Glover seems perfect fit

Glover seems perfect fit


Punting
Michael Duffy

THE majors might be over and the golf season winding down, but there’s still the small matter of a $10 million purse up for grabs for the winner of the 2009 FedEx Cup.
Thirty players remain in the running going into this week’s Tour Championship event at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Tiger Woods leads the field, having streaked to victory in the BMW Championship, the penultimate play-off tour event.
But with ranking points reset going into the final event, Woods’ lead of more than 1,500 points over Steve Stricker has been cut to just 250.
The reset system means any of the top five ranked players – Woods, Stricker, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson and Heath Slocum – have their tour destinies in their own hands. A win for any of the five will seal the top prize.
Below this group, Pádraig Harrington lies in sixth position overall, having finished sixth in the BMW. Harrington still has a say, but will need other scores to go his way. Harrington was a little disappointed with his display in Chicago, where inconsistency off the tee ensured he was heavily reliant on a strong short game.
Some marvellous chipping and putting kept him in contention, but he seemed to lack much of his customary focus through the final rounds and looked tired down the final nine on the Sunday. He’ll doubtless be refreshed going into the final event, but the win he needs might be too much to ask.
Woods’ comprehensive win at the BMW has narrowed his price to an almost-unbackable 11-10 for the Tour Championship. He romped home by eight shots to take his sixth title of the season but Woods’ form in majors this term might create some doubt about his ability to finish the job this week.
For the event itself, I have a fancy for Lucas Glover to feature in the shake-up. He’s probably too far down the list to win the overall title, but after a season where he blew hot and cold in almost equal measure, the US Open champion could be ready to bow out with another big one.
He finished a solid fifth in the PGA Championship – after missed cuts at the British Open and Players Championship – but has the game to handle East Lake.
Interestingly, Jim Furyk goes into the Tour Championship without a single win this year, but a five-under final-round 66 at BMW promoted him to second behind Woods and third in the overall standings. Coming into form at the right time, he could be ready to salvage his season in style.
Recommendation: Tour Championship: Lucas Glover (40-1 e/w), Jim Furyk (14-1).

Six to back in Premier League
WE were let down by Fulham last Sunday, but for this week’s Premier League accumulator, we’ll take Liverpool to demolish Hull at Anfield, Manchester United to sneak home by a late Rooney goal at Stoke, Arsenal to punish Fulham again – perhaps Arshavin to return with a brace – and Chelsea to hammer a Wigan side that capitulated meekly at the Emirates.
Tottenham should get back to winning ways at home to Burnley, while Sunderland and Wolves’ topsy-turvy campaigns should continue with a win for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.
Recommendation: Accumulator with Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Sunderland.