Three Against The Field / Dan Geraghty / 14 September 2011 /

Dan Geraghty's selects another trio to follow ahead of the third leg of the FedEx Cup playoff series - the BMW Championship at Cog Hill - and it's a home favourite who will be carrying some of his cash

At [26.0], Phil Mickelson jumps out at me this week. Last time out, Phil finished with a wet sail, soaring up the leaderboard with final rounds of 63 and 69.

Lefty is clearly getting to grips with his new long putter and the layers may have underestimated him in this week's shortened field, despite his disappointing record in the event. Last year's eighth place was his best finish in 13 attempts at this title, but his better form here comes after the course was renovated and his very recent form suggests he can improve on that again this week. Phil currently sits in tenth place in the race for the FedEx Cup and he will be acutely aware that he needs to rise into the top-five to give himself the best shot of winning the title next week.

Marc Leishman [160.0] is a popular pick this week and rightly so. The Australian busted a gut to make it this far in the playoffs, he was a missed putt or two away from missing out on this week and that would have really hurt as Leishman was second here in 2009 and 11th last year. Now that he's in the field he has little to lose and everything to gain.

My old friend Rickie Fowler [46.0] is in need of a very good week to secure his place at the Tour Championship. Fowler is currently 37th in the FedEx Cup standings and needs to improve at least seven places to get in. I am confident he'll make it to the season finale. He's out in one of the first groups on the course on Thursday morning, backing him in the Winner market with a view to trading later in the tournament is recommended but I still believe he'll win before the year's out.

Dangers: Like the Punter, I wouldn't put anyone off backing Webb Simpson [20.0] winning a third tournament in quick succession. No-one is putting with as much confidence as disciple Webb; he's very likely to be involved at the business end of the tournament (editor's note: as long as the Big Guy wills it of course). Gary Woodland [48.0] remains high on the list. He currently sits in 11th place on the FedEx cup list and has few worries about making the Tour Championship next week. He's played eight rounds at this tournament and is yet to break 70 but Jason Day [22.0] is in the kind of form that we simply can't ignore, he's one to keep a very close eye on this week.

Selections: Phil Mickelson [26.0], Marc Leishman [160.0], Rickie Fowler [46.0]

*follow me on twitter @dangeraghty10

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