The post Players Championship sleeper picks to watch: Here’s who might break out appeared first on Golf.

The post Players Championship sleeper picks to watch: Here’s who might break out appeared first on Golf.

Victor Perez won the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, has had eight top 10s since the middle of 2019 and missed just two cuts last year on the European Tour. He’s the 36th-ranked player on the planet. Perez even followed up a sextuple-bogey 11 last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational — with a birdie 2.

He’d also win you a healthy $35,000 on a $100 bet at this week’s Players Championship. 

Hail to the Victor, indeed. 

The Players, with 48 of the world’s top 50 players, has one of the deepest fields of the year. This can be good for the gambler. Players like Perez, Bernd Wiesberger (41st in the world) and Robert McIntyre (42nd) are sitting at small-investment-and-big-return value — each is going off at 300-1 or higher — even though they are quite talented. They’re not sleepers in a golf sense, but are very much so this week in the betting world.  

You should take advantage. We’re here to help. Eleven members of our staff have picked a player who’s receiving odds of 125-1 or greater using odds from the DraftKings website. Our primary goal, of course, is to help you with your own weekly picks, whether those are for a low-stakes office fantasy league, or (legal!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook. Or for the new Chirp Golf app from GOLF’s parent company, 8AM Golf (available in the App Store and at Google Play), which allows users to place live bets using fake money to win real-life prizes. 

Players Championship sleepers to watch

Alan Bastable 

Sleeper pick: Branden Grace, +22,500. Five or six years ago, Grace seemed destined to be the next great South African major winner, notching five top-six finishes in nine major starts from 2015-17. That hasn’t panned out (yet), but Grace has begun to show signs of his old self, winning in Puerto Rico a couple of weeks ago. And that wasn’t a one-off: He also played well at Pebble (34th), Riv (20th) and last week at Bay Hill (26th). No reason to believe that good form won’t continue at Sawgrass.

Josh Berhow

Sleeper pick: Ian Poulter, +15,000. Poulter has been solid for the past year. Nothing fantastic, nothing terrible and a ton of respectable finishes around the top 35 or so. He’s made a dozen career starts at the Players and missed only two cuts while finishing second twice. If you need a dark horse, you could do much worse than Poulter.

James Colgan

Sleeper pick: Shane Lowry, +20,000. Always fun to get a major championship winner for +20,000 on tournament week. Lowry is by no means a lock to stick in contention, but I’d gladly take him above some of the other choices at these odds.

Dylan Dethier

Sleeper pick: Mackenzie Hughes, +30,000. He’s better than you think.

Jessica Marksbury

Sleeper pick: Jhonattan Vegas, +15,000. T3 at the Players in 2019 and coming off a runner-up finish at the Puerto Rico Open. Let’s go, Jhonny!

Nick Piastowski 

Sleeper pick: Victor Perez, +35,000. 350-1 odds for the 36th-ranked player in the world are way too good to pass up. 

Tim Reilly

Sleeper pick: Maverick McNealy, +20,000. McNealy has the talent to get the job done. I’ll take a flier on a young kid full of potential at those odds any day. 

Josh Sens

Sleeper pick: Branden Grace, +22,500. A win two weeks ago in Puerto Rico. A respectable showing this week at a blustery Bay Hill. A course that accommodates his pea-shooter style of play. Tell me why this one isn’t worth a flyer? You can’t.

Andrew Tursky 

Sleeper pick: Stewart Cink, +50,000. He’s second on Tour in greens in regulation percentage and a sneaky 33rd in driving distance. I’m hoping he makes a veteran run like Furyk in 2019.

Jonathan Wall

Sleeper pick: Marc Leishman, +12,500. Going on a hunch that Leishman gets it back on track this week. 

Sean Zak

Sleeper pick: Wyndham Clark, +30,000. The man has some seriously long odds here, but recently top 10’d it in L.A. Hard to hate a solid player on a tough course with mega odds. 

The post Players Championship sleeper picks to watch: Here’s who might break out appeared first on Golf.

The post Players Championship picks to win: Here’s who our staff is betting on appeared first on Golf.

The post Players Championship picks to win: Here’s who our staff is betting on appeared first on Golf.

Go find those $20, $50 or, gulp, $100 bills from last year. Your money is still good here.

Last March, as you remember, the Players Championship was canceled after one round due to the pandemic. Your betting was canceled, too. No second-, third- or final-round picks, no head-to-heads, no props. Nothing.  

Starting Thursday, as the Players plays again, you, the gambler, gambles again.

We’re here to help. Eleven members of our staff have made three picks — to win, top 10 and a prop bet of choice — using odds from the DraftKings website. Our primary goal, of course, is to help you with your own weekly picks, whether those are for a low-stakes office fantasy league, or (legal!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook. Or for the new Chirp Golf app (which is available in the App Store and at Google Play), which allows users to place live bets using fake money to win real-life prizes. 

Our Josh Sens, who won our weekly picks game last year, will kick things off. Whom does he like? 

Scottie Scheffler, at +5,500.

“Just a matter of time,” Sens writes. “Just a matter of time. So they keep telling us. I agree.”

