Updated Odds for the FedEx Cup: Handicapping the Chances for Top Golfers
The FedEx Cup tees off this week from Plainfield Country Club. Beyond speculating who will win the first playoff event, the Barclays, it's fitting to ask: Who's going to win the Cup?
We'll take a look at the big names near the top of the standings and assess their chances for a cup victory (with the help of a survey of major sports books) and provide an overview of recent play.
The top three golfers in the FedEx Cup standings are Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Bubba Watson. Which of these three golfers has the best chance of taking home the Cup?
Read on to find out.
Jimmy Walker
1 of 8
FedEx Cup standing: 4
Odds: 350-1
Recent finishes: The Open Championship: T30; Quicken Loans National: T21; WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: T53; PGA Championship: Cut
Jimmy Walker hasn't been playing the best golf of his 2014-2015 PGA Tour season as we enter the playoffs. He has, however, won twice this season and made 18 of 20 cuts. Walker finished seventh in the FedEx Cup last year after engaging in a similar late-season lull.
Expect him to make cuts and continue on to the Tour Championship, but he'll need a shot in the arm if he's going to have a chance at winning the Cup.
Rickie Fowler
2 of 8
FedEx Cup standing: 15
Odds: 200-1
Recent finishes: The Open Championship: T30; Quicken Loans National: 2; WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: T10; PGA Championship: T30
While he did good work at the Quicken Loans National and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Rickie Fowler didn't impress at either of the season's final two majors. While not particularly excellent in any one statistical area, Fowler has five top-10 finishes in 17 starts on the PGA Tour this year. Fowler finished ninth in the FedEx Cup last year.
Bubba Watson
3 of 8
FedEx Cup standing: 3
Odds: 160-1
Recent finishes: The Open Championship: Cut; RBC Canadian Open: 2; WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: 2; PGA Championship: 21
Bubba Watson's recent play is similar to his friend Rickie Fowler's: good form in his two recent non-major events, but lackluster play in the major championships. Watson, who leads the tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green certainly has the firepower to tackle any course.
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Justin Rose
4 of 8
FedEx Cup standing: 5
Odds: 150-1
Recent finishes: The Open Championship: T6; Quicken Loans National: T4; WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: T3; PGA Championship: 4
Justin Rose's game has been on point in recent starts. The only question entering the playoffs is can he sustain the run of impressive form?
Rose is fifth on tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green and fifth in strokes gained: total. He has finished inside the top 10 in the final FedEx Cup standings the last five years, so the probability based on that and his recent form is that the Englishman is destined to repeat that achievement this year.
Dustin Johnson
5 of 8
FedEx Cup standing: 3
Odds: 120-1
Recent finishes: The Open Championship: T49; WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: T53; PGA Championship: T7
Dustin Johnson has made 14 of 17 cuts this season with eight top-10 finishes. His play in the most recent two major championships wasn't particularly impressive, but as the tour leader in driving distance and ranked fifth in scoring average, Johnson is capable on any course.
As the defending champion at Plainfield Country Club, Johnson seems destined for a strong showing this week. Assuming he performs and given his ranking in this FedEx Cup, he'll be well positioned for a playoff run.
Rory McIlroy
6 of 8
FedEx Cup standing: 9
Odds: 90-1
Recent finishes: The Players Championship: T8; Wells Fargo Championship: 1; U.S. Open: T9; PGA Championship: 17
Entering the playoffs, the obvious question regarding Rory McIlroy surrounds the integrity of his ankle and the effects of a monthlong layoff. McIlroy finished 17th at the PGA Championship after returning to competition.
If he's fit and free of rust, McIlroy is the most talented golfer on the planet. However, with just one start in the month-and-a-half leading up to the playoffs, it's impossible to place him at better odds than the two players playing better golf ahead of him in this list.
Jason Day
7 of 8
FedEx Cup standing: 2
Odds: 55-1
Recent finishes: The Open Championship: T4; RBC Canadian Open: 1; WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: T12; PGA Championship: 1
With two (nearly three) wins in his last three starts, Jason Day is maintaining a torrid pace entering the playoffs. He has three wins and eight top-10 finishes this season and leads the tour in birdie average.
Jordan Spieth
8 of 8
FedEx Cup standing: 1
Odds: 16-1
Recent finishes: John Deere Classic: 1; The Open Championship: T4; WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: T10; PGA Championship: 2
Jordan Spieth finished 15th in the FedEx Cup playoffs last season in the first playoff appearance of his young career. Second on tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green and first in strokes gained: total, Spieth has the ability to contend on any track.
With four wins and 14 top-10 finishes in 21 starts this season, contend is exactly what Jordan Spieth has done.
Stats via PGATour.com
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