The 14th hole at Cogg Hill Country Club
This week sees the return of the FedEx Cup after a week’s break where the Top 70 will be teeing it up at the Dick Wilson and Joe Lee designed Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, in Lemont, Illinois. Nicknamed “Dubsdread” it has been ranked 29th in Golf Digest’s Top 100 “Greatest Public Courses”, owned by the Jemsek family.
Rees Jones oversaw a redesign here back in 2008 and it now has 18 new large tiered greens. Using bent grass with the Sub-Air System installed, 110 redesigned and repositioned bunkers, water that comes into play on six of the eighteen holes, and with a tough 497-yd par 4 finishing hole where the green has been moved closer to the pond.
Brandt Snedeker has finished third in his last two tournaments © Kevin Murray
My picks to win: Brandt Snedeker 25/1 has had thirteen Top 25 finishes this year, finishing 3rd in his last two tournaments and sits fifth on the FedEx Cup rankings with one win under his belt at this years The Heritage.
Phil Mickelson back in form © Kevin Murray
It’s not been a vintage year for Phil Mickelson 22/1, with only one win this year at the Shell Houston Open. His best other placing’s have been two 2nd places at the Open Championship and the Farmers Insurance Open, with seven other Top 25 places, the last being a tenth place finish in the Deutsche Bank Championship finishing well with two good rounds of 63, 69
At this moment in time you really can’t seem to go wrong backing Luke Donald 12/1, apart from his win at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, and of the sixteen tournaments he’s played on the PGA Tour this year, he has finished in the Top 25 thirteen times, eleven of those have been in the Top 10. With six being in the Top 5, which is great if you’re putting money on him each-way
Sergio has a new putting stroke © Kevin Murray
My each-way bets are: Sergio Garcia 40/1 is probably one of the best ball strikers in the world and if it weren’t for his putting he would be a major championship winner. After his self-imposed exile from the game, he now seems back to somewhere near his best and with a new putting stroke will be looking to get a win this year.
Bo Van Pelt 66/1 had a great finish to the Deutsche Bank Championship with his last three rounds being 68, 66, 66 to finish 7th. Bo has finished in the Top 25 twelve times from his twenty-four starts, four of those coming in the Top 10.
Hunter Mahan 40/1 has had an indifferent year this year, eight Top 10 finishes from his 25 starts only one coming in the Top 5 but it looks like Hunter is starting to come into form and a 69, 66 finish and an opening round of 68 at the Deutsche Bank Championship, will hopefully see him challenging this week.
Worth a couple a punt: Jonathan Byrd 125/1 sits 13th on the FedEx Cup rankings and winner of this years opening event at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. His played twenty two tournaments finishing in the Top 25 seven times, with three of those coming in the top five, maybe worth a couple of quid.
As always good luck.
