There are quality events on both sides of the Atlantic this week in the golfing world.
The BMW Championship is the penultimate FedEx Cup event and takes place in Philadelphia for the first time.
The event features the top-70 golfers from the FedEx Cup rankings, and due to the limited field there is no cut after two days as the players look to seal a place in the top-30 ahead of next week’s Tour Championship – although the top-21 places have already been seed leaving just nine spots available.
In Europe, the Omega Masters has long proved one of the most popular on the calendar with the players enjoying the stunning scenery of the Swiss Alps and as such it has an impressive field.
See below as we run through the tournaments for you including facts, odds and picks from our own golfing professional Cliff Jackson and Betfair.
BMW CHAMPIONSHIP – FEDEX CUP
FIELD: The FedEx Cup is now down to the final 70 and offers a truly high calibre field as they look to qualify for the Tour Championship. World number one Dustin Johnson is once again the favourite, with defending champion Marc Leishman looking to be the first man to successfully defend the title. There is one mouthwatering looking group with Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods playing together.
QUOTES:A lot of eyes will be on Fowler this week having missed the first two events due to injury, but now he is back and looking to book his place at the Tour Championship at East Lake.
“We have some work to do this week and I think, ultimately, I’d like to not just get into East Lake but put myself in a good position to have a chance there,” Fowler said.
?? ⏰ – 11:30 a.m. #BMWCHAMPS pic.twitter.com/z8md1ePH9g
— BMW Championship (@BMWchamps) September 5, 2018
OMEGA MASTERS
FIELD: Despite the world’s best being in America, there are a host of top players in the Swiss Alps this week with defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick the favourite.
QUOTES: “I’I feel like I have been playing solidly all year really, I’ve just not had any momentum or anything go my way, and not making the important putts unfortunately,” he said.
“Hopefully I can do that this week and kick on for the rest of the year and pick up a win.”
Amazing view coming into Crans Montana this evening!! Can’t wait to defend this week @omegaEUmasters! pic.twitter.com/sl7nlz2uPx
— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) September 2, 2018
Our resident golf expert is Cliff Jackson. Cliff is a leading youth coach and PGA professional at the famed Seaton Carew Links – one of the oldest courses in the world.
A couple of cracking events this week they really are something to look forward to.
In Switzerland and I firmly believe that Matt Fitzpatrick will put up a cracking defence to his title.
Over in Philly, and aother great line-up and I believe that the returning Rickie Fowler will go close.
We caught up with Betfair’s Joe Dyer to get their views on this week’s action
It’s the penultimate leg of the FedEx Cup and the field has been cut to 70 golfers but the quality remains ultra-high. As seems to have been the case whenever he lines up this season, Dustin Johnson is the man to beat, sitting top of the betting on the Betfair Sportsbook at 8/1.
We are paying out down to fifth place on the PGA Tour this week and there will be plenty of punters taking the 12/1 on Justin Rose and Justin Thomas or the 14/1 on Brooks Koepka or Rory McIlroy. Bryson Dechambeau is the world’s hottest golfer right now and the 16/1 on the American landing a hat-trick of wins will tempt more than a few.
Elsewhere, Jordan Spieth is 18/1 while a trio of golfers can be backed at 20/1 – Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day and Tiger Woods.
The European Tour serves up one of the season’s highlights – the Omega European Masters played at the gorgeous Crans-sur-Sierre layout in the Swiss Alps.
Matthew Fitzpatrick loves this venue, winning at the course last year and finishing runner-up in 2015, and is 10/1 to take first place again. Behind him are 20/1 Thomas Pieters, the 22/1 trio of Charl Schwartzel, Lucas Bjerregaard and Matt Wallace with Lee Westwood, at 25/1, rounding out the list of favourites.
