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Predictions to Win
Tournament: The Barclays
Date: Thurs-Sun, August 22nd-25th, 2013
Course: Liberty National GC, Jersey City, New Jersey
TV: GC Thurs-Fri, CBS Sat-Sun
by Tim, PGA Golf Handicapper, Predictem.com
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It is fitting that the PGA Tour returns to Liberty National GC: Former toxic waste dump turned most hated golf course on Tour according to PGA Tour players. Lady Liberty has her back turned to this course which seems appropriate with the $250,000 initiation fee price-tag for membership at Liberty National. Tom Kite and Bob Cupp designed this clown golf monstrosity and efforts made for redesign have largely not upgraded this facility beyond ridiculous. The greens look like the road traversing the Stelvio Pass in Italy with endless left, right, up, then down conversions certain to make the best Illusionist quake in horror! The field is set, Patrick Reed beat Jordan Speith in a playoff last week, and the FEDEX playoffs are here and now. Lets take a look inside the Barclays field and see who has a real shot at grabbing winning tiara!
Tiger should not be a favorite at the 2013 Barclays because he despises this course! But, one, itsy bitsy change to this course design that has gone unnoticed is: Bring the rough down! The Tour has listened and brought the rough to a recoverable height for the players and that puts Tiger right at the top of this years favorites to win. Tiger No Likey high rough, but Tiger eats the field alive when the rough is down. I dont like taking TigerEVERbecause I dont like Tiger, but the rough down issue has been finalized and Tiger is the man to beat this week. Playing for 2nd place is obviously Mickelson since Mickelson is sponsored by Barclays and that is a HUGE motivation to please the sponsors at their own course. Nick Watney won this event last year but that means virtually nothing since the Barclays moved to Bethpage Black last year. This course was so bad the Players only have played it once, in 2009, making this their first trip back to Dantes 4th level of Hell at Liberty National. Heath Slocum won in 2009 but Slocum is quickly playing himself off Tour and he didnt make the field this year. In a complete about-face, Im looking at Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, and Henrik Stenson to make a big splash behind Lady Libertys back!
Short Favorite: Tiger Woods (5 Odds to 1 to Win)
With the rough down at Liberty, Forget about it! Tiger should win this Tournament easily.
Middle of the Road: Dustin Johnson (28 Odds to 1 to Win)
Dustin Johnson is about as cocky and self-absorbed as one can get. But, he has played fantastic links golf and put together a pretty good weekend at the PGA among other tournaments. This tournament sets up for Johnson and I expect at least a Top 10 from him.
Longshot: Graeme McDowell (66 Odds to 1 to Win)
McDowell won earlier on a course sorta like this Thingy; Harbour Town. McDowell is just too good not to make a run at the FEDEX prize.
Head to Head Matches *Picks to win based on final score after all four rounds. Check out your favorite online betting site for single round matches and a variety of prop bets.
Bubba Watson vs. Graeme McDowell (our pick to win: Graeme McDowell)
UH, NO! Watson is like three day old cheese left out in the sun; hes all dried up. McDowell has tons of pride and Watsonhis best years are behind him.
Rickie Fowler vs. Ian Poulter (our pick to win: Ian Poulter)
Too much links savvy here for Fowler. I like Rickie, but Poulter will trample him into the toxic nether regions!
