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JoePa's COCA COLA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP Picks
JOEPA'S UPDATED YTD:
+59.00
The sixth edition of the FedExCup Playoffs culminates with this week's TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta hosts for the 12th time and the historic layout that Bobby Jones called home will turn 100 years old next year.
It's a par 70 that can stretch to 7,319 yards and last year's dry conditions penalized driving-accuracy at just 52.86 percent, but greens in regulation hit a high of 67.92 percent and the overall scoring average of 69.792 marked the first time since 2007 (68.325) that it checked in under par. However, none of the four winners of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola since Bermuda was introduced has finished double digits under par.
Hitting fairways is just one of the components necessary to contend. From 2008-2010, East Lake ranked 14th-18th on TOUR in GIR---it was 30th last year.
Per usual, I am going away from the McIroys, Woods/heavy favorite picks since that's where I've rolled the man this season.....
JASON DUFNER 26/1 TO WIN OUTRIGHT & 6/1 E.W. TOP FOUR - At the outset of the season I thought Dufner would be a contender and he still is! He's fared really well in southern states, including wins at the HP Byron Nelson and Zurich Classic. I like Dufner at East Lake where keeping the ball in play is key. After starting the Playoffs ranked 2nd in The FedExCup and choosing not to compete in The Barclays, he's fallen to 10th, but that doesn't mean he can't get up! He may just own the best skill set for East Lake ranking 16th in fairways hit, 4th in GIR; 64th in Strokes Gained-Putting and 4th in par breakers. His track record at East Lake isn't too spiffy having tied for 13th last year and 19th in 2009 in his only two appearances, but he loves Bermuda grass, is one of the best drivers of the ball on TOUR and is one of its best ball-strikers. He’s also having the best putting year of his career.
DUSTIN JOHNSON 22/1 TO WIN OUTRIGHT & 9/2 E.W. TOP FOUR - With Playoffs finishes of T3rd, T4th and T6th, he's been the best player not named McIlroy or Woods. He's been and absolute threat to steal this thing and is the guy outside of the Top 5 in the FedEx rankings to watch. He's 7th in FedExCup points, but he's the only golfer in the field with Top 10s in all three postseason events, the worst finish of which was a share of 6th place at Crooked Stick. The only knock on him is that he hasn't cracked the Top 20 in three appearances at East Lake, but he is ranked T8th in GIR and 17th in Strokes Gained-Putting and 9th on TOUR in adjusted scoring. No one---well, maybe Rory---has been as consistent as Johnson in the postseason. Johnson’s length is of course a huge asset, but his iron play has been very good in his last three starts.
BO VAN PELT 8/1 E.W. TOP FOUR - Maybe the best player that nobody is talking about. En route to a solo 9th place finish at East Lake last year, he led the field in fairways hit and played holes 9-18 in bogey-free 9-under. Currently 28th in accuracy off the tee, 21st in GIR, 13th in Strokes Gained-Putting and 12th in adjusted scoring, 4th all-around and 9th in birdie average. Van Pelt has eight Top 10s on the season and trails only Jim Furyk among non-winners in both FedExCup points and earnings. Finished T17th at the Masters highlighted by a closing round 64, which ties the lowest final-round score in Masters history, T10th at the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick with an opening round 64 finishing 69-71-71 and also had a second round 64 at the Crowne Plaza. He's ranked 25th in the OWGR,
+59.00
The sixth edition of the FedExCup Playoffs culminates with this week's TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta hosts for the 12th time and the historic layout that Bobby Jones called home will turn 100 years old next year.
It's a par 70 that can stretch to 7,319 yards and last year's dry conditions penalized driving-accuracy at just 52.86 percent, but greens in regulation hit a high of 67.92 percent and the overall scoring average of 69.792 marked the first time since 2007 (68.325) that it checked in under par. However, none of the four winners of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola since Bermuda was introduced has finished double digits under par.
Hitting fairways is just one of the components necessary to contend. From 2008-2010, East Lake ranked 14th-18th on TOUR in GIR---it was 30th last year.
Per usual, I am going away from the McIroys, Woods/heavy favorite picks since that's where I've rolled the man this season.....
JASON DUFNER 26/1 TO WIN OUTRIGHT & 6/1 E.W. TOP FOUR - At the outset of the season I thought Dufner would be a contender and he still is! He's fared really well in southern states, including wins at the HP Byron Nelson and Zurich Classic. I like Dufner at East Lake where keeping the ball in play is key. After starting the Playoffs ranked 2nd in The FedExCup and choosing not to compete in The Barclays, he's fallen to 10th, but that doesn't mean he can't get up! He may just own the best skill set for East Lake ranking 16th in fairways hit, 4th in GIR; 64th in Strokes Gained-Putting and 4th in par breakers. His track record at East Lake isn't too spiffy having tied for 13th last year and 19th in 2009 in his only two appearances, but he loves Bermuda grass, is one of the best drivers of the ball on TOUR and is one of its best ball-strikers. He’s also having the best putting year of his career.
DUSTIN JOHNSON 22/1 TO WIN OUTRIGHT & 9/2 E.W. TOP FOUR - With Playoffs finishes of T3rd, T4th and T6th, he's been the best player not named McIlroy or Woods. He's been and absolute threat to steal this thing and is the guy outside of the Top 5 in the FedEx rankings to watch. He's 7th in FedExCup points, but he's the only golfer in the field with Top 10s in all three postseason events, the worst finish of which was a share of 6th place at Crooked Stick. The only knock on him is that he hasn't cracked the Top 20 in three appearances at East Lake, but he is ranked T8th in GIR and 17th in Strokes Gained-Putting and 9th on TOUR in adjusted scoring. No one---well, maybe Rory---has been as consistent as Johnson in the postseason. Johnson’s length is of course a huge asset, but his iron play has been very good in his last three starts.
BO VAN PELT 8/1 E.W. TOP FOUR - Maybe the best player that nobody is talking about. En route to a solo 9th place finish at East Lake last year, he led the field in fairways hit and played holes 9-18 in bogey-free 9-under. Currently 28th in accuracy off the tee, 21st in GIR, 13th in Strokes Gained-Putting and 12th in adjusted scoring, 4th all-around and 9th in birdie average. Van Pelt has eight Top 10s on the season and trails only Jim Furyk among non-winners in both FedExCup points and earnings. Finished T17th at the Masters highlighted by a closing round 64, which ties the lowest final-round score in Masters history, T10th at the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick with an opening round 64 finishing 69-71-71 and also had a second round 64 at the Crowne Plaza. He's ranked 25th in the OWGR,
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