The Quicken Loans National 2017 Preview

Our golf scribe previews this week’s PGA Tour event, the Quiken Loans National 2017.

The Quicken Loans National seems to have suffered a similar fate to that of its illustrious host – Tiger Woods – of late. Only three of the world’s top 25 tee it up in Maryland this week, while the host will relinquish his nominal duties while he deals with his much-publicized battles with injuries and prescription medication.

Furthermore, the tournament makes a stark move this week from Congressional to TPC Potomac. This is perhaps another reason why some of the world’s top players have opted to give this one a skip. The disparity in quality has also not been aided by the fact that Jordan Spieth’s remarkable bunker shot at the Travelers made it possibly the most exciting finish on the tour this year.

First: the course. TPC Potomac has undergone a huge makeover since it hosted the now defunct Booz Allen Classic. Ben Curtis won the last edition there with a score of -20, but major renovations have made the course far more difficult, as evidenced by the Web.Com Tour. In 2012, only twelve of the players managed to break par while 2013 yielded a winning score of -7. The course has similarities to Congressional, with lightening fast greens and a fair dissemination of water hazards. Apparently, the course is rather difficult and will be made even more show if those winds pick up.

Ricky Fowler is the nominal favourite, but his inability to seal the deal of late makes odds of 8/1 look rather speculative. Justin Thomas is probably one player on tour who could do with a break every once in a while Patrick Reed played brilliantly for three rounds last week. His ability to have the occasional shocker should preclude him from one’s estimation. Billy Hurley’s victory here last season was the stuff of fairytales and a weakened field this week could well mean that another surprise winner could be on the cards.

The Quicken Loans National |  Thursday 29 June- Sunday 2 July | TPC Potomac, Maryland

Past Winners
2016: Billy Hurley III (-17) | 2015: Troy Merritt (-18) | 2014: Justin Rose (-4)*playoff | 2013: Bill Haas (-12) | 2012: Tiger Woods (-8)

To Win Outright
Ricky Fowler 8/1 | Justin Thomas 12/1 | Patrick Reed 14/1 | Kevin Chappell 22/1 | Mark Leishman 22/1

Value Bets
David Lingmerth – To Win 30/1 & To Place 13/2
The metronomic Swede has been the absolute model of consistency in recent weeks. In his last seven PGA Tour Events, he has finished inside the top 26 on six occasions. The fact that none of those results features a top 10 is indicative of the fact that he still lacks that killer instinct. But he should benefit this week from a diminished field. Furthermore, he is actually one of the few players with some positive course juju here, having won on the Web.Com Tour in 2012. Yet to rally build on winning on the Memorial in 2015, this could be the perfect weekend for Lingmerth to break through.

Adam Hadwin – To Win 70/1 & To Place 15/1
Canadian Adam Hadwin has been nothing if not consistent in terms of cuts made this season. He has made an impressive 17 out of 19 cuts. He had that victory at the Valspar Championship as well as an iconic 59 at the CareerBuilder. But since finishing 6 at the Arnold Palmer, Hadwin has really failed to capitalise on all the weekends he has made. Clearly, he has the ability to compete at the top level and shoot low scores. I wouldn’t mind taking a chance on him at this price to do something after he invariably makes the weekend.

Kevin Na – To Win 80/1 & To Place 17/1
Kevin Na’s season has been full of inconsistency, with only two top 10’s since the beginning of the year. Then there was that hilarious video he posted of him hacking through the fescue at Erin Hills. In truth, it was probably the most captivating thing he has done on a golf course in some time. He managed to pick up a tie for 32nd at the tournament while a host of great players fell by the wayside. He then shot a blistering 66 in the first round last week at the Travelers, before failing to break par in the subsequent three rounds. In his best manifestation, he is a great par 4 scorer who can devastate with his long irons- which will be of use this week.

The Man to Beat

Bill Haas – To Win 30/1 & To Place 13/2
This course looks like exactly the type of slow and steady course that should suit Haas. He is usually accurate off the tee and hits a lot of greens. This should bode well on a course which will be punitive against inaccuracy.  He is a Pete Dye specialist and there are many similarities between this course and a Pete Dye-designed one. He finished third in this event last year and fourth the year before. Well, this is a different course, it does share many overlaps with Congressional. He should also benefit from a depleted field.