Even world-class golfers need a break from all the Grand Slam hubbub. Some of them, led by Bubba Watson, should get to play without the pressure of the majors at the Greenbrier Classic at TPC Old White. Make no mistake; while Greenbrier isn’t a major, it still has a tough and highly-competitive field of golfers vying for a title. Read on as we take a look at five of the world’s best golfers who could make a case for the Greenbrier Classic title.
Wanting to invest into this specific tournament? Take a look at the top sleepers to watch out for at the Greenbrier Classic.
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2015 Greenbrier Classic Preview
Favorites – Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson
The Travelers champ, Bubba Watson (+900) loves Greenbrier. He has eight red numbers in two appearances at the Greenbrier Classic thus far. He tied for 16th with a seven-under par 273 last year. Watson is averaging 68.5 strokes per round at the tournament, about a stroke less than his PGA Tour average 69.7 (fourth on the tour).
Watson is the highest-ranked player in the field of players at Greenbrier. He’s also very familiar with the course, having a summer home in West Virginia. Expect him to finish in at least the top five in this course.
[sc:Golf240banner ]Of course, Webb Simpson cannot be ignored especially since he’s priced at +2,000 to win the tournament. Finishing third (10-under par 270) at last year’s Greenbrier Classic, Simpson has been excellent at TPC Old White in his career.
He’s finished in the top 10 three times in his last four starts at West Virginia. He’s also ranked eighth in tee-to-green on tour (1.5), which should help him navigate the course at Greenbrier.
Simpson has played some excellent golf this season, with seventh-place finishes at the Humana Challenge and WGC-Cadillac Championship, finished fourth at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and finished second at the Wells Fargo Championship. He’s due for a win, Greenbrier looks ripe for his picking.
Sleepers – Graham Delaet and Brendon Todd
Graham Delaet (+2,500) was on a tear ending 2014 with four straight top 10 finishes, including two second-place finishes at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Farmers Insurance Open. He hasn’t had much success this year, though, with eight finishes at 22nd place or worse, and having been cut from five other tournaments. But he seems to have turned it around with a fourth-place finish at the Travelers Championship just this past week with a 14-under par 266.
Brendon Todd is a player who could turn heads at TPC Old White. He ranks in the top 13 in putting and driving accuracy — two important stats needed to excel at the Greenbrier Classic. Todd also ranks 43rd in tee-to-green (.519), which should help him navigate TPC Old White.
Todd is a consistent player this season. He’s made 15 cuts out of the 19 events he’s participated in. He also has three top 10 finishes, the most recent of which was a fourth-place finish at the RBC Heritage with a 15-under par 269 in April. Expect Todd to contend at the top of the leaderboard in this upcoming tournament. He’s +3,500 to win the Greenbrier Classic.
Long Shot – Will Wilcox
If you haven’t heard of Will Wilcox, you should probably look him up before the stars tee off at TPC Old White. Wilcox tied for fourth at last year’s Greenbrier Classic with a nine-under par 271. He’s been excellent on tour this season consistently scoring in the 60s heading into this tournament. Wilcox has scored an average of 68.2 strokes per round in his last three tournaments heading into TPC Old White.
Wilcox is on pace to beat his 2014 performance in the PGA Tour. He already has as many top 25 finishes (five) in 10 events this year compared to 16 in 2014. He’s due for another big standing on tour. Wilcox is +6,000 to win the Greenbrier Classic.
Writer’s Prediction
Webb Simpson (+2,000) wins the 2015 Greenbrier Classic.
