There’s a decent field assembled for the PGA Tour’s third Fall Series event, the McGladrey Classic on the Seaside course at Sea Island, Georgia.
There’s also an interesting sub-plot to this week with Webb Simpson teeing up in his bid to overhaul Luke Donald at the top of the US Money List standings. The American needs just $68,971 to overtake the Englishman (who is absent) and a top-10 finish would be sufficient. Simpson is a best-priced 7/4 (Bwin) to finish top dog and 14/1 favourite with Ladbrokes to pocket first place prize money this week.
With Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III closely involved in setting this event up, there are several other Ryder Cup hopefuls in the field out to impress, including Matt Kuchar (18/1 bet365), Rickie Fowler (22/1 Victor Chandler), fresh from his victory in Korea, and Charles Howell III (25/1 William Hill). There’s European interest too with Graeme McDowell and Paul Casey in the line-up.
We should also see plenty of birdies as the course ranked as the fifth-easiest of the par-70s played on Tour last season with a scoring average of 69.36. As you’d expect from a seaside layout, the wind will be a factor on the more exposed parts, but conditions will be relatively benign and the winning score will around the 14-under total achieved by defending champ Heath Slocum.
My Three Against The Field:-
Rickie Fowler @ 22/1 bet365
Obviously, there’s plenty of incentive for Simpson to play well this week and he does have course experience under his belt, having finished 12th last year. He’s a worthy favourite but he will have his hands full with this field and I much prefer Fowler at 22/1. I know what you are thinking: that’s a short price for a Tour maiden. However, he arrives here with plenty of confidence after a six-stroke victory over Rory McIlroy and, while he didn’t play last year, he did win a junior’s event here in 2006 and rates this course as one of his favourites. Having tipped him up and backed him several times this year, it’s time for Rickie to deliver and I’m hopeful he will be up to the task. Plus, if you followed last week’s advice and backed Bryce Molder, you will be playing with bookies money!
Graeme McDowell @ 33/1 Ladbrokes
Molder (40/1 Stan James) was tempting given how well he played in California and it would be no surprise to see him go well again but the Northern Irishman is better suited to the windy conditions and the fact he is making his Fall Series debut here
is significant. Granted, he hasn’t really scaled the same heights as when winning last season’s US Open, but he’s coming off third place in the Dunhill Links, his first top-10 since March, and if he has indeed “turned the corner”, he really should be in the mix.
Carl Pettersson @ 50/1 Paddy Power
The Swede gets my final pick at a standout 50/1. Given his good run of form – has twice finished in the frame in his last five outings – and his proven track record on seaside courses - 4th at Kapalua and 5th at Waialee – that price looks on the generous side. He’ll be hungry too as a win here would catapult him into the Tour’s top-30 and the world’s top-64, thus ensuring he gets to play in all the big money events, including the WGC event in Shanghai in November.
Recommended Bets:-
Rickie Fowler 2pts each-way @ 22/1 bet365
Graeme McDowell 1pt each-way @ 33/1 Ladbrokes
Carl Pettersson 1pt each-way @ 50/1 Paddy Power
