2020 The Northern Trust Matchup Odds and Picks
- The PGA Tour plays the first tournament of the FedEx Cup Playoffs in Boston, Massachusetts from Aug 20th-23rd
- Jason Day, Tony Finau, and Gary Woodland are our favorite picks this week at TPC Boston
- Read below to see all tournament matchups available for the 2020 Northern Trust
The Top 125 players in the FedEx Cup standings will take the stage in the first week of the playoffs at TPC Boston in Massachusetts. The stakes are higher than ever this year as the prize for the FedEx Cup Champion is $15 million, with the first test being The Northern Trust.
Bryson DeChambeau, a winner of this event in 2018, is the favorite heading into this week’s tournament at +1100. Patrick Reed won this event last year and his odds sit at +2200 to go back-to-back.
With all the top golfers from this year’s PGA Tour season in Boston this week, there are a lot of interesting matchups. Let’s take a look at the three matchups I’ve pinpointed to wager on.
Collin Morikawa/Jason Day Matchup Odds
| Player | Odds at DraftKings |
|---|---|
| Collin Morikawa | -118 |
| Jason Day | -106 |
All odds taken Aug 19th.
Day’s Form Has Been Impeccable
It might be crazy to bet against the most recent major winner in Collin Morikawa, however, it is hard to let Jason Day go unnoticed. The Australian has been one of the hottest golfers on Tour as of late.
Day finished seventh at the Workday Charity Open, fourth at the Memorial, sixth at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and fourth at the PGA Championship.
Day’s fourth-place finish at the PGA Championship was his best finish in a major since 2016. Although he missed the cut at TPC Boston in 2018, he has played well in years prior. Day has a second-place finish in 2010, third in 2011, seventh in 2014 and 15th in 2016.
When Day’s ball-striking is on, he could be the most confident player on the Tour. That is what happened at TPC Harding Park as he finished second for Greens in Regulation that week.
Morikawa has been nothing short of amazing since the restart in June. That being said, Day has not won since May 2018 and this could be the tournament where that streak is broken. Take the Australian this week.
Pick: Jason Day (-106)
Tony Finau/Dustin Johnson Matchup Odds
| Player | Odds at DraftKings |
|---|---|
| Tony Finau | -106 |
| Dustin Johnson | -118 |
Finau Is Due for a Win
Some might find it shocking that Tony Finau is the 15th ranked golfer in the world with just one PGA Tour victory. However, Finau has always put himself in the best position to win, he just can’t seem to close.
Recently Finau has finished eighth at the Memorial, tied-third at the 3M Open, and tied-fourth at the PGA Championship. On a long 7,300 yard course like TPC Boston, this could be Finau’s week to secure his second victory.
Only two players are ranked top-25 this season in both driving distance and strokes gained on approach shots, which seems like a pretty strong 1-2 punch. Those players? Rory McIlroy and Tony Finau, who aren’t exactly piling up trophies. Interpret all of this as you so choose.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) August 17, 2020
With Finau’s distance and exquisite ball striking, you would think the problem is his putting. However, he ranks 11th in Putting Average in the last eight events on the PGA Tour. Unfortunately for Finau, players have just been better in crunch time to beat him (ex. Morikawa at the PGA).
With his swing coach Boyd Summerhays now on the bag, Finau has shown a lot more poise and patience on the golf course, which will benefit him in an extremely competitive tournament like the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Dustin Johnson has played well at this event finishing seventh last year, but I believe Finau will have at least a Top 10 finish to win this matchup. If the 30-year-old’s game comes around down the stretch on Sunday he could be looking at this second PGA Tour victory.
Pick: Tony Finau (-106)
Gary Woodland/Scottie Scheffler Matchup Odds
| Player | Odds at DraftKings |
|---|---|
| Gary Woodland | -118 |
| Scottie Scheffler | -106 |
Big Bombers at TPC Boston
The long hitters tend to do well at TPC Boston. A Par 71 at 7,308 yards designed by Arnold Palmer needs no other description than “hit it deep”. Woodland is one of those guys who can hit it deep and he has shown that with his finishes at TPC Boston.
Official TPC Boston scorecard says 7,308 yds, off from the usual 7.342. There are two drivable par-4s in the first 4 holes, plus a short par-5. Easiest stretch BY FAR.
You know how you freak out if your guys don't start fast? Well, this time you'd really be justified.@RotoWire pic.twitter.com/CB5SBSTJMa— Len Hochberg ⛳ (@LenHochberg) August 17, 2020
A good start is needed at TPC Boston because of the two short Par 4s and Par 5. After those first four holes, there aren’t too many freebies.
Woodland has never missed the cut in seven starts at TPC Boston. His best finish was in 2015 where he finished 12th, but he also had two Top 20 finishes the two years after. Sitting at 30th in Driving Distance this season, Woodland has a chance to turn around his recent sloppy form.
Scottie Scheffler had a great showing at the PGA Championship finishing fourth. Although Scheffler can also hit it a long way I think there is a good chance he could get rattled with the difficulty of some the later holes. If Scheffler does not take advantage of the first few easy holes, it could be a long week for the 24-year-old.
Pick: Gary Woodland (-118)
Editor & Sports Betting Expert
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