Deutsche Bank betting preview

By Dave Tindall Last updated: 1st September 2010

Jim Furyk has some catching up to do after his hopes of scooping the FedEx Cup jackpot were hit by his disqualification from The Barclays last week.

Furyk's 'crime' was to miss his early tee-time by a few minutes in Wednesday's pro-am after his mobile phone ran out of battery and his alarm app didn't go off.

With no place for common sense in golf, Furyk had to take his DQ on the chin but you can be assured that he'll be doubly determined to make amends at this week's Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston.

And the chances of that look extremely strong.

As well as winning twice this year, the American's last three starts have produced a ninth at the Greenbrier, a sixth at Firestone and a 24th in the USPGA which looked set to be much, much better (quite possibly a win) before he hit trouble on the final day (77).

He was second in Greens In Regulation at Whistling Straits and his Putting Average figures for his last two events have been almost identical to what they were when he won at Hilton Head and Innisbrook earlier in the season.

Along with motivation and current form he can add a growing regard for this week's course.

Furyk's first three finishes at TPC Boston - a 7,214 yard par 71 - weren't great (13th, 35th, 55th) but on his last two visits he's finished seventh and eighth.

And rather than being a random set of figures, Furyk has provided an explanation.

He said last year: "The first time I played the golf course, I was very uncomfortable on it as far as the look of it, where I was supposed to hit the ball.

"I think they went back and redesigned it for the second event we were here. I talked a lot to the staff and the architect back in Ponte Vedra, and he convinced me to come out and give it a try and look at it again. I thought it was a definite improvement, and I thought it was a nice upgrade.

"And then when they've gone back in again and redesigned for the second time. I grew up in the northeast. It tends to flow and look like a course up here does usually. Before it had a little bit more of a modern TPC type look to it.

"The course hasn't changed that much, but the appearance to me, it's just everything is more appealing to my eye, I think. The last redo was a major upgrade; it really improved the golf course in playability and aesthetics, so I'm just more comfortable here now."

Whether that suggests TPC form from the last few years is more worthwhile than say 2003-2007 is debatable. But in terms of Furyk it is significant and means he's now returning to a course where he expects to play well.

Go each-way on Jimbo at 28/1.

Adam Scott's form at TPC Boston is the other way round to Furyk's - his figures from 2003 reading 1-2-50-17-MC. So should we be put off that he hasn't played as well here since the course changes.

I don't think so.

Scott didn't even play here last year while on his previous appearance, in 2008, he came into the event after a season of injury/illness saying his form was "pretty ordinary". He managed rounds of 70-68-73, not enough to make it into the final day.

Twelve months earlier he was 17th, carding 68-72-66, and was closer to the lead going into the final day than he was when runner-up in 2004.

But it's his 2003 win here that really gives me the go-ahead to back him this week.

That was Scott's first ever win on the US Tour and hence this tournament will always have special memories for him.

With ninth places in two of his last three starts - the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and last week's Barclays - Scott is clearly in good heart and one of his goals for the rest of the campaign is to post a second win.

His first of 2010 - and seventh in total on the PGA Tour - came at the Texas Open in May so that's still fresh in his mind.

After finishing just four shots out of a play-off at Ridgewood last week, Scott said: "I really feel like my game's right there. I'm playing really well every day and I'm seeing improvement with my putting."

That latter point could be contested by some but he ranked 10th in Putting Average at The Barclays while he's finished in the top 13 in that category in three of his last four starts - a vast improvement on his overall season figures (158th).

Third in Ball Striking in 2010, Scott looks to have excellent credentials at 35/1.

I'm surprised to see Ryan Palmer at a three-figure price this week as he looks to have plenty of momentum after a second (Firestone) and a fifth (Barclays) in two of his last three starts.

Prior to that he'd missed nine cuts out of 10 but the explanation for his turnaround is amazing simple.

At the Canadian Open a few weeks ago he suddenly noticed the new irons he'd put in his bag at Sawgrass were a degree and half flatter than those he normally played.

The guys at TaylorMade made the correction and it made an immediate impact. Palmer finished fifth in Greens In Regulation in Canada and made the top 25.

He hasn't looked back since and the physical alteration to his clubs has had a major impact on his mental state.

As Palmer put it: "I was able to come out here even more mind confident, clear and not worrying about the clubs anymore. It was amazing when I got it fixed what it did to my mental aspect of the game."

Although his finishes at TPC Boston aren't anything special, he has shot a 65 while on his last appearance in 2008 he started 67-68.

TPC yields plenty of birdies which suits Palmer (he started with five in a row in round three at The Barclays last week) and, of course, he's already a winner this year having triumphed in the Sony Open.

Snap up the 110/1.

Finally, it would be madness to back Phil Mickelson this week wouldn't it?

After all, he missed the cut at The Barclays and hit so many tee-shots left he kept apologising to the same set of spectators who were following him down that side of each hole.

Except that this is Phil Mickelson we're talking about.

The second best golfer of his generation and a player famous for winning just when it appears he's lost the plot.

Here's a quick reminder of his ability to blow hot after blowing cold:

2010 Wins US Masters after a tied 35th in Houston
2009 Wins Northern Trust Open after a 55th at Pebble
2009 Wins Tour Championship after 30th in 70-man field at BMW
2008 Wins Northern Trust Open after MC at Pebble

Having been reminded of my profitable 'rule' of always back him at 16s or above in a non-major I'm happy to let him perform his magic turnaround trick yet again.

Let's remember, he won here in 2007 so, as with those other bad Phil becomes good Phil wins, he'll be trying to do it on a course where he knows he's thrived before.

It could all go up in smoke or he could win the trophy. In other words, let's not mess about and go 'win only' at 18/1 and hope that Phil can oblige us at those odds for the third time in two seasons.

Tips:

2pts e.w. Jim Furyk at 28/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Good form, enjoys this venue now and doubly determined after last week's DQ.

1.5pts e.w. Adam Scott at 35/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Scene of his first win. Scott's latest form suggests he could repeat.

1pt e.w. Ryan Palmer at 110/1 (Stan James 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Game transformed by getting clubs sorted out and one of the Tour's hot players.

2pts win Phil Mickelson at 18/1 (Sportingbet). Awful last week but history shows he can turn it around straight away. Former winner here.