Fantasy League: The Barclays preview
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The Today’s Golfer Fantasy League is staying in America for the FedEx Cup play-offs, starting with The Barclays.
The top 125 players in the FedEx Cup standings have qualified for the event and only Charl Schwartzel and JB Holmes (who is due to undergo non-invasive brain surgery) will not be in the field.
With $10 million on the line for the winner of the FedEx Cup and only the top 100 players in the standings advancing to the next tournament, the pressure is on and everyone will be hoping for a fast start.
The Barclays moves venue each year and is being held at Plainfield CC, Edison, New Jersey, this week, so previous form in this event is of relatively minor importance other than to indicate if players perform at this important time of the year.
The course is a par 71 that measures under 7,000 yards so length off the tee is not a massive factor. Accuracy off the tee and distance control with irons are likely to hold greater importance as heavy rain means the rough could be pretty nasty and turtleback greens will punish inaccurate approaches.
TG’s six-man Fantasy League team for The Barclays is:
Jason Day, $2.4m
The young Australian has had a great year, despite not winning, that has taken him into the world’s top 10. He has six top 10s in his last 10 starts and tends to peak for the big events.
Matt Kuchar, $3.6m
He’s the defending champion, although it was at a different course last year. Enters this week off the back of a pair of T19s at the Bridgestone Invitational and USPGA Championship.
Adam Scott, $2.8m
Scott is very much back to his best with the long putter in his bag and is riding high on confidence right now. He’s 13th on the PGA Tour in total driving, which should set up plenty of birdie opportunities.
John Senden, $1.1m
Starts the play-offs at a solid 50th in the FedEx Cup standings. He’s 4th on the PGA Tour in Greens in Regulation and is trending well with top 20s in his last two events.
Webb Simpson, $1.4m
He won the Wyndham Championship last week to top off a run of seven top 16s in eight starts. He leads the Tour in all-around ranking and his level of consistency should see him ride the wave rather than suffer a hangover this week.
Steve Stricker, $3.6m
It may still only be August but ‘Mr September’ peaks for the play-offs. Leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting, scrambling, birdie average, actual scoring average and par-4 scoring and is on a run of 11 consecutive top 20s, including two wins.
> You can register for the free Today’s Golfer Fantasy League and pick your team here.
