Expert picks for the Travelers Championship

ATLANTA – Paul Casey sits in his post round press conference and awaits the question. He knows it is coming. He’s already answered it 100 times but he knows, it’s coming again. Or at least some version of it. “How can you turn all these close calls into a win?â€� “What have you learned from the close calls you can use tomorrow?â€� “What would it mean to finally close the deal after so many close calls?â€� “How have you managed the frustration of coming so close so often?â€� Whichever way you spin it – the fact Casey has nine top 10s in the FedExCup Playoffs, including three runner ups, without winning one – has become a hot topic. In his last eight FedExCup Playoff events, he has six top-5 results. In the last two Playoff seasons he’s 80-under par, the best of anyone. He has 28 of 31 rounds in the FedExCup Playoffs at par or better since the start of 2016. In his last three seasons, he has 23 top 10s on the PGA TOUR but still only boasts the 2009 Shell Houston Open as his lone victory in the USA. The Englishman does have 12 career European Tour wins, so it is not as if he’s foreign to the top spot. The last of those though came at the KLM Open in 2014. But now he stands on the edge of ending the drought, and perhaps doing it in dramatic fashion. After opening the TOUR Championship 66-67-65 he sits at 12-under par and in the lead alone. He’s two shots clear of Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele and five shots clear of the next best contenders in Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas. He could not only win the event, but also the season long FedExCup. “I don’t get frustrated when you ask. I take it as motivation. I take it as a compliment and then take a serious look at it as to okay, how can I make it happen. Because if you didn’t think I was capable, you wouldn’t ask me,â€� Casey said of the constant questioning as he faces a potentially restless night sleeping on the lead. The 39-year-old says many of his top-10 finishes haven’t really been true great opportunities. This one is. And given he has been to East Lake three times before and finished T4 (2010), T5 (2015) and 4th (2016) in those campaigns, he’s feeling confident. Not only is he in the box seat to win the TOUR Championship, but currently he is projected to also claim the season long FedExCup given the leaderboard. Coming in at 10th on the points list Casey needs to win the TOUR Championship and hope for the following help… Jordan Spieth needs to finish in a 3-way tie for 4th or worse. Spieth sits T13. Justin Thomas needs to finish T3 or worse. Thomas sits T4. Dustin Johnson needs to finish in a 3-way tie for 2nd or worse. Johnson is T13. Marc Leishman needs to finish T2 or worse. Leishman is T22. Jon Rahm can force a playoff for the FedExCup if he is 2nd alone behind Casey. Rahm is T6. “It would be amazing. I haven’t thought about it too much because I’m just trying to get the job done,â€� he added about the prospect of the FedExCup trophy and $10 million bonus. “Certainly it would be very satisfying knowing that I’ve had ups and downs in my career and this would be the biggest victory of my career.â€� Fellow Englishman Justin Rose, who also has desires of winning but sits seven shots back in a tie for ninth, knows it must be tough for his friend. “He’s had a great season. I think that’s obviously what’s got to be on his mind, when is it going to convert to a victory, for sure,â€� Rose said.  “He’s been knocking on the door and he loves this golf course. This is obviously a place he feels very comfortable so it could be good timing for him as well if he keeps playing well.â€� Casey has been the 54-hole leader twice on TOUR, converting one time in Houston over eight years ago. He averages 68.77 on Thursday’s this season on the PGA TOUR, ranked 1st on TOUR. Come Sunday its 70.33 which has him T67th on TOUR. The reason, he says, is putting too much pressure on himself. As such he will try to remain as relaxed as possible in the final round. “I’m probably trying too hard and maybe taking risks that are probably unnecessary,â€� Casey explained. “I have to hit fairways, I have to continue to hit quality tee shots. Same attitude. Maybe I’ll be a bit more nervous… It’s all those things. It’s just sort of maintaining the process. If I do that, then fingers crossed, everything takes care of itself.â€� The shakiness over the last few years gives life to the chasers. Jason Day, who will start six shots back in a tie for seventh, was ready to apply the heat. “That kind of gives us a little bit of hope knowing that he’s probably had opportunities before and hasn’t quite got over the line,â€� Day said.  “You never want to wish something bad against someone, but obviously if you can get yourself in contention and kind of capitalize on maybe the experiences that he’s had since 2009, he hasn’t won, that’s just how the game works.â€� Casey feels he’s ready to stand up to the heat this time. It won’t be long and we’ll know.

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SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – There are certainly plenty of perks if you’re Rory McIlroy. The former FedExCup champion has elicited jealousy amongst the hundreds of thousands of golf fans who will converge on Long Island this week for the U.S. Open when revealing his preparations. After finishing up at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide 10 days ago the 2011 U.S. Open champion heading straight for Long Island – but not just to play the stunning Shinnecock Hills that hosted the 1896, 1986, 1995 and 2004 national championships and will again this year. Rather than just grind at the host course – which is already one many would pay an arm and a leg to play – McIlroy concocted a schedule that is the envy of many casual golfer. In an effort to add fun to his pre Open prep McIlroy took friends to play at local gems like The National Golf Links of America, Friar’s Head and Garden City Golf Club. “For maybe five or six years, I never played fun golf. It was all to do with getting ready to play tournaments, and I didn’t understand people that went out and played a lot,â€� McIlroy explained. “But basically, it’s been since my dad became a member at Seminole, and I was able to go over and play a lot of golf with him, that I really started to enjoy fun golf again and playing these different courses. “It’s a real treat to be able to show up at any golf course in the country or the world and get out and play it and have a bit of fun.â€� After playing the BMW PGA Championship in England and then the Memorial McIlroy said he’d played 18 of the last 19 days. Even on Saturday, the day he didn’t play, he walked around Shinnecock with his wedge and putter for a little more reconnaissance. But the last 10 days had recharged him, rather than drain his energy levels. “It does put you in a different frame of mind. You’re relaxed out there, and maybe that sort of bleeds into your mindset whenever you’re here in a big championship,â€� the 14-time PGA TOUR winner said. “It’s no different. I think that’s the thing. If I’ve got a shot that I need to execute under pressure here this week, it’s no different than playing that shot when I’m out there playing with my dad or my buddies. “So obviously, there is a separation of the two, but the more you can get into that mindset of being relaxed and enjoying it, the better you’re going to play.â€� Playing fun golf also allowed McIlroy to use his imagination a little more. Having won the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard this season and having put himself in the final group Sunday at the Masters, McIlroy comes to Shinnecock confident. “I’m hitting the ball well. I’m playing well. Especially in the wind and the conditions that are around here, you sort of get used to the different ball flights,â€� he said. “And especially in some of the golf courses I’ve played, you’re seeing different shots, and you’re having to use a bit of imagination around the greens. So it’s been quite good in that way. “I’m just looking forward to getting started tomorrow. I’m happy I’ve got an early tee time. It feels like I’ve been here for quite a while, so anxious to get started tomorrow. It should be a great week.â€�

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Jon Rahm’s victory over Tiger Woods has moved Europe ever closer to the 14½ points required to recapture the Ryder Cup in Paris.

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