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THE NORTHERN TRUST 2019: Power ranking the top ten at Liberty National

By Brandon Raper

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - AUGUST 23: FedEx Cup signage is displayed on the 15th hole during the first round of The Northern Trust on August 23, 2018 at the Ridgewood Championship Course in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - AUGUST 23: FedEx Cup signage is displayed on the 15th hole during the first round of The Northern Trust on August 23, 2018 at the Ridgewood Championship Course in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
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THE NORTHERN TRUST 2019 FedEx Cup Playoffs Power Rankings
THE NORTHERN TRUST 2019: Power rankings for the FedEx Cup Playoff opener at Liberty National (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

THE NORTHERN TRUST kicks off the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and while the schedule got a bit of a revamp, players in this week’s power rankings will be contending with an old favorite of a course.

We’ve made it, at last. The 2018-19 PGA TOUR season started a full ten months ago, but after a break-neck pace over the last four months, we’re down to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, where the top 125 players will look to start their journey towards the TOUR Championship, and a ridiculous $15 million payout.

Of course, we’d be remiss not to kick off this week with a quick reminder of some changes (and I’m not just talking about my return to the Power Rankings. Mike will be back soon, I promise!). While we’ve spent the entire spring and summer talking about the condensed TOUR schedule in relation to the majors, we also have a significantly condensed FedEx Cup Playoff slate.

There are now just three events in the “postseason” run, making each one that much more valuable. The field of 125 at THE NORTHERN TRUST will be pared down to just the top 70 heading to the BMW Championship, then the final 30 at East Lake. There’s no bye week either, so it’s a three-week sprint to the top.

We’ll get to the…”unique” format for the TOUR Championship soon enough, but for now, it’s all about THE NORTHERN TRUST. Golf’s greats return to Liberty National for the fourth time in the last decade, and the first time since the Presidents Cup was hosted here in 2017. It’s a sprawling, modern design with stunning views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, and no amenity was overlooked when the place opened its doors in 2006.

The golf is no slouch, either. The renovations the course underwent after the 2009 Barclays made it significantly more playable of a course, and it’s got big-time fans in the likes of Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickeson, not to mention it’s A-list celebrity membership, which includes (to name only a few) former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and entertainers Justin Timberlake and Mark Wahlberg. Talk about a foursome right there.

We’re not going to break any mind-blowing ground when talking about the winning formula this week. In the two previous times this event has been held at Liberty National, the winning scores have been -9 (Heath Slocum in 2009) and -11 (Adam Scott in 2013). We’re not likely to push much lower than that this week in anything but flawless conditions.

It can get a bit windy on the shores of the Hudson, but those looking to work their way to the top will need to keep it in play off the tee, and be cautious when attempting to overpower the track. Accuracy will be rewarded with friendly approaches into receiving bent grass greens. Fairways hit and strokes gained: putting – two novel stats to follow in a high-pressure golf tournament.

Everyone in this field has earned their place, but I’ve still got my eye on these ten players to make a run in the Playoff opener. For those of you who feel slighted that I left “your guy” out of this list, hit me up on Twitter and let me know why I’m insane. Until then, let’s get into the power rankings.

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