Defending champ Johnson leads American charge at The Barclays

Dustin Johnson will be gunning to retain his trophy at The Barclays, with a strong chasing pack forming from the home golfers.

Having seen only three foreigners block an American winner at the first event of the FedEx Cup play-offs since 1998, odds of 8/15 for the victor to be from the US may prove justified.

That trio in question are Vijay Singh, (2006 & 2008) Pádraig Harrington (2005) and Sergio García, (2001 & 2004) with the Spaniard the most likely to triumph again this time.

Having picked up his first PGA Tour win in over four years last weekend, García is priced at 25/1 to add another trophy to his Wyndham Championship gong.

Outside of heavy favourites Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, (both 7/1) picking an American looks a good bet considering two-thirds of the competitions winners have come from home soil.

Last year big-hitter Dustin Johnson equalled the tournament record -19 on route to victory, pipping 2010’s champ Matt Kuchar to the title.

This time around Johnson can be backed at 25/1 to add to his Barclays success, with Kuchar further back at 40/1.

Home trio Steve Stricker, Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson have won on the tour this year, and are all priced at 20/1 to come out on top in Long Island, New York.

This year the Bethpage Black Course is hosting The Barclays for the first time ever, having previously seen major action for the 2002 and 2009 US Open.

Both those instances were won by Americans, adding to the feeling that this weekend’s winner will emerge from the plethora of the United States’ ranks of talent.

Lefty Phil Mickelson is a 25/1 bet to win, the current US Open holder Webb Simpson is priced at 33/1 and Hunter Mahan is 40/1 to pick up his third PGA Tour trophy this season.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.