The FedEx Cup rolls on and the second leg of the tournament will see the action broadcast from Delaware. Wilmington Country Club will stage a FedEx Cup playoff event and the field has been slashed to 70 players, with only the top 30 making their way to East Lake for the finale — the Tour Championship — next week.
Zalatoris Won The FedEx St Jude Invitational
Will Zalatoris held his nerve at the FedEx St Jude Invitational, as he produced three clutch putts to pick up his maiden PGA Tour title, and he will be one to watch this week. Meanwhile, Australian Cameron Smith will be absent after withdrawing from the BMW Championship with a lingering hip problem. Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Scottie Scheffler will be looking to bounce back after missed cuts at TPC Southwind.
As always, the BMW Championship will make for absorbing viewing, and here are a few stats to bear in mind:
- Three of the last four editions of the BMW Championship have been decided by a playoff.
- Wilmington Country Club has hosted six USGA events in the past, along with the Palmer Cup competition in 2013.
- Patrick Cantlay is the defending champion after edging out Bryson DeChambeau in a dramatic six-hole playoff 12 months ago.
- The winner receives 2,000 FedEx Cup points.
- Jim Furyk holds the 18-hole record for this event (59) which he carded in the second round in 2013.
With sports fans flocking to the leading US online betting sites to place wagers, we have selected a few tips for you to chew over ahead of the first tee.
Justin Thomas to get back into the winner’s circle
It has been an exceptional year to date for Justin Thomas, who has already safely stowed away the PGA Championship and he’s that type of player who can just explode at any given moment. Although he came home in T13 at the FedEx St Jude Invitational, we all know what he is capable of. Along with his Major victory, he has secured nine top-10 finishes, and in many of the key performance indicators, he has shone. For example, he ranks third for strokes gained from tee to green (1.743) and he is 15th for strokes gained off the tee (.566).
Around 200 yards in distance has been added to Wilmington, which now plays as a par-71 (7,534 yards), there are some treacherous pin positions, including the 15th which is a par 3 and is flanked by water. However, Thomas is very strong with his irons, and he can take some of the hazards out of play with his inch-perfect approaches. He is always a danger in the field, and he could well enter the winner’s circle, and shoot up the FedEx Cup standings.
If you fancy Thomas to deliver the goods this week, then he’s available at an intriguing if not slightly long +1600 with BetMGM.
Discard a playoff this time
While a cursory glance at the stats shows that the BMW Championship has a propensity to stage a playoff, it may not be the same story this time around. Rather, we expect things to be wrapped up in the regulation 72 holes. Having plumped for Thomas to emerge victorious, he could well be a wire-to-wire winner. He’s a good frontrunner and if he can get his nose in front in the early stages, he will step his foot on the gas, and he could win by a couple of strokes.
A wire-to-wire winner has been priced up at +1200 by BetMGM, which may be worth exploring further.
Back an ace in Round 1
We like a good special, and although Wilmington is one of the longest courses on the Tour, there may well be a few fireworks in Round 1. And it could see a hole-in-one carded. BetMGM has been quick off the mark with this special, and you can get a price of +800 for there to be a hole-in-one.
