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Barclays Classic Golf Betting

BARCLAYS CLASSIC GOLF BETTING - 21st AUGUST

The Barclays abruptly leaves Westchester Country Club after 41 years, moving to Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey for the 2008 renewal. Phil Mickelson is the 10/1 favourite with Ladbrokes.

Ridgewood is a classic “Tillie” Tillinghast design that continues the tradition of rough-lined fairways, deep bunkers and frightening putting surfaces. The Championship Course is a composite affair, being composed of 18 of Ridgewood’s available 27 holes. Whilst it should feel similar to other Tillinghast courses like Winged Foot and Baltusrol, it is still an unknown entity to the vast majority of contestants this week. Although Ridgewood has a long history of hosting high-profile tournaments, including the 1935 Ryder Cup, the 1990 U.S. Senior Open and, most recently, the 2001 Senior PGA Championship, The Barclays Classic will mark its first official PGA Tour event.

The PGA tour decided last January to leave Westchester because of poor attendance and differences with the club over the tournament setup and member access. Since the tour’s plan was already to move the event to different venues over the next six years (a rotation that was supposed to begin with Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City in 2009) the tour had been in discussions with Ridgewood since late last summer.

Although the Ridgewood board had initial concerns about preparing for a high-profile tournament in less than eight months, it eventually agreed to host the 2008 Barclays, in a deal that was finalised in late January. What the club lacked in lead time it made up for with the strength of the golf course, which will play at a stout 7,319 yards producing higher scores than normally seen. While few players will have seen Ridgewood before, it has created a favourable impression with the minority that have.

“I think it’s a wonderful golf course,” Phil Mickelson said in a statement after playing the course in May. “. It’s one of the premier courses in the land. It’s spectacular, and it’s going to play long and difficult,” he added.

Mickelson has an impressive track record on Tillinghast courses, including second-place finishes in US Opens at Bethpage Black (2002) and Winged Foot (2006), and a win in the 2005 PGA at Baltusrol. One of those second-place finishes for Mickelson was a result of one of his classic “chokes” at Winged Foot. He may feel at home on a course like Ridgewood, or might be spooked before hitting the first shot. Given Ridgewood’s length alone, long-hitters are expected to have an advantage.

Leading Contenders

Sergio Garcia
Following yet another near-miss at the USPGA Championship, it will be interesting to see exactly how the young Spaniard, rated a 16/1 chance by skybet, fares at Ridgewood.

Padraig Harrington
Harrington, the hottest property in golf at the moment, with consecutive wins in Major championships, now takes aim at the FedEx Cup and is a tempting 14/1 with skybet for the Barclays Classic.

Anthony Kim
The self-confident young American has two impressive wins on difficult courses this year. A 33/1 chance with William Hill, success at Ridgewood would be an impressive third win of the season.

Kenny Perry
At the age of 48, Perry is enjoying a career-best season, with three wins already. He has been gearing up all season for the Ryder Cup in his home state of Kentucky next month and William Hill’s offer of 50/1 for the Barclays Classic looks generous.

Rocco Mediate
This Tour veteran won a legion of admirers when finishing runner-up to Tiger Woods at the US Open. Certain to be a crowd favourite. (175/1 with Stan James).

Phil Mickelson
Mickelson won the last event in New Jersey, the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol. However, despite Ladbrokes rating him the 10/1 favourite, “Lefty” has some mixed form of late and makes little appeal from a betting perspective.

Geoff Ogilvy
With Ridgewood’s comparisons to Winged Foot, Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open Champion, a 40/1 chance with Stan James, should be in familiar territory.

Vijay Singh
Singh, the only three-time champion in Barclays Classic history, has a chance to win a fourth at a new venue and rates a 33/1 chance with skybet.

Steve Stricker
The defending champion, who has failed to build on last year’s win at Westchester, but Ridgewood should suit his game.

Johnson Wagner
After a breakthrough win earlier this year in Houston, Wagner (300/1 with totesport) needs to play well in the next three events to qualify for the Tour Championship at the end of the season.

All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds