The money list: Top tips for the Dell Technologies Championship

30 Aug

Jack Green

We make our best outright and each-way picks as TPC Boston hosts the second event of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Course guide

The Dell Technologies Championship – formerly known as the Deutsche Bank Championship – has been held at TPC Boston since its inception in 2003.

The 7,342-yard par-71 features wide, open fairways but the fescue rough is particularly penal, so those who drive the ball long and accurately are rewarded.

The event’s leader in total driving has finished inside the top 10 on eight occasions since 2003.

The greens are small and fast, so shots gained from putting is an important statistic, as well as greens in regulation percentage.

Back to win

Hideki Matsuyama –

Matsuyama has a real chance of winning his first FedEx Cup event here despite missing the cut at the Northern Trust last weekend.

Rory McIlroy won this event last year on the back of a missed cut at the PGA Championship and a T31 at the Barclays, so a spotless run of form going in clearly isn’t essential.

In fact, only one of the last seven winners here had previously finished in the top 10 at the FedEx Cup’s first playoff event.

Matsuyama has been playing well recently with five consecutive top-15s prior to last weekend, including his win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

His 15th last year was his highest ever finish at TPC Boston, and he should be able to better that this year given he ranks 16th in total driving, 10th in greens in regulation and 12th in approach play.

Each-way shouts

Patrick Reed –

Reed has found form after really struggling throughout the first half of the season, with six top-20s in his last nine starts including a T2 at the PGA Championship.

The American was right in contention at the Northern Trust last week before a final round of 75 dropped him to 20th, and he’s good value to challenge again this weekend.

Reed has finished in the top five in each of his last two starts at this course, and seems to enjoy the playoffs having won the Barclays last year.

He’s always been a good putter but has really caught fire on the greens recently, and now ranks ninth on the PGA Tour.

Should he maintain that kind of performance, he should be among the contenders again on Sunday.

Sergio Garcia –

Garcia hasn’t been in great form since his win at the Masters in April, although he did finish second at the BMW International Open in June and has only missed one cut all year.

The world No. 7 missed the Northern Trust last weekend, but should make a good return at a course that suits him.

Currently ranked 10th in total driving, 15th in GIR and 38th in scrambling, it’s no surprise that he’s finished inside the top five in two of his last five appearances at this event.

It’s rare that you’ll be able to back Garcia at such a long price, and, given how well he’s played this season, he’s worth an each-way bet.

Outside bet

Russell Henley –

Henley brought in a winner for this column at the Houston Open back in April, and his showing at the Northern Trust suggests he could do the same this weekend.

The American surged into the lead with a 64 on day one and looked on course for a top-10 finish until a final round of 73 dropped him to 25th.

Ranking 24th in shots gained from putting, 10th in total driving and 25th in GIR, Henley has the all-round game that is required to do well at TPC Boston.

He finished second at this event in 2014 and is a great bet at a big price to contend again.