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2-2; -3.18pts (system plays: 9-0-1) Round 1 play (2pts): Steve Stricker to beat Brandt Snedeker +100 @ SkyBet WON by 1
Snedeker was a surprise wildcard selection for the Ryder Cup, particularly at the expense of Hunter Mahan and Nick Watney who are in the top-20 in the World Rankings, so this adds a new level of pressure upon him this week: he needs to play well to silence the doubters, while finishing behind Mahan and Watney (and even Fowler) will only keep this debate going. That pressure, plus three top-10 finishes in this event to Snedeker's one and record of shooting a higher score than Snedeker in rd1 just twice this year, I'll side with experience with this matchup. Round 2 play (2pts): Chris Kirk to beat Graham DeLaet -125 @ Bet365 WON by 2
Opposing the first round leader who has only been in this position once previously on the PGA Tour - he then shot a two-over-par round in the Sony Open in Hawaii this year and ended up in 29th place. Kirk is in much better form - he is on a run of seven consecutive top-50 finishes, including two top-10s. [unofficial rd2 system plays: Singh tb Laird -120 (W); Mickelson tb Johnson Z -143 (W)] Round 3 play (2pts): Tiger Woods to beat Rory McIlroy -105 @ 5Dimes [available generally] LOST by 2
Both players in 2nd place after 36 holes. From this position, McIlroy is 0-for-3 and Woods is 4-for-5 in the last five times that he has been 2nd after 36 holes - the last time was the Memorial Tournament in June. Round 4 play (4pts): Adam Scott [-1/2] to beat Robert Garrigus -127 @ 5Dimes [available generally] LOST by 1
Such has been Scott's dominance in this matchup that he has finished ahead of Garrigus in 14 of their last 15 common events. They both lie in 5th place overnight, but that stat strongly suggests that it will the Australian who has the stronger final round. The other factor to consider is their positions in the FedEx Cup ... Garrigus was 31st before this event, so he is currently projected to qualify for the Tour Championship, but he will still be looking over his shoulder and trying to finish ahead of both Graeme McDowell and Ryan Moore who are both within three shots. That pressure generally does not lead to a good performance. [unofficial rd4 system plays: Mickelson tb Singh -126 (W); Rose tb Stanley -125 (W); Poulter tb Kirk -120 (T); McIlroy tb Westwood -120 (W); Woods tb Johnson D -120 (W); Poulter tb Harrington -110 (W); Van Pelt tb Johnson Z -125 (W); Johnson Z tb McDowell -110 (W)] |
