The 2010 Barclays Six-Pack

Let the games begin…

We embark upon the third year of the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs, with the finest 125 golfers that the PGA Tour has to offer. From a betting perspective, we have some phenomenal choices to pick from this week. I had quite a chore to whittle my choices down to only six, as there are 15 very viable candidates that have a really legitimate shot at taking this week’s prize in Paramus, NJ.

When we look at Ridgewood CC, we have to look at solid ball strikers having a distinct advantage over the rest of the field. If they can get hot with the putter inside ten feet, and maybe excel in scrambling this week, then you have the exact recipe for a victory in week one of the 2010 Fed Ex Cup Playoffs. If you’re looking at a player that may have great Driving Accuracy only and not much else, you had better dig deeper and find someone with a better overall game.

In Yahoo Fantasy, we are running out of time, and, unfortunately, I am not shaping up to have anywhere near the year I had last year. That being said I never say “Die.”

There are many guys to consider here this week, and they all have redeeming qualities. Nonetheless, I have my Yahoo Fantasy lineup ready for your perusal. Please keep in mind that Matt Kuchar would definitely be my number one C group selection, but alas, I have used all of his starts for the year. He is VERY due for a win and I feel confident that he will win one of these playoff events.

GROUP A

Start: Steve Stricker

Bench: Ernie Els

GROUP B

Start: Dustin Johnson and Bo Van Pelt

Bench: Jim Furyk and Fredrik Jacobson

GROUP C

Start: Justin Rose

Bench: Tim Clark

At this point, I have amassed 4,632 points on the year. I lead only Michael Arkush by 261 points. I am trailing the other three:  Vara by 24, Planer by 64, and the amazing Matt Romig by 211.  Keep in mind, I did have two weeks this year where I forgot to press the SUBMIT button and ended up suffering because of it.

I have many honorable mentions this week and they are as follows: Furyk 25:1, Harrington 28:1, Dustin Johnson 28:1, Donald 50:1, Rose 66:1, Cink 66:1, Jason Day 80:1, Clark 80:1, and Fredrik Jacobson at 100:1 odds of winning.

Let’s get it on, and crack open this week’s very tasty six pack…

No. 1: Paul Casey

My number one selection to win it all this week should come as no surprise. The surprise here is that this guy is actually almost 30:1 to win this event. He is value personified and presents an extremely legitimate bid to win this thing.

Paul Casey has made ten of 13 cuts this year. He has nine top 25 finishes (90 percent) and three top five events. Casey has finished as high as seventh at The Barclays before, and is in prime condition to finish very low this week as his last five tourneys have seen him improve each week.

Look at some of these numbers:

- 27th in FedEx Cup points

- 29th in Driving Distance at 295.8 yards from the tee

- 10th in All Around Ranking

- 11th in Scoring Average with 69.98 strokes per round

- 10th in Par Breakers at 22.35 percent

- 51st in Ball Striking

If you are wagering on golf this week, Paul Casey is a “must pick” at 28:1 odds.

No. 2: Ernie Els

Ernie Els is certainly putting together one of his finest years on the PGA Tour. He has two victories on the year and has made 13 out of 16 cuts. Els has 11 top 25 finishes (85 percent) and five top five finishes. Els has had tremendous success over the years at The Barclays with a victory and several top five finishes.

Els’ last five events have seen him end up CUT, third, CUT, 22nd and 18th. This shows me he is primed and ready to finish very low this week.

Here are some keys to Els’ success so far this year:

- First in FedEx Cup points for 20 straight weeks

- First in Scoring Average at 69.68 strokes per round

- First in Total Earnings at almost $4.1 million

- 22nd in GIR at 69.44 percent

- 59th in Ball Striking

- 38th in Scrambling at 61.62 percent

- Eighth in Par Performance at -13 strokes on the year

I love Ernie Els to win this thing this week, and he offers tremendous wagering value at 33:1 odds of winning.

No. 3: Matt Kuchar

Matt Kuchar has played in 21 events this year. He has been in the six pack ten times, this is his 11th appearance in my little part of the world. Kuchar has only missed three cuts all year long and amassed 15 top 25 finishes (83 percent) and also has four top five finishes.

I have said many times that it is simply a matter of time before he hoists a trophy in 2010, and if it’s not this week, it will be within the next four weeks. In his past five tries Kuchar has gone 27th, fourth, 21st, ninth, and 10th. This kid is absolutely shooting the lights out right now and has been all year long.

Look at the impressive stats list for Mr. Kuchar:

- Ninth in FedEx Cup points

- Tenth in GIR at 70.22 percent

- Second in Scoring Average at 69.71 strokes per round

- First in All Around Ranking

- 18th in Par Breakers at 22 percent

- Ninth in Ball Striking

- First in Scrambling at 66.17 percent

- First in Par Four Performance at -41 strokes (a full two strokes better than second place)

I am not sure you could pick a player more suited to go very low at Ridgewood Country Club than Matt Kuchar. By the way, if he does win he will turn your 10 dollar bill into $350, as he is a mind boggling 35:1 odds this week.

No. 4: Nick Watney

Another guy who has done everything but win this year is Nick Watney. After his unbelievable collapse at the PGA Championship with a punishing 81 on Sunday, you know Watney has something to prove to both himself and the world this week.

Watney has made 17 out 19 cuts this year, and of those 17 made cuts he has placed in the top 25 12 times (71 percent). Watney also has only one top five finish this year, which means he is overdue. He also placed sixth at The Barclays last year so that tells me he will be there this week on Sunday. Hopefully this week he holds it together.

Look at some keys to Watney’s success this year:

- 29th in FedEx Cup Points

- 26th in Driving Distance at 296 yards

- 19th in GIR at 69.77 percent

- 23rd in All Around Ranking

- Seventh in Par Breakers at 22.79 percent

- 18th in Ball Striking

Give Watney another shot this week as he is playing fantastic as of late. He is a terrific 40:1 odds of winning it all.

No. 5: Bo Van Pelt

My good friend and radio show host Cam Stewart always made me laugh when he would pick BVP. Who’s laughing now? Van Pelt has thrown down a tremendous career year here in 2010, and I think he very well could get a win in one of these playoff events.

BVP has made 19 out of 22 cuts this year and has an impressive 10 top 25 finishes. What is truly impressive are his five top five finishes this year. Yes, ladies and gentleman, BVP has indeed been an earner for us in the gambling world this year, finally validating all of that potential we all knew he had.

Look at these impressive digits:

- 13th in FedEx Cup Points

- 22nd in GIR at 69.44 percent

- Ninth in Scoring Average at 69.94 strokes per round

- 17th in All Around Ranking

- 11th in Par Breakers at 22.22 percent

- Second in Birdies made at 325 on the year

- 14th in Ball Striking

- Third in Par Four Performance at -24 strokes on the year

BVP has had some nice finishes at The Barclays over the years as well, so this could be a great time to strike on this guy. He is a staggering 66:1 odds of winning, so I think we have caught the book makers sleeping here.

No. 6: Rickie Fowler

You guys know the drill. If he’s in the field, he’s in the six pack. There is just no telling when this kid is going to rocket to the top of the leader board and claim his first win. Although his recent play has been somewhat lackluster, I think he can avoid a cut this week and make a run.

Fowler has seven top 25 finishes this year and has yielded us some nice dough on his four top five finishes this year.

Look at Fowler’s numbers:

- 19th in FedEx Cup Points

- 15th in GIR at 70.05 percent

- 24th in Total driving

- 16th in Ball Striking

He may be my long shot this week, and at a killer 90:1 odds, I am okay with that.

No matter who you like this week, good luck to you and hit ‘em straight.