Well here it is folks, the climax to the FedEx playoffs reaches its pinnacle with this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake, Atlanta, Georgia.
We are now down to the final 30 players in this Champions League feel format with all its thrills and spills that the FedEx playoffs bring, just wait and see how much the leaderboard fluctuates this weekend in Atlanta.
The 30 qualifiers will all be competing for a share of a staggering $75M prize pot, with the winner receiving not just the FedEx crown, but also a winner’s cheque for $18M.
Before I continue with this week’s preview, I feel the need to get something off my shoulders and have a little rant and rave so hope you don’t mind, here we go.
Would you agree with me or not that these firms need to take a good hard look at themselves when not returning stakes after a player is forced to retire or withdraw through unfortunate or unforeseen circumstances?
Why are these firms allowed to profit through others’ misery or misfortune?
This could be for a number of reasons, for example, an injury, poor or mental health, family issues or bereavement etc. But I’m sorry. It just doesn’t sit with me! Firms are profiteering through misfortune and more importantly, it’s us punters who are missing or losing out as the case may be.
We all know how frustrating it is to find out your player has been forced to withdraw knowing full well that not just our stakes, but also our fun and excitement and any chance to win are all but gone while these stingy companies make a profit by keeping our money.
I personally would like to apologise to everyone who was on my selection Will Zalatoris last week, and any other selections in the past who have been forced to withdraw. I picked Will to win the FedEx St Jude Championship the previous week and he duly obliged bagging his long overdue maiden title but he had to withdraw from the BMW Championship while on the 6th hole playing his third round on Saturday.
Not only were all outright bets settled as losers but he also was deemed the loser in the two ball that day against Emilio Grillo even though Zalatoris was already two shots up after only five holes.
It honestly baffles the life out of me and also infuriates me that these bets with some common sense and fair play can’t be settled as voids with returned stakes.
Can I make it quite clear here that I’m not talking about disqualification or when a player is disqualified for a rule infringement, etc that’s a different matter and the player’s responsibility. Stop being so miserable all you bookies and give us punters a fair ride for our hard-earned cash instead of adding more zeros to your already healthy bank balance.
I’m going to leave it there for now but already I feel that weight lifted from my shoulders and I hope that these firms take notice and hopefully action anytime soon.
I thank you all kindly for bearing with me and it would be great to hear what your thoughts and feelings are on this subject in the comments section below. On that note let’s get back to this week’s Tour Championship.
The stunning and iconic East Lake course will be playing 7346 yards long this week, it’s a par 70 with Bermuda greens where the key to success will be not just be overcoming those in front with the FedEx points handicap stroke advantage, but also this long venue will suit the big long straight hitters.
Patrick Cantlay returns to defend his FedEx crown and he’s looking hotter than ever to do just that after successfully defending his BMW Championship title last weekend in Delaware.
The weather is forecast to be not very good unfortunately with rain, rain and more rain forecast throughout. It will still be hot and humid conditions with breezes peaking at only 7mph.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event with live coverage starting at 5.30 pm on Thursday evening.
So let’s move on with this week’s Tour Championship betting selections and the most likely winner of the FedEx Cup 2022.
Tour Championship Betting Tips
For my first and main selection in Atlanta I’m going to advise the defending FedEx champ, Patrick Cantlay 4/1 EW Bet365.
Patrick Cantlay
I tipped the talented 30-year-old from California to win this last year and he didn’t disappoint and I just have a feeling it’s going to be more of the same this time around. Now if you had asked me a few weeks ago I’d probably have a different opinion but that victory last weekend at the BMW Championship cements my decision.
Obviously, due to the fact we are down to the final 30 players, the prices are skinny for the main contenders due to the handicap stroke advantage. Cantlay will be second on the leaderboard with 4,129 points before a ball is even hit on -8 with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler the only player above him on -10 leading the FedEx points with 4,205 in the bag.
