The Northern Trust: New course means no clear cut favorite at first playoff event

The first tournament of the FedEx Cup playoffs heads to a new course with a new sponsor.

The event formally known as the Barclays heads to Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, N.Y. where the course will hold its first PGA tour event.

The unfamiliarity with the course has led to the books leaning more heavily on form. With that, Hideki Matsuyama opens as the favorite for the first time in a field with all the best players.

Matsuyama comes in at 10/1 with Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy right behind at 11/1. Rickie Fowler is next at 12/1, while Dustin Johnson checks in at 14/1.

With the course being such an unknown, it's a week I'll be scaling back and avoiding the top of the board early. Instead, I'll be leaving more money on the table for live betting and mid-tournament matchups.

There are a few things we do know though. Glen Oaks will play as a par 70 in the 7,300-7,400 yard range. That's on the longer side for a Par 70. Sedgefield played at just over 7,100 yards last week at the Wyndham Championship.

Water appears to be in play on six holes, including three of the final four, which could lead to big swings on the leaderboard late in the round. 10 of the 12 par 4s in the 440-500 yard range, with No. 11 being boardline drivable at around 320 yards.

With just two par 5s, there won't be many eagle opportunities. Only No. 13 will be reachable for most of the field at around 540 yards. No. 3 will play in the 625 yard range and will only be reachable by the longest hitters.

The closing stretch looks like it could be particularily difficult. No. 17 is a par 3 in the 230 yard range with water down the left. No. 18 is a 475 yard Par 4 with water down the left as well. This could be a course where someone posts a number and waits for the leaders to fall back a bit coming home.

I've made a few plays so far on players down on the board and will likely be playing top 5s on them as well. These are mostly just guys at long odds that I like because of the number.

I'll be back later in the week to break down the plays and look at some first round leaders and props.

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Joshua has spent the last five years writing about sports and the last 10 years betting them, mostly on golf. One of approximately five people who will watch the PGA over the NFL in November. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaPerry22

Photo: © Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports