but Justin Thomas in 2017, Rory McIlroy in 2016 and Chris Kirk in 2014 all finished tied fourth in the Memorial Tournament ahead of winning this event – and in the case of Kirk it was especially interesting because he had an otherwise rotten record at Muirfield Village.
Taking that pointer leads me to highlight the case of past champion Thomas, who was second behind Collin Morikawa at Muirfield Village in the Workday Charity Open at the start of July. The pair of them competed in a play-off of rare quality and either of them might easily emerged as the winner. Had Thomas prevailed it would have added to the four wins he’s collected in his last 17 starts and of all the players rated 20/1 and lower this week, that tally is the best ahead of Jon Rahm who has three wins in the same number of starts, followed by Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa with two apiece. “A course I’ve loved ever since I first came here,” the Boston Red Sox fan said in 2018 and his relationship with the city can flourish again this week.
Survive and advance.
It’s anyone’s game now. pic.twitter.com/jPFnkzlDFP
— THE NORTHERN TRUST (@TheNTGolf) August 17, 2020
Each Way – Jason Day 28/1
We’re not done with the Muirfield Village link because pick number two is Aussie Jason Day, who was seventh behind Morikawa and Thomas, then fourth a week later in the Memorial Tournament. Moreover, he has maintained that form adding sixth in the St Jude Invitational and an always-in-contention fourth at the PGA Championship. He admitted recently that he gets through a remarkable amount of heat spray and liniment to keep his back warm, so much so that he probably smells like a rugby changing room circa 1982, but it’s been doing the trick this summer and when his body stands up to the rigours of his swing the 32-year-old is an unquestionably brilliant player.
The fact he has a win at Quail Hollow on his CV is another plus point because seven winners in Boston have also won there (and 11 of the 16 winners have a top three at that course). Day has also rather more straightforwardly indicated his fondness for the Boston track by contending on it. He led through 54 holes in 2010 ahead of earning second, was third a year later and the halfway leader in 2014. He’s also made 10 off 11 cuts. “It’s a good set-up for me,” he explained. “It fits my eye, I love coming back here.”
Each Way – Billy Horschel 50/1
If it were not for an astonishing burst of scoring by Jim Herman last weekend, Horschel would arrive in Massachusetts a winner. Herman shot 61-63 to pip Horschel to the title by one blow at Sedgefield. However, after missing a putt to force a play-off, although Horschel was a little sore he was also quick to seek the positives saying: “I did a lot of good things and had a chance coming in. There’s a lot of confidence to take from this and hopefully be right back in this position on Sunday.”
Some golfers might utter such words, but you’d doubt the message had sunk in. Horschel, on the other hand, has previous at going close, getting burned and then bouncing back. Ahead of his first win at this level he experienced three weeks of near-misses – he kept going back for more and was rewarded. In 2014 he was second at this course (good news in itself), but didn’t feel sorry for himself – he won twice in the next fortnight. Two years ago this month he landed a trio of top threes in a row – the win didn’t come, but the form maintained, he didn’t back down. Stick with him and be emboldened that he landed seventh and 13th at Muirfield Village in July.
