Barclays Classic Champions

Even before it became the first qualifying tournament of the FedEx Cup, the Barclays had always been extremely well supported by the top golfers in the world. Traditionally the competition was used as a warm-up event for the second major golf tournament of the year, the illustrious US Open Golf Championship – this was only in even-numbered years. In odd-numbered years the Barclays would be contested in the week following the Grand Slam.

From the inaugural championship in 1967, which was clinched by the ever-popular Jack Nicklaus, the tried and tested champions of the golfing fraternity have been successful at the Westchester Country Club. The legendary Arnold Palmer, Spain’s Seve Ballesteros and Sergio Garcia, currently ranked number 12 on the Official World Golf Ranking, have all lifted the title at Rye.

There are, however, two outstanding champions who have dominated the event – Vijay Singh, who has lifted the title three times, more than any competitor, and South Africa’s Ernie Els, who won the event in consecutive years in the late 1990s.

Vijay Singh

Fiji’s Vijay Singh won his first title in 1993, quickly followed by his second, two years later in 1995. At that stage the event was known as the Buick Classic. Eleven years on, the number 11 in the world claimed his third title at Westchester, it was then known as the Barclays Classic.

The former world number one has an exemplary career record – he has won 31 PGA Tour events, including three Grand Slams:

• The 1998 US PGA Championship, when he beat America’s Steve Stricker by two strokes. Stricker has consistently held the number three position on the Official World Golf Ranking.
• The US Masters in 2000, when he defeated former number one, Ernie Els by three strokes.
• The 2004 PGA Championship, where he bettered Justin Leonard and Chris di Marco in a three-hole playoff.

Ernie Els

The ‘Big Easy’, Ernie Els, is possibly one of the better professional golfers on tour. A recent knee operation, and changes to his swing, equipment and caddie have left him floundering a bit, but his career record speaks for itself:

Could these two champions of The Barclays pull off another win in 2008? Anything is possible, and now that the end prize is $10 million and the coveted FedEx Cup, then you can bet your bottom dollar that competition is going to be extremely fierce this year! Why not cash in on The Barclays and place a wager on who you think will take the title in 2008. Take a look at our Barclays Betting guide, then go online and place your bet.