BMW Championship preview: Webb Simpson a longshot pick at Medinah

Only 70 remain to vie for the coveted FedEx Cup trophy and its $15 million top-prize purse. It is befitting that Medinah Country Club hosts the BMW Championship, given its boastful résumé of elite tournaments—most notably two of Tiger Woods’ PGA Championship victories (1999 and 2006), as well as the 2012 Ryder Cup, when Team Europe edged the U.S. by a mere point.

The “Miracle at Medinah” is renowned as one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history. This side of the pond regales it as the “meltdown in Medinah.” Regardless of your origin, the course demands super-human efforts from beginning to end.

BMW Championship odds

The Captain’s Pick

Captain America pulled off quite the heroic week in New Jersey. Patrick Reed (+3500) battled his way through the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs at The Northern Trust, his first victory since the 2018 Masters. With the win, he leapt into second place of the FedEx Cup standings.

There will be plenty of axis powers this week, and it will likely be too tall a task for Reed to go back-to-back. If we cannot marvel at Captain America, who will go from the Thursday phone booth to Sunday soaring this week?

European rule

Rory McIlroy (+800) and Justin Rose (+1600) not only were on the winning end of the “Miracle at Medinah,” but also find themselves perched high in the FedEx Cup standings. Rory executed a solid tied-for-sixth outing at The Northern Trust, as did Rose, who finished tied for 10th. Both major champions—and Rose, defending his 2018 FedEx Cup championship—will look to be among the favorites to hoist the BMW Championship trophy this week.

Rounding out the radical rulers, 24-year-old John Rahm (+1000) continues to show incredible fire, as he's blasted into the top five of the FedEx Cup standings. As soon as he harnesses his next-level powers, Rahm-bulus (your kids will get it) will be unstoppable. Until then I would avoid rhapsodic Rahm, as the risk is not yet worth the sidekick payout.

The spandex stretch

It seems like just yesterday when a blue-eyed, dimpled Dallas kid was flying high, winning three majors in his first four years as a professional golfer. However, the last two seasons have been full of kryptonite for 26-year-old Jordan Spieth (+2800).

Last week’s Northern Trust provided a glimpse of his former self. Through repeated adversity Spieth showed resiliency and finished tied for sixth at The Northern Trust. If it were not for his mid-round mishaps, which have plagued him of late, Spieth would have been on the verge of breaking through his stagnant slump. As Joel Brown exclaimed, “The 'Amazing' can only be created by facing fear, risk and failure during the process,” and at +2800 Spieth is well worth the Superman stretch.

OK, USA

One of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour right now is Charlotte, North Carolina native and 2012 U.S. Open Champion Webb Simpson (+2200). Webb was also on the short end of the stick in the 2012 Ryder Cup collapse, but lately has shown plenty of Spidey sense, as he has finished second twice in his last three events.

With the Presidents Cup right around the corner and Simpson flirting with the automatic qualifier line, expect him to follow Captain Tiger’s advice by just “playing better.” All of my red, white and blue chips will be riding on Webb Simpson as he avenges the past, reigning victorious at Medinah Country Club.

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