Expert Picks: Barbasol Championship

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THE OVERVIEW OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The FedExCup Playoffs are accustomed to starting in unknown territory. For the fourth time in 11 years, the opening event will be held on a course making its PGA TOUR debut. That means no track record, no horses for courses this week. A field of 120 players will tee off Thursday at Glen Oaks. Any one of them could find an immediate liking to the 7,346-yard layout and make the first big move towards the FedExCup. Don’t be surprised if this week’s winner of THE NORTHERN TRUST is, well, a surprise. “No one’s ever seen it,â€� said Justin Thomas, the current No. 2 seed. “We don’t know what to expect.â€� Added 2015 FedExCup champ Jordan Spieth about a new course: “It brings in more of the field.â€� Consider the 2009 Playoffs. The opening event was held at Liberty National for the first time. Heath Slocum, who entered that week ranked No. 124 in points – in other words, next to last – beat Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker by a stroke. As a result, Slocum moved to third in points. That 121-position increase remains the biggest jump in Playoffs history, and Slocum remains the poster boy for the FedExCup’s version of the Hail Mary. On the flip side, defending FedExCup champ Rory McIlroy usually struggles out of the gate in the Playoffs – in part, he says, because he lacks familiarity with the courses. He was T-56 in his first look at Ridgefield and T-19 in his first start at Liberty National. He’s won each of the other three Playoffs events at least once – and twice at TPC Boston, next week’s venue — but he’s never come close to winning THE NORTHERN TRUST. “I think I’ve always been comfortable around the golf course in Boston,â€� McIlroy explained. “I think here, because the venue changes most years, that’s maybe a factor.â€� That’s not to say the big dogs can’t thrive on a new course. At Ridgewood in 2008, Vijay Singh won a three-man playoff to start his drive toward the FedExCup. And at Plainfield in 2011, with Hurricane Irene barreling toward the area, Dustin Johnson won the tournament shortened to 54 holes. Patrick Reed is this week’s defending champion. Even though he won’t get the opportunity to defend at Bethpage Black, Reed doesn’t consider it a detriment to play a new course. Those with the best form will generally find their way into contention on any course. “If it’s at the same venue, you go in there and sometimes you almost go in too confident,â€� Reed said. “If you’re too comfortable with place, you kind of get lazy around the golf course. “So any time you win, if it’s a new venue, it doesn’t really matter because at the end of the day, whether you know the golf course or you don’t, whoever is hitting the ball the best, whoever is putting the best, whoever is making the lowest score is going to win the golf tournament at the end of the day.â€� THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER Hideki Matsuyama He’s practicing with FIVE putters this week; will decide Thursday on which one to use. Consider it golf’s version of The Bachelor. Rory McIlroy Tiger’s the only two-time FedExCup champ. Will Rory’s body hold up long enough to make a serious run at joining the club? Phil Mickelson Has two chances to play in NYC area in the next six weeks. This one’s guaranteed; the other (Presidents Cup) isn’t – at least not yet. GET TO KNOW GLEN OAKS It’s the first PGA TOUR event this course has hosted. Here’s what you can expect: BOMBERS PARADISE. Course superintendent Craig Currier was asking some of the players earlier this week about their first impressions. “All seem to think it will favor the bombers,â€� he said. The fairways are generous – somewhat like Erin Hills at this year’s U.S. Open. That should bode well for somebody like Brooks Koepka, the winner at Erin Hills. “If the guys can pipe it 330 down every fairway, that’s a big advantage,â€� Currier said. Said Jordan Spieth: “It’s a big hitter’s golf course. Wider fairways, extremely thick rough with big greens. It reminds me of like a Congressional, even like a Muirfield, Jack’s place.â€� UNDULATING POA ANNUA. The comparison is to Bethpage Black except with more movement. “A lot trickier than Bethpage,â€� Currier said. Since the majority of the field have never played Glen Oaks prior to this week, those players who can figure out the poa annua greens the fastest will also have the advantage. Probably not a good sign when Hideki Matsuyama said Tuesday, “That will be challenging for me.â€� Said Currier: “These greens are our best defense. They’ve got a lot of subtle breaks. With these guys not knowing them, I think the greens might surprise them a little bit.â€� 4-INCH ROUGH. Like at Erin Hills, for the tee shots that do miss the generous fairways, a price will be paid. Currier said the 4-inch bluegrass rough will be consistently tough. “If they hit it in the rough this week, it’s going to be truly be a penalty for them,â€� he warned. Said Patrick Reed: “The penalizing part around this place is, you know, hitting in that rough. If you’re playing out of the rough, you’re going to struggle. But if you’re out of the short grass, you’re going to be able to go out and shoot a number.â€� BACK-NINE FIREWORKS. The front nine is 378 yards longer and more difficult than the back nine, Currier said. The par-4 first is nearly 500 yards and to a skinny green. The second is the longest par-3 on the course. The par-5 third is nearly 100 yards longer than its counterpart on the back, and Nos. 4 and 5 are longish par 4s. Meanwhile, Nos. 11, 13, 14 and 18 are scoring holes; 18 particularly for the long hitter. “Somebody could post some low scores on the back,â€� said Currier, who estimates the back nine will play 1-1/2 shots easier than the front. THE FLYOVER Here’s a look at the final three holes at Glen Oaks – the par-4 400-yard 16th, the par-3 233-yard 17th and the par-4 475-yard 18th. THE LANDING ZONE The 11th is a drivable par 4, listed at 323 yards on the scorecard. Water guards the left-side of the dogleg left hole and a small pot bunker left of the green will likely gobble up a few shots, so laying up to the fat part of the fairway will likely be the play. With such a short par 4, birdies should be in abundance, right? Not so fast, said course superintendent Craig Currier. “Even if you lay up there, it’s really easy to spin it in the water,â€� he said. A year ago, Glen Oaks hosted the Met Open – and the 11th was the hardest hole on the course, said Currier, playing to a stroke average of nearly 3/4ths over par. WEATHER CHECK Should be terrific weather all week. Pleasant temperatures. No rain in the forecast, light winds for the most part (picking up a bit on Friday). Winds may shift on Sunday; if so, players may need to adjust. For the complete weather forecast from Old Westbury, New York, check out the PGA TOUR’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I moved into a new house that fall or winter and figured that counted. I was up in the air about potentially buying that house, and then that kind of pushed it. ODDS AND ENDS BACK TO WORK. Justin Thomas is making his start since winning the PGA Championship and moving to No. 2 in FedExCup points. He said winning his first major has yet to set in. “I was shocked by that,â€� he said. “I don’t know if it was because I had so many obligations or just things to kind of do. I never really wanted to celebrate or enjoy it. I just was so tired and I wasn’t in a mood to really do anything.â€� ANY COURSE IS FINE. Dustin Johnson (No. 4 in points) has four top-10s – on three different courses — in his last six starts in this event. He thinks Glen Oaks will offer him a similar opportunity this week to contend. “I really like the golf course,â€� he said Wednesday. “First time seeing it today. I’m a big fan.â€� FEDEXCUP CHAMPS. Vijay Singh (2008) remains the only winner of THE NORTHERN TRUST to go on and win the FedExCup. Two of the last three FedExCup champs have missed the cut in this event – Jordan Spieth in 2015 and Billy Horschel in 2014. A year ago, Rory McIlroy tied for 31st at Bethpage Black. A message from our sponsor: United MileagePlus® members, you can use your award miles to enjoy The Northern Trust from the comfort of the United Airlines Fairway Club, located on the 16th Green. You and a guest will enjoy complimentary food and beverages while watching the top PGA TOUR® players compete. Limited quantities available on-site. Click here for details.

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