The Fedex Cup Final Play-off - Eastlake Golf Course, Atlanta

This is it then, the final piece to the Fedex Cup four course Championships, in which the overall winner walks away with $10 million in prize money... (That's if you can walk with so much money in your back pocket...) The final stage is to be played out in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Eastlake Golf Course for the ninth consecutive year. Sitting at only 7319 yards and a par 70 the course is going to be where precision play and avoidance of dropping potential birdies is essential. This isnt one of the hardest course's but it will test your game out. The winning scores for the last 4 years have been at -9, -8 twice and -7, so you can shoot good scores around here, and will probably have to to win it. And this brings us to the permutations as to who can win this or who cant...?

The way this Fedex ranking systems is set up is that if any of the top 5 ranked players win this weekend they will win it out right no questions asked. The players being Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Nick Watney, Phil Mickleson and Brandt Snedekar. If they finish 2nd or worse it opens it up for the rest of the field, and that's what im looking for...

The main problem is the size of the field, only 30 to pick from, and so the odds arnt as good as they would be for a 120+ field. But in saying that there are a few players that do play well here so im looking at them to continue this form... Driving accuracy is the big thing for this course, as straying off course will get you in trouble and make the approach shots so much harder. Hitting greens in regulation is also a premium, as usual, but more so here because not many greens give birdies away easily. Both the par 5's are eagle holes and so you will almost certainly have to get a birdie on them just to stay with the field...


The usual suspects head the field... Rory, 9/2 and Tiger, 5/1 with Big Phil at 12/1 but i don't play on the players at the top of the market... As for the rest...

Next up is Donald, 16/1, finished 3rd in the last two years here, but i have doubts over his driving at the moment. His short game is tip top though...

Dustin Johnson, 16/1 is playing well at the moment and is rightly so tipped up to do well. But he hasn't never finished better than 17th here so i can rule him out...

Lee Westwood, 16/1 has a shout but i think he will have one eye on the Ryder Cup...

Adam Scott, 18/1 has a good chance of winning here, and his stats say he should do as well. High in the putting stats and accurate of the tee. Plus he has won here before...

The ever dependable Furyk, 22/1 will be there or there about's because that's how he plays...

South African Oosthuizen, 22/1 has played great golf recently, and probably hasn't got the success that his play deserves. He is making his debut here and that puts me off...

Jason Duffner, 22/1 has the game to do well here and i think he will. A Southern boy himself he tends to do well when the tour pops in around his neck of the woods...

The enigma that is Sergio Garcia, 25/1 can be hot or down right freezing. I think he did his bit in making the Ryder Cup and so i dont think he will feature to heavily here...

Steve Stricker, 28/1 like Furyk is dependable and always seems to play solid where ever he goes. Has not featured in any of the top 10's of this years Fedex, and wont do again...

I like Zach Johnson, 33/1 but he always plays poor when i back him and well when i dont. He has a good record here and when playing in Georgia...

Bo Van Pelt, 33/1 my go to guy this year although he hasn't got that big break through win to his name he is probably the most consistent on the tour this year. His stats suggest he can perform well here, high in Driving, GIR and Putting...

Webb Simpson, 33/1 is one player ive just not warmed to. Dont know why as he is the US Open winner, but im just not a fan...

The forgotten man is Justin Rose, 33/1 for me. His name isnt always near the top of the leaderboards then he pops up to remind us he is still here. Ryder Cup is his big thing now and i cant see him featuring here...

Long putter specialist Keegan Bradley, 33/1 is another one that i don't warm to. A slow payer to watch which is probably the main reason but you cant dismiss his tenacity to get the best out of himself. His current form suggests he wont though...

The mighty hitter of the Pink Panther, Bubba Watson, 33/1 is one player i can watch. Hasnt kept up his early season form and isn't firing on all cylinders as of yet. Hasn't made any appearance higher than T15th here and another to pass on...

Brandt Snedeker, 40/1 is the one bloke who at long odds has his destiny in his own hands. Currently sat 5th in the rankings it means that if he wins its his all alone to walk away with the prize money. Leads the tour in Storkes Gained Putting...

Nick Watney, 40/1 is another player to me who will make a big impact on the tour in the future. He unfortunately for him has a very poor record around this course...

One of my two to follow at the beginning of the year Matt Kuchar, 45/1 has slipped down the rankings as the year has gone on. The Players winner back in spring, he hasn't done much since...

