The Barclays 2012

The majors may be over but with the Fed Ex Cup playoffs commencing today big time golf is still alive and kicking and The Barclays, played out infront of a raucous New York crowd at Bethpage, is the place to be for golf fans tonight. The venue for the 2002 and 2009 US Opens, Bethpage is an extremely challenging 7,468 yard course which has narrow fairways, high rough, tricky bunkers and small sharp greens.

Particularly notable gamechangers are the 553 yard dogleg par 5 seventh – which played a crucial part in the two recent US Opens at the course – and the severe left to right greens of the 15^th, while there’s little chance for relief here barring the three par 5’s (fourth, seventh, and thirteenth). It’s a big course but notably one for big drivers (with more importance placed on accuracy due to the demands that the rough will place on those who err from the course) and those who possess a good tee to green game.

All eyes look set to be on Rory McIlroy and Tigerwoods, who are paired together for the first two rounds in a massive threat for the New Yorkers, head the market at around 8/1 respectively. Both can be given outstanding chances on form this year – Tiger has had his best year since the revelations that rocked his career with three tournament wins plus a return to form in majors – and Rory’s exhibition at Kiwah Island in the USPGA championship is why many see him as the main threat towards Woods’ incredible records – but both look a little short at 8/1 for four day purposes. I could put you off neither, but the price has pushed me away from them.

Bubba Watson's Masters Triumph was as colourful as it was
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In a field of outstanding quality there are many places to look for value and it can be found rather easily but Bubba Watson has all the attributes needed and a strong case can be made for this year’s Master’s winner, who has an exquisite driving game and the finishing to match along with a first major triumph in the bag.

Someone with good course form – he was 18^th in the 2009 US Open – he’s kept his standards at the same level since unlike quite a few green jacket winners. The course at Bethpage should prove to be no problem to him if he can handle Augusta (and by all means he’s a better player than when 18^th at the US open here in 2009) and his reliability and consistency this season since his Masters triumph is shown by the fact that he’s 5th in the FedEx Cup points standings, and ranked 7^th in the world. His Open finish was his best ever and his closing rounds at Kiawah Island read 70-68, so there’s an encouraging sense of momentum behind his challenge which bodes well for his chances today. The long and short of it basically is that  in 15 starts this year, he's made the top 25 in 13 of them and has four top-fives and a Masters win, and at around 25’s, that is more than enough reason to back him here.

The race for the Ryder Cup places also forms a big part of the Fed Ex Cup Play offs and defending champion Dustin Johnson is the only player in the elite 125-strong field to have won FedExCup playoff events in each of the last two years, a sign of his talent. A brilliant driver who’s capable of making freakish distances with the ball (he averages 310 yards on a good day). Affected badly by the strong winds in Round 2 of the USPGA, his finishing position of 48^th is in no way an accurate reflection of his talent. 19^th in the Open and a winner of the St Jude Classic this season, Johnson has one more big effort left in him and is asking to be supported at the backend of the season.

Speaking of players who peak at this time of year, Steve Stricker seems to be on a rather magical run of form with nobody having actually noticed. His last three starts are a fifth at the John Deere, a tied second in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and a tied seventh in the USPGA, yet he’s freely available at 25’s for this event. He has a great tournament record in this particular event - won it at Westchester in 2007, was second at Liberty National in 2009 and came third at Ridgewood in 2010 – respectable efforts at this course (tied 16th in 2002 and tied 23rd in 2009 US Opens that were held here) and all in all, should just handle everything the course has to throw at him. He’s a no brainer.

One man who seems to have been totally forgotten is four time major winner and one of the best players of all time (depending on who you ask), Phil Mickleson. This has been one of the worst seasons he’s ever had but just a few months ago he was set to win the Masters before finding the trees (winner Bubba Watson did just the same thing but saved his shot) and he was set to win the 2009 US Open here after eagling the par 5 13^th but faded late (missing a short birdie putt on 14, three-putt for bogey on 15, miss another putt on 16, and made another bogey on 17) to finish only two shots tied for second. If he gets back to his best then few have more class in the field and he’s got to be chanced at big prices – he was just 11’s for the Masters.

Bo Van Pelt has progressed into a top class player this season

We never leave Bo Van Pelt out of these profiles and this will be no different, with our favourite golfer having posted three under par finishes in the Candian Open, The Bridgestone Championship, and the PGA Campionship in his last three starts, and this course should once again suit him and his top class tee to green game.

Advice

1 pt each/way Bubba Watson (28/1 general)

1 pt each/way Dustin Johnson (25/1 Sportingbet)

1 pt each/way Steve Stricker (28/1 general)

1 pt each/way Phil Mickleson (33/1 general)

1 pt each/way Bo Van Pelt (66/1 Hills)