The world’s top golfers will head this week to the famed TPC Boston course in Norton, Massachusetts for the 2016 staging of the Deutsche Bank Championship. A cool $8.5 million is at stake for the elite 99-man field with the champion grabbing not only 2,000 FedExCup points but also the $1.53 million top prize.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of the 2016 Deutsche Bank Championship and while you’re at it, you can check out our high-value sleeper picks for the second stop in this year’s FedEx Cup playoffs.
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Favorites – Jason Day (+650) and Dustin Johnson (+950)
It isn’t a complete surprise to see Jason Day and Dustin Johnson installed as favorites to win this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship. Day and Johnson are ranked no. 1 and no. 2 in the world rankings and these two superstars have been playing some excellent golf of late. Despite losing his reign on the top of the FedEx points list to Barclays winner Patrick Reed, Day still finds himself in excellent position to win this year’s playoffs. The Australian has finished outside the top 27 just once since last season’s U.S. Open. In fact, Day has nabbed three victories and 10 top-10s in the PGA Tour this year.
Johnson, on the other hand, has been totally lit just the same, winning the U.S. Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in two of his last six outings. He got back on track at the Barclays after missing the cut at the PGA Championship, finishing in a tie for 18th last week. Johnson has fond memories of the Deutsche Bank Championship, finishing tied for fourth back in 2009 and 2012. With the form that they are both in right now, expect another titanic duel between Day and Johnson at TPC Boston this week.
High-Value Sleepers – Rickie Fowler (+2,500) and Phil Mickelson (+2,800)
Looking for a great sleeper this week? How about Rickie Fowler? He’s starting to rediscover his old form, finishing in the top-25 in three of his last seven starts. Fowler came close to winning the Barclays title last week, losing by just three shots to Patrick Reed. He could have easily won that tournament if not for a disastrous performance at the back nine on Sunday. Fowler posted three bogeys and a double bogey over his last eight holes.
That being said, Fowler will fancy his chances of adding to his trophy collection this week as he has fared extremely well in his career at TPC Boston. Fowler shot a 3-under 68 in the final round of last year’s Deutsche Bank Championship to turn a three-shot deficit into a one-stroke victory over Henrik Stenson. For Fowler to retain the Deutsche Bank title this week, he will need to continue his outstanding play from tee to green. He is seventh in the PGA Tour in strokes gained in that particular department with a solid 1.417 clip. That will be a major weapon for Fowler when dealing with the nooks and crannies of this tough TPC Boston course.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is Phil Mickelson. Lefty has been playing some excellent golf of late, finishing in the top-4 in three of his last nine PGA Tour starts. Key to Mickelson’s resurgence has been his superb play with the putter. He is second in the PGA Tour in strokes gained via putting with a solid .786 average. That will come in handy for Lefty when tackling the delicate greens here in Norton.
One long shot who can definitely make a run at the Deutsche Bank title this week is Gary Woodland. After a rough stretch that saw him miss the cut in two of his last three starts, Woodland appeared to have rediscovered his scoring touch at the Barclays. He finished in fourth place thanks to three consecutive sub-70 rounds. Woodland is currently 24th in the FedExCup standings with 1,367 points to his name.
What makes Woodland such a threat in every golf tournament that he competes in is his tremendous power off the tee. He is seventh in the PGA Tour in driving distance, averaging 307.2 yards per drive this season. That powerful swing will come in handy when tackling the long 7,297-yard, par-71 TPC Boston course.
Writer’s Prediction
Dustin Johnson (+950) captures the Deutsche Bank Championship for the first time in his career.
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