The Barclays 21-24 Aug

[kevshat]

The first FedEx Cup playoff event takes place in America this week. Only the top 100 after this week survive to next week. All things Barclays in here :ok

[Bamford]

Re: The Barclays 21-24 Aug Wide open event this week, which is something we all enjoy. Ridgewood is a cracker and supposedly the rough is up which will turn this into a really tough test. A typical Barclays winning score is around -10; and I don't see that getting beaten by much this week. Playing conditions are supposedly a lot faster than Valhalla, especially on the greens, so I'm predicting that McIlroy won't win. The FedEx Cup is always an interesting point of any golfing season. 4 tournaments packed with the biggest names. There is always the sub-plot of the standings and how it affects the goings on we see in the tournament itself. So when I see Scott, Fowler and Rose all between ranks 15 to 18; and in great nick; you have to think that they will come to the party across the next 3 weeks. Ryder Cup chasers Bradley, Haas, Mahan and Snedeker all have real motivators to go well. Hunter and Sneds won't be playing in Denver unless they deliver results and even Keegan and Bill aren't guaranteed starts in the Tour Championship; unless they deliver. The race for a Captain's Pick will be central to the story here at Ridgewood and next week in Boston. Bradley appears a shoe-in so who will grab the other 2 spots? Other top players who need to finish strongly to capture the coveted East Lake start include Jason Day, Graeme McDowell (he's never made it), Phil Mickelson, Schwartzel, Donald, Westwood, Poulter, Oosthuizen and one Henrik Stenson, who currently sits at 70th in the rankings. I'm going with the Swede here who played wonderfully at Valhalla a fortnight ago and I also have a sneaky feeling that Lefty will have a great week in an area of the US where he always seems to contend. BOL.