The Orangeman Rickie Fowler, 50/1 is another to struggle at the back end of the year. He did however win his first and second tour victory's this year, all be it back in March and April...

Ryan Moore, 50/1 just sneaked into the top 30 but that belies his stats. He is in the top 10 for Driving accuracy, GIR and Strokes Gained Putting. A more than live outsider...

The other one of my two to follow Hunter Mahan, 50/1 has slipped down the rankings as the year has progressed. He will be hoping that last years Tied 1st place with Bill Haas can spark his game back to life. Hasn't made one top 35 in his last 6 starts...

The Big Easy, Ernie Els, 50/1 has had a great year, well who wouldn't be impressed with his victory at Lytham - apart from Adam Scott. He is one who is playing well at the end of the year and maybe the break last week can get him up for one last push...

Robert Grrigus, 50/1 is making his debut to Eastlake and only snuck into the top 30 with last weeks T4th performance...

Accuracy is what makes John Senden, 66/1 so good, but he isnt the best with the putter at times, and this will let him down here again...

Another one of the long putters brigade Carl Petterson, 66/1 has fallen off the radar completely in recent weeks. He isnt performing to the high standards he set back at Kiawah Island for the USPGA and is struggling with his game at the moment. Last in all the stats of the 30 players left here...

John Huh, 80/1 is one of the Rookies of the year and hopefully he can keep this up next year as well. Makes his debut here, obviously, and will do well to make the top 10...

Scott Piercy, 100/1 owes me nothing but a big thanks you. Winner of the Canadian Open, of which i backed him for, he is just going to enjoy the fact that his year has been a big success for him. Making his debut here and will do well to make the top 10...


So after all that im going to go with...

Adam Scott @ 18/1...
Jason Dufner @ 22/1...
Zach Johnson @ 33/1...
Bo Van Pelt @ 33/1...

As usual £2.50 e/w... PadPow pays 1/4 top 4... Good luck to all if you have a play. Lets hope we can sign off with a final win for the year...

 

Hey Red

Sorry forgot to reply to this before play today

Anyways if i was going to make up imaginary bets id do better than say the 4 i got lol

I backed -

Keegan Bradley
Louis Oosthuizen
Rickie Fowler
Luke Donald

Cant see me winning this week , goodluck red !

 

Just thought id put the whole 30 players up so you can see how they are doing... Woods with his 2nd place at the moment and Rory being so far back would take the Fedex Title. Rose is level with him going into the 2nd round... Of our picks Bo leads the way 1 shot back, but it will only take one good round for the others to shoot up the leaderboard...


T1 - 3.... Justin Rose ............ -4
T1 - 1.... Tiger Woods .......... -4
T3 - 14.. Scott Piercy .......... -3
T3 - 13... Bo Van Pelt .......... -3
T3 - 12... Matt Kuchar ......... -3
T3 - 11... Steve Stricker ....... -3
T7 - 20... Hunter Mahan ....... -2
T7 - 19... Adam Scott .......... -2
T7 - 18... Robert Garrigus ..... -2
T7 - 10... Zach Johnson ....... -2
T7 - 6.... Brandt Snedeker .... -2
T12- 25.. Ryan Moore .......... -1
T12- 23.. Jim Furyk ............. -1
T12- 16.. Bubba Watson ...... -1
T12- 17.. Sergio Garcia ........ -1
T12- 8... Dustin Johnson ...... -1
T12- 5... Phil Mickelson ........ -1
T12- 2... Rory McIlroy .......... -1
T19- 21.. Keegan Bradley ...... E
T19- 15.. Jason Dufner.......... E
T19- 7... Louis Oosthuizen .... E
T22- 28.. Rickie Fowler......... +1
T22- 27.. Webb Simpson ...... +1
T22- 24.. Carl Pettersson ..... +1
T22- 22.. Luke Donald ......... +1
T26- 30.. John Senden ........ +2
T26- 26.. Ernie Els .............. +2
T26- 9... Lee Westwood ...... +2
T29- 29.. John Huh.............. +4
T30- 4... Nick Watney ......... +5

 

Cheers Smokin...

You never know though pal, one of em night shoot a silly round to get back into it...

 

Leaderboard after the 2nd round...


