Rankings

Power Rankings: Dell Technologies Championship

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August 28, 2018

5. Rory McIlroy

McIlroy was the highest-profile player to sit out last week’s The Northern Trust, needing to take time off to reflect and evaluate after a disappointing PGA Championship. Fortunately, he is coming back this week at TPC Boston, a place he has won twice.

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas during day one of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive CC in St Louis, MO. Credit: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Well-rested and showing good form before the PGA, it would be surprising if he does not have another good week at the Dell Tech. At 28th in the FedExCup Standings, he should be exceptionally motivated to get himself closer to that top 5 with two events to go before East Lake.

Odds: 16-1
World Rank: 7
FedExCup Rank: 28
Last Six: 50, 6, 2, 28, 12, MC

4. Jordan Spieth

The putter is clicking again, and as a result, Jordan Spieth is looking more like Jordan Spieth again. It would be easy to get discouraged by Spieth fading on Sunday at The Northern Trust, after he had played himself into the periphery of contention, but a lot of that was a strange situation on the 3rd hole that is unlikely to happen again, and he bounced back nicely with four back-nine birdies.

Jordan Spieth 2018 British Open, Round 3 — Jordan Spieth lines up a putt with caddie Michael Greller on hole 11 at Carnoustie Golf Club during day three of the 2018 Open Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland. Credit: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

He was T3 in greens in regulation at Ridgewood, and the plethora of birdies he racked up are a promising sign at TPC Boston, where conditions could be soft. Look for him to contend in an event where he finished solo runner-up a year ago.

Odds: 20-1
World Rank: 9
FedExCup Rank: 33
Last Six: 25, 12, 60, 9, 42, MC

3. Dustin Johnson

Now second to DeChambeau in the FedExCup Standings, the World No. 1 could not avoid the big numbers at Ridgewood. He had a triple bogey in rounds 1 and 2, and a double in round 3, but even with shooting himself in the foot so many times, he still T11, largely aided by being second in the field in birdies.

DJ clearly has the length for TPC Boston, and his approach game has been tremendous lately too, which is very important here. If he can keep his foot on the gas in his Saturday round, which he has failed to do lately, he might have the best chance of anyone in the field to win this week.

Odds: 9-1
World Rank: 1
FedExCup Rank: 2
Last Six: 11, 27, 3, 1, MC, 3

2. Brooks Koepka

The two-time 2018 major winner and near lock for PGA Tour Player of the Year, Koepka currently has a hold on that fifth spot in the FedExCup standings. Allowing Koepka to control his own destiny at East Lake is something the field should try to prevent at all costs.

A surprisingly poor third round hurt his chances of winning his first start since taking the Wanamaker Trophy, but he settled down on Sunday and finished T8. He led The Northern Trust field in strokes gained: off-the-tee and scrambled phenomenally as well. There is very little to not like about his game right now.

Odds: 12-1
World Rank: 2
FedExCup Rank: 5
Last Six: 8, 1, 5, MC, 39, 19

1. Justin Thomas

The defending champion of both the Dell Technologies Championship and the FedExCup, Thomas is coming into Boston on a hot streak, with three straight top 8 finishes, including his win at the WGC-Bridgestone. He never really pressed the lead at Ridgewood last week, but at the end of the week, he was still sitting there at T8.

Justin Thomas tees off during the final round of the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass. on Sep. 4, 2017

JT is one of the best on Tour in keeping a hot streak going, and we think there is an excellent chance it continues this week. His birdies all came in bunches last week; we think he will be more consistent at TPC Boston.

Odds: 10-1
World Rank: 3
FedExCup Rank: 3
Last Six: 8, 6, 1, MC, 8, 56

Next Five: Aaron Wise, Webb Simpson, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Hideki Matsuyama