Live on Sky Sports 1: Thu: 10:30 & 20:00 Angus Loughran previews this week’s The Barclays and Johnnie Walker Championship tournaments.
It’s the start of the play-offs in America and first up is the Barclays at Liberty National in New Jersey. It was used for this event in 2009 when outsider Heath Slocum won by a shot from Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els.
Course knowledge is always important and Open champion Phil Mickelson knows this venue better than anyone having played numerous corporate days for sponsors Barclays. Subsequently, I was expecting him to be around the 12/1 mark so I think the 22/1 on offer at Coral looks like excellent value.
Currently in superb for, Henrik Stenson really deserves a win soon and looks a decent price each-way at 20/1 with Paddy Power, who are going 1/4 odds for the first 6 places.
Tiger Woods meanwhile, is the obvious market leader but at 11/2 is on the short side, although a win saver to cover all other bets isn’t a terrible idea and Lee Westwood, who will love the track, has a far better chance than his odds of 40/1 suggest, given that he’s still driving the ball as well as anyone in the world at present, which is what is required here.
Franceso Molinari heads the market for the Johnnie Walker Championship and should go well at Gleneagles, the location of this event since 1999 and the venue for next years Ryder Cup.
Paul Lawrie was a worthy winner last year and will be popular at 33/1 but Stephen Gallacher at 25/1 looks like the best each-way bet for me here; he has a solid record at the course and should go well.
Of the huge prices 125/1 shot Richard Green has some great course form and although not in the best of nick at present, he looks overpriced.
Finally, Brooks Koepka made a huge impression on me when winning qualifying for the Open at Sunningdale in June. He looks a natural future star and at 40/1 should not go unbacked to continue his progress since coming to UK.
Good luck
Angus Loughran
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