Tour News
Deutsche Bank Championship: Picks and Preview
The PGA Tour heads from just outside one of our nation’s great cities to just south of another this week, as the second leg of the FedExCup playoffs comes to TPC Boston.
The Gil Hanse-rehabilitated 7,207-yard par-71 track, plays host to the top 100 players in the FedExCup rankings. All 100 will be looking to go low in Norton, as TPC Boston played as the fourth-easiest of all par 71s on tour last year (70.647).
This week’s winner will likely need to shoot in the vicinity of 20-under for the competition in order to become the second winner of a FedExCup playoff event in 2013. At a track that’s not overly demanding, proximity on approaches and quality putting will be key this week.
Catch the Deutsche Bank Championship on TV by tuning in to:
- Friday and Saturday: Golf Channel 3-6 p.m. ET
- Sunday: Golf Channel 1-2:30 p.m., NBC 3-6 p.m. ET
- Monday: Golf Channel 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., NBC 1-6 p.m. ET
Here’s a look at who the oddsmakers favor to win in Norton and a pick to win.
Tiger Woods: 13-2 odds*
Assuming the world No. 1 puts a peg in the ground this week, he’ll be the favorite to win the event. Most recently at the Deutsche Bank Championship, Tiger tied for 10th (twice) and finished third. Woods’ results have been mixed lately. Or, if you prefer, he’s continued the pattern established in the years succeeding his 2008 U.S. Open win: quality play in Tour events, lackluster play in majors (particularly on the weekends). Most recently, after a commanding performance at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Woods sputtered at the PGA Championship, finishing tied for 40th.
The issue for Tiger this week, of course, will be his ailing back. If he plays, you can bet its because he’s been told that doing so won’t further damage his back or compromise his play in the future. Alternatively, the top-ranked golfer’s dorsal region could be improving. Whatever the case, Woods will persevere with his trademark mettle.
However, it’s difficult to see Tiger going low across four days to win this thing. Regardless, he’s played the course well enough (third last year) in recent memory that it’s difficult to see him finishing too far off the lead with what he has in his toolbox.
Adam Scott: 10-1 odds
The winner of last week’s playoff event, Adam Scott won at TPC Boston in 2003 and finished tied for seventh last year on the strength of a final-round 66. TPC Boston is a course which has some strange sight lines and rewards experienced players. There’s no one element that’s particularly challenging about the Arnold Palmer layout, so it’s likely that a great/hot putter will lift the trophy this week.
Adam Scott has not been a great putter historically. However, he’s positioned at 84th in strokes gained-putting currently, and more importantly, is picking up strokes on the field (.076) with the flatstick for the first time since 2007. On paper, and given his recent form, Scott has the best chance to win this tournament. However, the statistical improbability of back-to-back wins makes it difficult to see this year’s Masters champions emerging victorious.
Phil Mickelson: 12-1 odds
Phil has a lot of good things going for him this week. He’s coming off a quality ballstriking week at Liberty National, where he finished tied for sixth. He’s been putting out of his mind this year (currently fifth in strokes gained-putting) and he finished inside the top 10 at the Deutsche Bank Championship the past two years. Additionally, he won at TPC Boston in 2007.
Given all these elements, Phil could do very well in this event. However, the 43-year-old has competed for four consecutive weeks. Even with the controlled/contained nature of his psoriatic arthritis, he has to be fatigued. It’s difficult to see Phil being able to summon enough to win this week in Norton. Even so, if he can dig deep enough and gets hot with the putter on Friday or Saturday, I could see him riding a wave of momentum to a win.
Rory McIlroy: 14-1 odds
It’s strange how, in the span of a year, Rory McIlroy has gone from being a lock to play well every time he tees it up to a perceived wildcard. Really, McIlroy’s 2013 (while lacking a victory) has been decent. His average finish has been around 25th place. Yet, as he was expected to succeed Tiger Woods to the throne, this year has been a disappointment. His top-10 finish at the PGA Championship elicited whispers that the golfer might be rounding into form and a second-round 65 at The Barclays last week was encouraging.
McIlroy won the Deutsche Bank last year, and his performance this week will showcase either a Woods-ian ability to play incredibly well at the same courses/events year after year, regardless of larger performance trends, or serve as a contrast to how far the boy wonder is off his late 2012 form.
Keegan Bradley: 33-1 odds
In case you were somehow unaware, Keegan Bradley is a native New Englander and a big Boston sports fan. Born in Woodstock, Vermont, Bradley moved to Hopkinton, Mass., for his senior year prior to heading off to Queens to attend St. John’s University. While attending high school in Hopkinton he won the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division 2 individual state championship in 2004.
Bradley tied for 13th at the Deutsche Bank Championship last year after missing the cut in his previous attempt. This points to a level of comfort with a course that can take a while to warm up to. His average proximity from the hole on approaches from 150-175 yards (28′ 2″), as well as his average approaches from 125-150 yards (24′ 11″) are worrying. However, he’s made a lot of birdies this year, averaging 3.7 per round (24th on tour), and his putting has been solid (47th in strokes gained putting).
On a spell of good form, excited to be playing near Boston, warming up to the TPC course, and motivated by his buddy Jason Dufner’s recent PGA Championship win, Keegan Bradley could surprise this week.
*odds courtesy of Bovada
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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B MAC
Aug 29, 2013 at 6:17 am
Go Rory Scotty and Keegan !!!