PGA Tour Expert Picks: Quicken Loans National – CBSSports.com

We’re entering a pretty intense stretch of golf with the Quicken Loans National followed by the Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship in consecutive weeks. The Quicken Loans National will be played at a different course than normal this week. Let’s take a look at this event.

What: Quicken Loans National
Where: Gainesville, Virginia
When: July 30 – August 2
How to watch (all times Eastern): Golf Channel (Thursday and Friday from 2:30-6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1-2:30 p.m.), CBS (Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m.)

Participants and odds

Justin Rose: 8-1
Rickie Fowler: 9-1
Jimmy Walker: 25-1
Tony Finau: 28-1
Bill Haas: 35-1
Brendan Steele: 40-1
Danny Lee: 40-1
Gary Woodland: 40-1
Shawn Stefani: 40-1
Russell Knox: 40-1
Tiger Woods: 50-1

Field strength: C+

Tiger doesn’t even elevate the strength of these fields anymore. If anything, he brings them down. It’s a strange time. Also, the only big names here are Rose, Fowler and Walker as one would expect with the Bridgestone and PGA Championship lingering.

Story to watch: This would be a good week for a first-timer to get a win. There have only been nine first-timers this season so far and, surprisingly, none has been either of the bigger favorites here in Justin Thomas and Tony Finau. Both are bombers, and this is a long track with a relatively weak field. I like.

When will Justin Thomas get his first win? (USATSI)

Tiger watch

Woods said on Tuesday he’s not been having very much fun. Neither have we. What is success this week? I suppose a made cut and a top 30 finish. That leaves one tournament left on his 2014-15 calendar.

Past winners

2014: Justin Rose
2013: Bill Haas
2012: Tiger Woods
2011: Nick Watney
2011: Nick Watney
2010: Justin Rose

Let’s pick this event.

Expert picks

Player	Pick	Analysis
	Winner	Tony Finau is an absolute monster off the tee and that will be needed at this lengthy Robert Trent Jones track. His form has been decent of late, but I feel a breakout coming. Odds: 25-1
	Top 10	Justin Rose has only started this tournament three times in the last five years. His finishes? Two wins and a top 15. Seems like a safe pick. Odds: 8-1
	Sleeper	Stewart Cink had a terrific Canadian Open and always plays well at this tournament (albeit at a different course). Still, at 66-1 I can get behind him. Odds: 66-1

Can Tony Finau get win No. 1? (USATSI)

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.