PGA Golf: The Barclays – 1st Round of FedEX Cup Playoffs Preview
The Barclays, the first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, will get underway this Thursday from the historic Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. The usual favorites in sports betting will be out the window, despite being favored in Las Vegas. A recently divorced Tiger Woods may be able to put his personal life on the back burner to perform well in New Jersey but Phil Mickelson has more serious problems.
Mickelson is dealing with arthritis and his outlook for the first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs is not very good. Mickelson has struggled since the US Open in June and he has suffered through the last few tournaments. Although Mickelson is fourth in the FedEx standings, Mickelson will be hard pressed to finish well in the final standings.
Ernie Els enters the playoffs as the top man in the FedEx standings while Tiger Woods is wallowing in 112th position. The hot golfer heading into the event could be Dustin Johnson. Johnson has given away two majors this season and with the pressure off in this event, maybe Johnson can put together four solid days of golf to win the first leg of the playoffs.
Another golfer under the radar is Justin Rose. Fifth in the FedEx standings, Rose has quietly put together a solid season and he could be the surprise winner coming out of Paramus this weekend. One more golfer to keep an eye on this weekend is Rory McIlroy. McIlroy thrives in pressure filled situations and could sneak out a win.
