Bethpage Black, one of the most difficult courses on TOUR hosts the first event on the FedEx Cup Playoffs this week \u2013 the top 125 players on the circuit will square off on the course that hosted the US Open in 2009. <\/p>\n
2012 Barclays Classic<\/strong> Defending Champion:<\/strong> Dustin Johnson ($1,440,000)<\/p>\n Control, distance and smallish putting surfaces characterize this course \u2013 there are three park 5s and five par 4s that exceed 475 yards.<\/p>\n Lucas Glover won the 2009 US Open \u2013 he\u2019s not here, Phil Mickelson was second \u2013 he is off the radar, Tiger finished T6 and Rory was tenth. All in all it should be an entertaining four rounds on the horizon!<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy 7\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Rory breezed through the PGA in record-setting fashion and is ready to pair up with Tiger in the first two rounds \u2013 delicious TV! He ranks 73rd in greens hit on the PGA TOUR, he ranks second in adjusted scoring and although he slumped a tad in the middle of the season it is apparent that he is heating up once again!<\/p>\n Tiger Woods 7\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Woods is the only three time winner on TOUR this year and he did have six top 10s. He ranks fourth in total driving; 25th in GIR; first in adjusted scoring but has failed to show up against the elite fields so far.<\/p>\n Justin Rose 20\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Finished top five at the Bridgestone \u2013 his fifth top 5 in eight tournaments and it could be argued that he is the most consistently high level golfer on TOUR this year. He leads the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation; sixth in adjusted scoring and may be due against an elite field.<\/p>\n Bubba Watson 22\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Has 12 top 20s on TOUR this season and of course that huge win in the Masters along with two second place finishes. He is second on TOUR in greens hit and ninth in adjusted scoring and is a threat in every tournament he enters \u2013 especially the ones that require length off the tee!<\/p>\n Luke Donald 22\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Donald has been conspicuously absent from the headlines lately but does have six top 10s in 13 starts on the PGA TOUR this year. Bethpage Black may not be his style of course but someone this good can\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n Dustin Johnson 25\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Should have a good week with his ability to smash the ball and navigate small greens. He won the Barclays last year and has a win and four top 10s in 15 starts this year. You certainly can\u2019t forget Dustin this week.<\/p>\n Steve Stricker 25\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n He has seven top 10s in 15 starts, including a T2 (Bridgestone) and T7 (PGA Championship) in his last two this year and he has looked good in the Majors \u2013 Bethpage will set up like a major. Stricker is as solid as they come.<\/p>\n Keegan Bradley 25\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Bethpage Black is exactly Bradley\u2019s type of course and he is coming off consecutive top 3s \u2013 at the PGA and at the Bridgestone. Nobody is playing better right now \u2013 watch out for Keegan this weekend!<\/p>\n Adam Scott 25\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Is playing very well at the moment \u2013 four top 15s in his last five starts. He has struggled hitting fairways, scrambling and stroked-gained putting however \u2013 not a good sign for this track.<\/p>\n Graeme McDowell 40\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Finished top 12 in all four Majors this year and has six straight top 25s. He is 49th on the PGA TOUR in greens hit; 14th in adjusted scoring and at 40\/1 may be the best value on the board.<\/p>\n Matt Kuchar 40\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Actually missed the cut at the PGA but he does have eight top 10s on TOUR this year Kuchar has looked good in the Majors except for the PGA and he has the all around game to contend this week.<\/p>\n Bo Van Pelt 50\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Is fifth in total driving, 24th in greens in regulation, ninth in Strokes Gained-Putting and second in the all-around on TOUR \u2013 perfect for Bethpage Black.\u00a0\u00a0[soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n Tim Clark 50\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Is fourth on TOUR in fairways hit, 90th in GIR and 47th in adjusted scoring and is coming off a solo second in the Wyndham for his third straight top 15 finish. Clark is back to prominence and looking very good at the moment.<\/p>\n My pick this week is Keegan Bradley 25\/1<\/strong> who has been playing very well lately and whose game is very well suited for Bethpage Black.<\/p>\n My \u201csleeper\u201d is Graeme McDowell at 40\/1<\/strong>. He has looked terrific on the tough courses this year \u2013 Bethpage Black is certainly tough!<\/p>\n CLICK TO BET\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Location: Old Bethpage, New York, United States<\/strong>
\n Course: Bethpage State Park – Black<\/strong>
\n Date: Aug 23-26, 2012<\/strong>
\n Total Purse: US $ 8,000,000<\/strong>
\n Winner’s Share: US $ 1,440,000 (18% of total purse)<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Favorites:<\/h3>\n
The Contenders:<\/h3>\n
The \u201cSleepers\u201d<\/h3>\n
The Pick:<\/h3>\n
2012 PGA The Barclays Championship Betting Lines & Future Odds<\/h3>\n