Race to FedExCup begins at Northern Trust with Picks, Odds & Predictions

The Northern Trust August 24 - 27

Glen Oaks Club- Old Westbury, NY Purse 8,750,000

Defending Champion -Patrick Reed

So the race for the free Ex cup starts Thursday with 500 points on the line at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY. This is a beautifully manicured 46 year old private club in the heart of long island that's never hosted a PGA tour event. The Northern Trust is the former WestChester Classic and Barclays that usually rotates courses and was played on Bethpage Black last year, and was slated to be at liberty National this year but liberty National is already preparing for the presidents Cup in September. The Glen Oaks Club members stepped up and volunteered their course this one time to help out and show off a little bit. Their Superintendent is Craig Currier who's previous jobs were at Augusta National and Bethpage Black. This course is a little bit hilly but you will not find one blade of tall fescue on the whole property and it is just perfectly landscaped and manicured with beautiful white sand bunkers and perfect rolling greens. There should be a lot of low scores out there this week and a lot of birdies on the back 9 in particular as we think the pros will tear it up. We think a long hitter wil win this week because accuracy will not be as crucial as usual so bombs away. Greens are perfect and should be easy for tour players. We see several low 60's and dare say it, maybe even a 59 this week

Obviously when handicapping golf and the PGA tour you always want to see how certain players perform on certain courses but none of the top 125 players playing in the field this week have ever played the course as its the courses first appearance in the Tour rotation. Here are our top 6 players that will fit under a Draft kings salary cap with favorites, sleepers and long shots and their odds. Last week our Wyndham Championship Draft Kings Lineup paid out and made a profit but we had Kevin Na at 55 to 1 tied for the lead on the back 9 Sunday afternoon with a chance to win. Here are our golfers for this weeks Northern Trust.

FAVORITES

1- Brooks Koepka (20-1) - This week there is a big advantage to the long hitters so at 20-1 odds this week we are taking US Open champion Brooks Keopka who is one of the longest hitters on tour. You can spray it around at Glen Oaks and still make birdies. The #12 player in the world is #9 in driving distance, #5 in birdie average will not will be looking at many birdie and even a few eagle puts this week so if he can make his share he can get his second win of year.

2 - John Rahm (25-1) - The 22 year old Spaniard and two time ben Hogan award winner out of Arizona State will be gunning for his 2nd win on the PGA tour this week with what we feel is a driving advantage with his distance. We think Rahm at 25-1 odds is a good play considering he has ability to go 25 under this week without his A game. Rahn has made 15 of 17 cuts and is almost certain to be around on the weekend.

SLEEPERS

3 - Justin Rose (50-1) - With 14 of 17 cuts made this season we see the #15 player in the world Justin Rose as a good bet to make the cut this week, and at 50-1 a good player to pick this week at the betting window. Again we like Rose because we think the winner this week at Glen oaks will be a long hitter. long hitters don't need to be accurate this week to still make birdies and Justin Rose is one of the longest hitters and best at making birdies, and he's a champion who has what it takes to play well now that we are in the race to FedExCup.

4 - Charlie Hoffman (50-1) - Obviously tired of always being the brides maid, Hoffman puts it together this week on a course that should fit his game well. Hoffman has been a machine this year making 19 of 23 cuts and if he puts well we like his chances to be in contention over the weekend.The number 23 player in the world and 11 in FedEx ranking is playing the best golf of his career and would like to add a win to the second at the RBC Canadian and third at the Bridgestone Invitational he has this season.

5 - Ollie Schneiderjans (66-1) - After shooting 63-66-63-64 and finishing in second ay last weeks Wyndham Championship. We feel Ollie hits the ball far enough that if his irons are as sharp as last week he will be in contention as you can spray it all over at Glen Oaks and not have it hurt you. We feel Schneiderjans might be ready two break out and get a PGA tour win. Having made 17 of 20 cuts expect to see Ollie playing over weekend.

LONG SHOTS

6 - Keegan Bradley (125-1) - Having played well this year and having finally returned from the abyss after the putter change, Bradley played at St. John's University and might be only player in field familiar with Glen Oaks having played all the Met Golf Association courses as a collegiate. With Bradley making 16 of 21 cuts this season we fully expect him to be playing over weekend.