Rory McIlroy, winner of last week’s CJ Cup and newly anointed world No. 1, says he’d like the Tour to do away with its wrap-around season. But while changes are in store for the fall calendar, there’s no break in the calendar for now.
Next up is the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, at Port Royal Golf Course, and McIlroy will not be in the mix. But 56-year-old, white-bearded John Daly will be air dropping into an island setting where he risks being mistaken for a tropical Santa. Robert Garrigus will be on hand, too, having recently made headlines not for his play but for calling Billy Horschel a dirty word.
You can see where this is headed.
When Denny McCarthy is the odds-favorite, TV-audience records are safe.
But what the Butterfield may lack in Q Score, it makes up for in opportunities for bettors. With lesser fields, sleepers abound.
To help identify them, we turn to Andy Lack. GOLF.com’s expert prognosticator is a data analyst for Odds Checker and RickRunGood.com, and co-host of The Scramble, a twice-weekly handicapping show. He knows his numbers, and he has given us his four favorite picks.
Because we like to know what the public is thinking, too, we’re also including data from Chirp, a free-to-play mobile platform (and GOLF.com affiliate) that gives fans all kinds of ways to engage with the action.
Bermuda operates on Atlantic Daylight Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time, so set your clocks — and make your picks — accordingly.
Andy Lack’s Expert Picks
Outright Pick to win: Adam Schenk (+5600)
(Odds available on Bet365)
Schenk has been on my radar for quite some time now given the upside he possesses with his irons. The 30-year-old ranks third in this field in strokes gained approach, and in his last seven starts, he’s gained over five strokes on approach on three separate occasions. Coming off back-to-back top-20 finishes at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open and the Zozo Championship, Schenk should be brimming with confidence as he returns to a course that he finished 26th at last year. A seventh-place finish at the Corales Punta Cana, and a 14th at the Puerto Rico Open point to a player who is extremely comfortable on coastal tracks with slower greens. I expect Schenk to break through with first PGA Tour victory in Bermuda.
Top 10: Chesson Hadley (+550)
(Odds available on DraftKings)
I was surprised to see Hadley rate out so well for me from a statistical standpoint, but the former Puerto Rico Open champion has been quietly playing solid golf. The 35-year-old is coming off a 37th-place finish at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open where he gained three strokes on approach and 4.8 strokes putting. His iron play deserves serious praise, as Hadley ranks as the No. 2 approach player over his last 36 rounds. Even more encouraging is the fact that he has been the No. 3 putter in this field on slow, Bermuda-grass greens. With a 16th-place finish here in 2020, a win at the Puerto Rico Open, and multiple top-20 finishes at Pebble Beach, Hadley also seems to do his best work on short, wedge-heavy, coastal courses.
