The recent U.S. Open sparked a debate among golf fans. While some thought that the set-up of Shinnecock Hills on the third day of play was too tough, others argued that it was great to see players being challenged given that so much golf on the PGA Tour is played at courses that are simply too easy for the world’s best players. Well, those who want to see players challenged should make sure they tune into the Quicken Loans National this week.
For the second year in a row, the Quicken Loans National takes place at TPC Potomac. The Maryland course was officially the toughest par 70 on the PGA Tour last year and is set to throw down the gauntlet to a top quality field. TPC Potomac is a course that demands accuracy off the tee which David Lingmerth knows very well having won here on the Web.com Tour. Lingmerth also held the halfway lead in last year’s Quicken Loans National and is good value to win this time around at 50/1 with Bet365.
Top Tips
David Lingmerth @ 50/1
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Course Info
The Quicken Loans National was hosted for a long time by Congressional Country Club but the members there decided that they couldn’t put up with hosting an annual PGA Tour event any more. So, it moved across the road to TPC Potomac, a 7,107 yard par 70. Like some other top quality courses in the Mid-Atlantic region, TPC Potomac has very challenging rough, small greens and offers a stiff test of short game. Trouble awaits at every turn so it’s also demanding in terms of the mental test it provides. The winner this week must ensure that they remain patient and keep bogeys off the card as often as possible whilst hitting fairways and greens with regularity.
| Course | Location | Length | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm | Potomac, Maryland | 7,107 Yards | $7,100,000 |
Recent Winners
Despite TPC Potomac making its PGA Tour debut last year, golf fans were sure that it was going to pose a very stiff test even for top calibre players. Previous events on other tours had suggested that hitting greens in regulation was much more important than driving the ball a long distance off the tee or even putting well and in hindsight it is little surprise that Kyle Stanley’s game proved to be the perfect fit. Billy Hurley III’s 2016 win and Troy Merritt’s in 2015 were much more surprising while Justin Rose and Bill Haas add some real class to the list of recent winners.
| Year | Winner | Course | To Par | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kyle Stanley | TPC Potomac | -7 | Playoff |
| 2016 | Billy Hurley III | Congressional Country Club | -17 | 3 Strokes |
| 2015 | Troy Merritt | Robert Trent Jones Golf Club | -18 | 3 Strokes |
| 2014 | Justin Rose | Congressional Country Club | -4 | Playoff |
| 2013 | Bill Haas | Congressional Country Club | -12 | 3 Strokes |
Analysis: Tee to Green Consistency and Short Game Performance the Key Stats in Maryland
Tiger Woods hosts the Quicken Loans National for the benefit of his charitable foundation and he can be forgiven for being slightly disappointed with the lack of big names supporting the event this year. It’s a shame also for the course which deserves to host a big time PGA Tour event. Maybe some players were put off by the stiff challenge from the tee, and around the greens that TPC Potomac provides but it will be manna from heaven for some players looking to grab an all-important PGA Tour victory.
Lingmerth’s History Gives Him the Edge
As well as being one of a diminishing number of courses capable of challenging the best in the world, TPC Potomac also provided a thrilling weekend in 2017 as Kyle Stanley closed a 10 shot halfway gap between himself and David Lingmerth. Lingmerth was obviously upset to throw away such a strong position but he is a PGA Tour winner and has contended at the top of leaderboards many times so will be relishing the chance to compete for this prize again.
Lingmerth has not had the best season. He’ll be the first to admit that his game needs to be sharper but a return to the site of previous success could be just the thing to get the best out of him. At 50/1 with Bet365, Lingmerth certainly represents betting value for another crack at TPC Potomac.
Kim Class Gives Him a Real Chance
Si-woo Kim knows that he won’t win too many tournaments with the sort of display on the greens that has him 184th on the PGA Tour for strokes gained putting. Putting is far from an important measurement for success at TPC Potomac though and the rest of his game matches up well. Kim compares well with the field for strokes gained tee to green and his short game has been right up there with the best in the game this year.
Kim will need to hit less than driver on many holes this week given his propensity to spray it a little but we are talking about a classy player who won the Players Championship. He has what it takes to finish on top of a field which is a little disappointing so take the 50/1 that BetVictor are quoting about his chances
Sabbatini’s Improvement Set to Continue
Rory Sabbatini has not found golf easy for a long time so South African fans are very pleased with the state of his game this year. Sabbatini has secured some pleasing results and is delighted to see his game moving forwards again. Like Kim, Sabbatini’s short game has dug him out of some holes this year and it could be that ability to get up and down for par that gives him a real chance of challenging this week at 100/1 with Coral.
Final Verdict: David Lingmerth to Win
Lingmerth knows what it takes to win a big PGA Tour event having overcome the pressure to claim the title at the 2015 Memorial. His Web.com Tour win at TPC Potomac was a very big deal for him at the time and he can repeat that trick this week by claiming his second PGA Tour title at 50/1 with Bet365.