For a final time in 2022, a full field battles it out on the PGA Tour.
It’s the last Fed Ex Cup counting event of the year and two of the top three in the early standings head to the Sea Island Resort in Georgia.
Rather surprisingly, those two players are No.1 Seamus Power and No.3 Mackenzie Hughes.
Seventh-placed Tony Finau, a convincing winner in Houston last week, was originally due to take part but has withdrawn.
Finau was favourite but his absence means we’re in the unusual position of seeing Brian Harmon heading the market for a PGA Tour event. The left-hander is a best 20/1.
This event, like a couple of others on the PGA Tour, is held over two different courses.
The Seaside, which is used for both weekend rounds, is a short Bermuda Par 70 measuring a fraction over 7,000 yards.
The Plantation which alternates with the Seaside over the first two days is also short. However, par is 72 so scores to par will be lower.
Sebastian Munoz shot a 60 at the Seaside last year so it’s very gettable if the wind doesn’t gust. The forecast this week suggests the breezes won’t be too strong on any of the four days.
Talor Gooch won with 22-under last year while 19-under was the magic number in each of the previous three years so birdies are needed.
Angles to consider
1/ Putting
You’ll need to go low this week and history says the best way to do that is by holing lots of putts on the Bermuda greens rather than say by always hitting them in the right number. The top three finishers last year ranked 9th, 3rd and 4th for Putting Average.
2/ Form on correlating courses
There are plenty to choose from. They include Harbour Town (RBC Heritage), Waialae (Sony Open), Colonial (Charles Schwab), El Camaelon (Mayakoba) and Port Royal (Bermuda). Seamus Power has just won the Bermuda and he was fourth on this course last year.
3/ Current form
It doesn’t have to be amazing but the last nine winners have all managed at least a top 26 in one of their previous three starts. Two of the last four, including Gooch last year, had posted a top five in one of their previous three outings.
Selections
The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected.
Seamus Power
It’s hard to ignore the claims of Seamus Power this week. As noted, he was fourth in this tournament 12 months ago and he returns having just shown some superb form on two correlating tracks. He won the Bermuda Championship (3rd for Putting Average) and followed it with a third place at El Camaleon. After putting his feet up last week, this looks a great chance to continue his hotstreak on a course that suits.
Justin Rose
Rose finished tied ninth in last week’s Houston Open and the flatstick certainly played a part as he ranked 7th for Strokes Gained: Putting, picking up over six shots on the greens. He was 12th here last year and he has some strong form on the correlating courses mentioned above. That includes a win at Colonial and a second place at Waialae. He spoke last week about the importance of bagging some FedEx Cup points so seems motivated too.
Patrick Rodgers
Rodgers is a former runner-up here (2010) and also made the top 10 in 2016. He’s in good form after a run of 16-27-3-16 over his last four events. The third came at the Bermuda Championship which could be a good pointer, as is the fact that he ranked 1st for Putting Average there. He’s 20th in the current FedEx Cup standings.
Tips 1-2; +0.48pts
1.5pts e.w. Seamus Power at 22/1 (Betfair, Boylesports, Hills, Paddy Power 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) 5th
0.75pts e.w. Justin Rose at 40/1 (Skybet, Paddy Power, Betfair 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) 10th
0.75pts e.w. Patrick Rodgers at 40/1 (Boylesports 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) 29th