1 - Jim Furyk ............... -7
2 - Justin Rose ............ -6
T3 - Bubba Watson ...... -5
T3 - Bo Van Pelt .......... -5
T5 - Dustin Johnson ..... -4
T5 - Matt Kuchar ......... -4
T7 - Rory McIlroy ......... -3
T7 - Robert Garrigus ..... -3
T7 - Zach Johnson ....... -3
T10- Carl Pettersson ..... -2
T10- Brandt Snedeker ... -2
T12- Webb Simpson ...... -1
T12- Rickie Fowler ........ -1
T12- Ryan Moore .......... -1
T12- Tiger Woods ......... -1
T16- Luke Donald ......... E
T16- John Senden ......... E
T16- Jason Dufner ......... E
T16- Phil Mickelson ........ E
T16- Steve Stricker ....... E
T16- Scott Piercy ......... E
T22- Louis Oosthuizen ... +1
T22- Hunter Mahan ....... +1
T22- Adam Scott .......... +1
25 - Sergio Garcia ......... +2
26 - Keegan Bradley ....... +3
27 - John Huh ............... +4
28 - Lee Westwood ........ +5
29 - Ernie Els ................. +7
30 - Nick Watney ........... +9

Big move from Jimmy Furyk yesterday but Rory still tops the points for the Fedex title. Bo isnt to far away and anyone within 4 shots is capable of winning this the last tour championship of the year...

 

Leaderboard after the 3rd round....


T1 - Brandt Snedeker ....... -8
T1 - Justin Rose .............. -8
3 - Ryan Moore .............. -6
T4 - Rory McIlroy ............ -5
T4 - Bubba Watson ......... -5
T4 - Jim Furyk ................ -5
T7 - Tiger Woods ............ -4
T7 - Robert Garrigus ........ -4
T7 - Matt Kuchar ............ -4
T7 - Bo Van Pelt ............. -4
T11- Luke Donald ............ -3
T11- Zach Johnson ......... -3
T13- Webb Simpson ........ -1
T13- Dustin Johnson ....... -1
15 - Louis Oosthuizen ...... E
T16- Adam Scott ........... +1
T16- Scott Piercy .......... +1
T16- Jason Dufner .......... +1
T16- Rickie Fowler .......... +1
T20- Hunter Mahan ......... +2
T20- Phil Mickelson ......... +2
T22- Sergio Garcia .......... +3
T22- Keegan Bradley ....... +3
T22- Steve Stricker ........ +3
T22- John Senden .......... +3
T22- Carl Pettersson ....... +3
27 - John Huh ................ +7
28 - Ernie Els ................ +8
29 - Nick Watney ........... +9
30 - Lee Westwood ........ +11

So with only the 1 round to go Brandt Snedeker is in line to take the title and $10m prize money. As he is one of the top 5 players coming into this tournament he controls his own destiny. Of course were he to slip to 2nd place then Rory would be in place to pick up the dosh. Justin Rose is playing good enough to win the tournament, but alas nowhere near high enough to win the big prize because of his Fedex ranking... All to play for as they say...

 

Congratulations to the $10million dollar man, Brandt Snedeker...

You beat the field to the big prize money and earn yourself a nice little earner...

1 - Brandt Snedeker ....... -10
2 - Justin Rose .............. -7
T3 - Luke Donald ........... -6
T3 - Ryan Moore ............ -6
T5 - Webb Simpson ........ -5
T5 - Bubba Watson ........ -5
7 - Jim Furyk ................ -3
T8 - Hunter Mahan ........ -2
T8 - Tiger Woods .......... -2
T10 - Dustin Johnson ..... -1
T10 - Matt Kuchar ........ -1
T10 - Bo Van Pelt .......... -1
T10 - Robert Garrigus .... -1
T10 - Rory McIlroy ........ -1
T15 - Phil Mickelson ...... +1
T15 - Sergio Garcia ....... +1
T15 - Scott Piercy ....... +1
T15 - Zach Johnson ..... +1
19 - Adam Scott.......... +3
T20 - Carl Pettersson .... +4
T20 - Jason Dufner ....... +4
22 - Steve Stricker ....... +6
T23 - Keegan Bradley .... +7
T23 - Rickie Fowler ....... +7
T23 - Louis Oosthuizen .. +7
27 - Ernie Els ............... +9
28 - Nick Watney ......... +13
29 - John Huh ............. +14
30 - Lee Westwood ..... +15


Well done Smokin for getting Donald in the top 4 as alas my selections didnt quiet shape us as i would have liked to...

Onwards for the real climax to the golfing year, The Ryder Cup...!!!