With all the majors now out of the way, the top 125 players on the PGA Tour will now be turning their attention to the playoffs. The first tournament in the race for the FedEx Cup goes this weekend at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, with a prize pool sitting at around $9 million. It’s a huge event for a variety of different reasons, so perhaps no real surprise that we are looking at a star-studded line-up for this one.
You need only look back at the previous winners of this event to see just how big it is. The goal of every player on the Tour is to oust Justin Rose as the champion and take the FedEx Cup, and that challenge begins this Thursday, August 8. Let’s take a look at some of the golf betting favorites for this one.
The Northern Trust 2019 Odds, Preview & Expert Pick
- Where: Varies – Jersey City, New Jersey
- Established: 1967
- Tour: PGA
- Course: Liberty National Golf Club
- Par: 71
- Length: 7,319 yards
- Format: Stroke play
- Prize fund: $9.0 million
- TV: Golf Channel / CBS
- Live Stream: Golf.tv
Brooks Koepka
- The Northern Trust 2019 Odds: +800
It has been a truly remarkable season for Brooks Koepka, who is currently the #1 player in the world, not to mention the gut currently occupying the top spot in the FedEx Cup standings. With a win at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational in his last outing, Koepka now has 3 wins on the season, a career-best, and he now has to be considered the favorite to go on an take the FedEx Cup this season.
It’s a tough one to win, though, as he will be facing the best players on the Tour every single week for the remainder of the season. He has been top 5 in each of his last 2 events, so no reason to expect any less this weekend.
Rory McIlroy
- The Northern Trust 2019 Odds: +1100
The last couple of seasons have seen the Irishman have periods of inconsistency, due in large part to his having to deal with several different injuries. It has been all systems go for McIlroy this season, and it is fair to suggest that the results have borne out his fitness level.
McIlroy comes into this event with a pair of wins to his name, including a big one at the Players Championship, while also landing in the top 10 on no less than 12 different occasions. It is that level of consistency that makes him a threat in every single event that he plays in.
Dustin Johnson
- The Northern Trust 2019 Odds: +1100
It can be argued that Johnson’s best seasons are behind him, but to completely ignore this player would definitely be a mistake. He has just 1 win on the PGA Tour this season, but he has come close on a number of different occasions, landing in the top 10 in 7 different tournaments.
That lone win is a big drop from the 4 wins that he managed just 2 seasons ago, but the fact that he remains the #2 player in the world should be enough to tell you that he is still a good bet. It’s also worth noting that he has won twice at this event in previous years.
John Rahm
- The Northern Trust 2019 Odds: +1600
If you want to talk about consistency in the game of golf, look no further than Jon Rahm. Over the past couple of seasons, the Spaniard has consistently been in the top 10, but as good as he has been, he has not really been able to translate that consistency into wins.
It is easy to forget, though, that Rahm is still just 24 years of age, which suggests that his best years are still ahead of him. He does have 1 win this season and has landed in the top 10 at 10 different events.
Last 10 The Northern Trust Champions
- 2018: Bryson DeChambeau
- 2017: Dustin Johnson
- 2016: Patrick Reed
- 2015: Jason Day
- 2014: Hunter Mahan
- 2013: Adam Scott
- 2012: Nick Watney
- 2011: Dustin Johnson
- 2010: Matt Kuchar
- 2009: Heath Slocum
