This week marks the third event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs as Conway Farms Golf Club plays host to the BMW Championship. Each week, a panel of experts will offer up their picks from four groups of players, based on Golf Channel’s fantasy game, Fantasy Challenge. We will also keep track of their scores and standings. The panel includes: senior writers Rex Hoggard, Randall Mell and Jason Sobel; contributors John Hawkins and Win McMurry; editorial director Jay Coffin; ‘Morning Drive’ host Gary Williams and staff writer Ryan Lavner. They are joined by former ‘Saturday Night Live’ star Norm Macdonald, who will serve as a celebrity guest.
Rex Hoggard
Group 1: Tiger Woods: Although this BMW won’t be played at Cog Hill, where the world No. 1 has won all five of his BMW/Western Open titles, he has played some of his best golf in Chicago-land.
Group 2: Jason Dufner: He seemed to have fully recovered from his post-PGA Championship celebration with his tie for ninth at the Deutsche Bank Championship, and a solid week at the BMW could solidify his FedEx Cup run.
Group 3: Charl Schwartzel: The South African was solid in his first two playoff starts (T-25 Barclays, T-22 Deutsche Bank) and has missed just one cut on the PGA Tour since June.
Group 4: Patrick Reed: Although he has cooled considerably since his victory at the Wyndham Championship, last year’s Monday qualifying darling plays his best golf under pressure and at 47th on the FedEx Cup points list, he needs a big week.
Jason Sobel
Group 1: Justin Rose: Three weeks ago, he nearly won The Barclays without his A game. Rose should be finely tuned by now.
Group 2: Steve Stricker: He was originally going elk hunting during the Tour Champioship, but could be hunting another big prize instead.
Group 3: Bill Haas: The PGA Tour’s most consistent player this season? Believe it or not, it’s Haas, who leads in top-10 finishes.
Group 4: Gary Woodland: Spurred by his short game work with Northwestern coach Pat Goss, Woodland looks like a new player lately.
