Deutsche Bank Championship-Fantasy Golf Picks for FedEx Cup week 2
The FedEx Cup playoffs continue this week as the PGA Tour ships up to Boston for the Deutsche Bank Championship and the second week of the playoffs. Nick Watney was the big winner last week as he made quite a case for his Ryder Cup inclusion as well as taking home a nice paycheck at The Barclays at Bethpage Black.
In the Fantasy CPR group, where there’s been pretty solid competition all year long, it was MT Cup who pulled out the win with 137 points. It was a low-scoring week overall compared to the last few weeks, but that’s what happens on these unpredictable and difficult courses and with such a deep field. TXRunner currently leads the summer segment and Squatney Leather hold the overall points lead.
This week, expect very low scores and birdies in bunches. Just a reminder that this tournament tees off on Friday and goes through the Monday holiday so adjust your schedules accordingly. TPC Boston should offer the lowest scoring of the playoffs so we’re on the hunt for birdie-monsters and course familiarity as we head into the Labor Day weekend.
Here’s my picks:
A-List
Luke Donald- Donald knows the course and is playing well. His consistency is astounding with seven top ten’s on tour this year and a top three finish in the last two year’s Deutscche Bank Championships. He
Steve Stricker- There are a lot of names on the A-list to like: last year’s champ-Webb Simpson, last week’s champ-Nick Watney, the consistent Matt Kuchar, and the Open Championship tragic hero-Adam Scott. I’m going with none of the above and sticking to my plan of saving Stricker starts and using them at the end of the season. As with most September events, Stricker’s history here is solid. He won in 2009 and has three top tens here in the past. He struggled a bit last week, but I think he’ll bounce back and be around the leaderboard on Monday in Boston.
B-List
Dustin Johnson- Johnson tweeted “It feels good to bring it on Sundays!! I’ll have some more of the same for one of my favorites – TPC Boston!!!” after he shot one of the best rounds of Sunday going low to finish t3. He’s been in the top 20 in three of his last four tournaments and t4 at TPC Boston in 2009. He’s my pick to win it all this week, so get ahead of the rush and follow him now @DJohnsonPGA if you do the twitter thing.
Brandt Snedeker– Sneds is coming off a runner-up at the Barclays and if his putter gets going he can get low in a hurry. He’s been in the top five the last two years here and is peaking at the right time. In his last seven tournaments, he has one missed cut and two top threes.
Rory McIlroy- When Rory is rolling there’s noone who can stay close. Evidence: PGA Championship. T24 last week but second in birdie average on tour this season.
Lee Westwood- Westwood’s t5 last week was his fifth of the season. He’s never played this event, but has the game to go shot-for-shot with anyone. Little bit of a sleeper pick, but I think he’s going to be around the lead for most of the playoffs.
C-List
Jason Dufner- Dufner took last week off but is back and an obvious pick on the C-list. He’s been playing too well to take the risk of leaving him off your roster since most players probably will have him. He’s been on an incredible run with six top 10s in nine starts and two wins at the HP Byron Nelson and the Zurich in New Orleans. If he gets a playoff win, he’ll legitimately be in player of the year consideration. He’s also had a nice history here including a t2 in 2009.
Padraig Harrington- Harrington has top 20s in seven of his last eight tournaments. He’s got the experience and ability to go low to attack TPC Boston, and at this event he’s finished t4 in 2009 amidst a slough of missed cuts. He’s a risky pick based on his past, but with Dufner as my top pick there’s room for a gamble here on the C list.