The world’s top golfers will head to West Virginia this week for the 2017 staging of the Greenbrier Classic. A cool $7.1 million is at stake for the 156-man field with the champion grabbing not only 500 FedExCup points, but also the $1.278 million top prize. Read on below for an in-depth analysis of this prestigious tournament and while you’re at it, you can check out this event’s purse breakdown.
2017 Greenbrier Classic Preview
Where: Old White TPC – White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Favorites – Patrick Reed (+1,000) and Kevin Kisner (+1,500)
It isn’t a complete surprise to see Patrick Reed and Kevin Kisner installed as favorites to win this week’s Greenbrier Classic. They’re two of the hottest golfers in the PGA Tour right now. Reed has posted top-25s in seven of his last eight starts, including a fifth-place finish at the Travelers Championship last month. He will look to keep the momentum going at Old White TPC where he has yet to crack the top 25.
Kisner, on the other hand, is a player who has had some success in the Greenbrier Classic in the past. He was part of the four-way playoff won by Danny Lee in this event two years ago. Kisner’s playing some excellent golf this year, nabbing 10 top-25s this season. That includes a stirring victory at Colonial last May and a pair of runner-up finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Zurich Classic.
High-Value Sleepers – Webb Simpson (+2,000) and Danny Lee (+2,200)
One golfer who loves playing here at Old White TPC is Webb Simpson. No one in the 156-man field has more than his three top-10s at Greenbrier. Simpson is playing some solid golf of late as well, nabbing top-20 finishes in four of his last seven starts, including an eighth-place showing at last month’s Travelers Championship.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is Danny Lee. He arrives at this tournament as the defending champion, prevailing in a four-man playoff in 2015. Like Simpson, Lee’s in fine form as well, making the cut in each of his last six starts. During that span, Lee recorded three top-10s and a T22 at the Quicken Loans National.
Long Shot – Angel Cabrera
One long shot who can definitely spring a surprise this week is Angel Cabrera. Yes, he has missed the cut in five of his last seven PGA Tour starts but Cabrera has already shown in the past that he has the game to tame Old White TPC. The Argentine recorded his last Tour victory in this event, winning by two strokes in 2014. The two-time major champion closed with a pair of 64s that weekend to end a five-year title drought. Can he stop another barren run this week? Thursday can’t come soon enough.
Writer’s Prediction
Patrick Reed (+1,000) wins the 2017 Greenbrier Classic.
