Playoffs!!
This ain’t no hobby fellas!! Before we get into the playoff I have to talk about fan favorite Kevin Kisner and his lights out win at The Wyndham Championship. Kisner found himself in a 6 man playoff for the win. After a gut wrenching miss for Adam Scott on the first playoff it gave the other 5 one more chance. Kisner proceeds to not waste the gift and sticks a 9 iron inside 7 feet to win. This was big for Kisner not only did this move him way up in FedEx Cup points but it now brings Kisner into Ryder Cup contention. If Kisner can make a move throughout the playoffs he will without question be put on the Ryder Cup Team, but before we get to the Ryder Cup we got playoffs!!
This week the tour heads to my home state of New Jersey for The Northern Trust, the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs and in just three weeks time one player will walk away with the FedEx Cup and 15 million as well. This week they are also playing a course I used to play on occasionally in college. That’s right, the famous Liberty National. The first event it’s also crucial especially for guys between 75-125 in the points standing. In the past certain top ranked players would actually skip the first event, Tiger Woods was most famous for this plan. However, with the new system which rewards top players with starting out under par at The Tour Championship players can’t afford to skip on playoff events. Now for those who don’t know how the playoffs work, each week field sizes are cut based on ranking, the top 125 start and the Northern Trust, then from there the field is dropped to 70 at The BMW Championship and lastly The Tour Championship at East Lake which consists of the remaining top 30 point holders. There is however one piece of the playoffs that I don’t like and that’s the new format at The Tour Championship. Top players are giving started scores for example the #1 player will start at 12 under par and continue on from there. I understand the idea behind it. I just don’t particularly like the idea of starting scores. Nevertheless the playoffs are always incredible. They are packed with the games best and prove to provide constant energy for the next three weeks.
This week at Liberty National the players and fans are in for a really fun, picturesque golf course. Sitting right on the Hudson River just outside of New York City sits the coveted Liberty National. This course not only provides incredible views but the course itself provides formidable challenges as well. Most of the golf course is lined with bunkers, hazards and fescue. Each green is protected by bunkers and elevated greens and if that wasn’t enough since it’s sitting next to a major body of water it’s almost always windy. Now Liberty National is no stranger to the PGA Tour. Liberty has hosted the Northern Trust many times, Ryder Cups, President Cups, and The Barclays as well. I’m very fortunate enough to return to Liberty National as well to watch the event first hand this weekend. Next week I will be doing a deep dive into the golf course, how it played, and the players. Speaking of players, each field this week is the top in the game and only getting better. This week fans will be able to watch the greats, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and so many more. For the playoffs essentially the entire field has the chance to win considering it’s the top players in the world. (Mike)
My weekly tidbit to keep an eye on the Ryder Cup standings this week. As we get closer and closer to one of the sport’s great weeks the race for a spot at The Ryder Cup will heat up. Players are looking to lock up automatic spots, but also those on the fringe are looking to impress the captain of their team to earn a captain’s pick. We have often seen guys ride some great form all the way into The Ryder Cup so it will be interesting to see who stars to assert themselves this week. (Tyler)
Pick’s of the Week:
Mike: Picking golf is hard, but picking the winners these next three weeks is downright impossible, but with that being said Jordan Spieth is winning this week and will ultimately win the FedEx Cup in 3 weeks. Jordan is primed and ready to go. As for his play it’s been strong, he’s taking the time off to get rested and strengthen the pieces of his game that needed it. His tee ball has drastically improved and as long as he can keep it in the fairway his putter will walk him to victory.
My notable to miss the cut this week goes to Bryson DeChambeau. Bryson will try and overpower this golf course and it will fail miserably. This is a position course, if you hit your spots in the fairway you will be left with good angles and wedges in your hand. Bryson’s bomb and gauge method will fail miserably.
Lastly, my underdog pick, which technically there really aren’t any underdogs this week, nonetheless it goes to Si Woo Kim. I’m not even sure why, but I have a gut feeling about this man. He’s ready to show out. (Mike)
Tyler: I nearly picked the winner last week, as my dark horse (Brendan Grace) lost in a playoff. Trying to keep the momentum rolling this week by picking Patrick Reed at 40-1. He has won here before and it is a course he is familiar with. I know I have picked Reed a lot lately, but there is a lot to like about his golf game, whether there is much to like about him as a person is up for debate. Experience can pay off in the playoffs and these are the types of moments that Patrick Reed lives for.
My darkhorse this week is Ian Poulter at 66-1. Ian is playing some tremendous golf right now as he tries to make the Ryder Cup team. I expect that good stretch of golf to continue this week as he tries to make it as hard as possible when it is time to make the captain’s picks.
Picking a notable to miss the cut is always my favorite part of the week, it is always so hard to pick one of the best in the world to have an off week and usually the pick just comes down to personal feelings. As much as I want Mike to be right and Bryson misses the cut, I do not see that happening this week. My notable to miss the cut is Patrick Cantlay. He has been trending in the right direction lately, but I think he struggles to get good birdie looks this week as he fails to make the weekend. (Tyler)