Where do I start with Patrick Cantlay this week, he’s a player who has done us proud in the past and with seven Top 5 finishes this year including last week’s victory. He’s like a quiet assassin this year. I’ll be honest, he’s not really been on my radar much this year, I just hope that the radar’s still working and not faulty because really he should be all over it, well to be fair he is flashing up red now so it’s definitely still responding.
With three runners-up finishes this year alone, 2nd at the Rocket Mortgage Classic only weeks ago, 2nd at the RBC Heritage and 2nd also at the Phoenix Open, you’d have said Cantlay’s been so unlucky before finally bagging a title in 2022 last weekend.
I think that’s the clue right there, that victory last weekend meant Cantlay is now the only player to defend a FedEx event as well as being the defending FedEx champ will spur Partick Cantlay on his way to becoming the King of Kings making history once again.
Sam Burns
For my next pick to win the Tour Championship I’m going to point you all in the direction of Sam Burns 22/1 EW Bet365.
Burns from Louisiana is still only a kid at only 26-year-old old and has such a bright future ahead. This wonder kid has already had a phenomenal year and has doubled up the titles tally already with another two PGA crowns in 2022. A winner when successfully defending his maiden title victory at the Valspar Championship back in March and most recently winner also at the Charles Schwab Challenge, that’s now four titles in the bag in just over a year for this talented kid, with plenty more to follow anytime soon.
That’s now eight Top 20 finishes this year for Burns with half of them being in the Top 10.
I said way back at the start of 2021 that this lad was oozing talent and that he’d be winning and competing consistently and that’s just how it’s panned out, exactly like what I mentioned in last week’s preview about the quality of golf we are witnessing at the moment and also about the several players who are performing to the highest of levels including Sam Burns along with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau to name but a few.
It’s a tad like the English Premiership at the moment, it’s a free for all, it’s exciting, it’s basically anybody’s with everything to play for and it’s gripping to watch.
Ranked 7th on the PGA Tour this year for Birdie Average at 4.36 and lucky number 7th again for Putting Average at 1.724. If arriving in Atlanta producing these kinda figures then the hotter than ever Sam Burns will be on fire yet again and that five-shot deficit will be burned up in no time on his way to a famous victory as FedEx Cup Champion at East Lake.
Xander Schauffele
So without further ado, I’m going to select my next best and probably the most consistent player on the planet just now, Xander Schauffele 7/1 EW Coral.
I tipped the ever-reliable Schauffele again last week for the BMW Championship and although challenging all the way and looking the most likely winner on so many occasions, the 28-year-old from California eventually had to settle for a very respectable third place.
I also tipped him to win both his recent PGA victories at the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club and also the Travelers Championship, both prices incidentally were 20/1 for us all to savour here at MFT and form an orderly queue to the annoyance of those bookies. Bookie bashing at its finest.
Along with a recent 15th place at The 150th Open Championship up at St Andrew’s I’m not going to bother listing all the stats and figures for Xander Schauffrle because he performs so well in so many departments.
Xander Schauffele can continue to have an amazing year with the best of them all yet to come on Sunday evening when he is flying the FedEx flag with his third victory in as many weeks in the bag.
For my final selection, it’s the customary match bet and this week I’m going to take the plunge with yet another Super Match bet Nap.
I’m really liking the look of Jordan Spieth who finished like a train last weekend in Delaware to beat Max Homa who’s not been firing on all cylinders. Over 72 holes in the head-to-head @ 10/11 Super Banker Nap Bet365.
Tour Championship Betting Tips
- Patrick Cantlay 4/1 EW Bet365
- Sam Burns 22/1 EW Bet365
- Xander Schauffele 7/1 EW Coral
- Jordan Spieth to beat Max Homa Over 72 holes in the head-to-head @ 10/11 Super Banker Nap Bet365.
The post Golf Betting Tips: Tour Championship Preview & Predictions appeared first on MrFixitsTips.