Players Championship picks to win 

Alan Bastable 

To-win: Viktor Hovland, +2,800. Barring a weekend slip-up at Bay Hill last week, Hovland is as hot as any player in the game, with four top-five finishes, including a win, in his past six starts. He hits greens (ranked 23rd on Tour), makes birdies in bunches (9th) and knows how to score (10th) — a recipe for success at the Stadium Course.

Top 10: Jon Rahm, +200. Five top-10s in past seven starts. About to make it 6-for-8.

Prop: Best 18-hole round score of the tournament: Louis Oosthuizen, +5,000. Louis knows how to go low like the best of them. Witness his cumulative score over his past eight PGA Tour rounds: 26 under.

Josh Berhow

To-win: Collin Morikawa, +2,200. He’s coming off a victory and played well in his one round (which was wiped out last year) at the Players. The key to TPC Sawgrass is finding fairways and hitting greens, and the best young ball-striker in the game is the perfect fit. He’s struggled putting in the past but was sharp two weeks ago at the WGC, and if he can be even close to that good on the greens again, he’s going to contend.

Top 10: Tony Finau, +225. Are there better near-top-10 locks than Tony Finau these days? He hasn’t played particularly well here, but he’s in solid form.

Prop: To be decided by a playoff, yes, +400. We missed this event last year, so now we need some bonus golf. Plus, the Players’ three-hole aggregate playoff is fantastic theater.

James Colgan

To-win: Hideki Matsuyama, +4,000. Oh how quickly we forget Hideki’s 63 in the opening round of last year’s Players. Had the Tour not stopped play, it’s quite possible Matsuyama could have entered this year’s tournament the returning champion (and to think he hasn’t won since!). I like Hideki to finish what he started this week.

Top 10: Patrick Reed, +400. Reed ranks second on Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting and has only two sub-20 finishes in 2021. This is absurd value for a guy who’s played quite well to date. I’m sorry, but these are just the golf FACTS.

Prop: Best 18-hole round score of the tournament, Jordan Spieth, +3,300. I cannot, in good conscience, pick him to win this golf tournament. But less than two months removed from a 10-under 61 at the Waste Management, I most definitely CAN pick Spieth to have the low score of the tournament.

Dylan Dethier

To-win: Justin Thomas, +2,000. He’s too good to have odds this long, and there are glimmers of hope despite a lackluster start to 2021. If he drives it in the fairway, expect him to contend.

Top 10: Sungjae Im, +550. He’s a Florida killer and finding his form.

Prop: Playoff, +400. It’s gonna get clumpy at the top.

Jessica Marksbury

To-win: Dustin Johnson, +1,200. I don’t normally pick the favorite, but I am this week. Hard to deny DJ’s stats this year as a whole, even if he doesn’t have the BEST record at TPC Sawgrass. He did have a T5 in 2019, so that’s enough justification for me.

Top 10: Webb Simpson, +300. I can’t quit you, Webb! And why should I? Guy is a Top-10 machine, playing great. Plus, he’s a former champ (2018). Easy pick!

Prop: Best 18-hole round score of the tournament, Rory McIlroy, +2,200. Regardless of where McIlroy finishes in the big events, seems like he can always be counted on to post a low-to-mid 60s round at some point during the week. 

Nick Piastowski 

To-win: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, +7,500. I’m following the money on this one. According to our friends at oddschecker.com, Bezuidenhout, as of Monday, has received the most bets of anyone over the past week. He also shot an impressive seven under in his one round last year. 

Top 10: Tommy Fleetwood, +450. I actually like him as a to-win bet, too. 

Prop: Leader after Round 1, Rory McIlroy, +3,300. I love the leader-after-Round-1 bet, so let’s go with the defending champ. 

Tim Reilly

To-win: Tony Finau, +2,200. This bet is half with my heart, half with my head. There’s no arguing that Finau is playing as well as anyone in golf these days. There’s also no arguing he’s struggled to finish since his lone victory five years ago. This is it. This is the week. My heart and my head are coming together to tell me this is the pick. I believe in you, Tony.

Top 10: Will Zalatoris, +600. This kid is legit. Zalatoris garners more attention with each tournament he plays in. Another strong showing will help to solidify the notion that Zalatoris should be in the discussion as one of the game’s top rising stars. 

Prop: Two or more holes-in-one in the tournament, no, -400. Some people watch 17 for aces. I watch for splashes. 

Josh Sens

To-win: Scottie Scheffler, +5,000. Just a matter of time. Just a matter of time. So they keep telling us. I agree.

Top 10: Lee Westwood, +1,000. How is that this past week’s runner-up, and this year’s Race to Dubai winner, is listed at such long odds to be in the mix on a course that demands such precision off the tee (a Westwood strength)? I have no idea.

Prop: Two or more holes in one in the tournament. +275. We’ll see one at the 3rd and one on the 17th. Book it.

Andrew Tursky 

To-win: Collin Morikawa, +2,200. He’s obviously on a heater so this isn’t really going out on a limb, but Morikawa’s game is set up perfectly for a course that requires precision throughout 72 holes. Book another win for the young stud.

Top 10: Webb Simpson, +550. I’m going with another super reliable player here. TPC Sawgrass is about placing the ball where it needs to be, and I trust Simpson to make that happen for me this week.

Prop: Winning margin, one stroke, +225. Even if the leader has a four-stroke lead heading into the final stretch, nothing is safe at the Players. It’s tough to blow out the field here, so I’m predicting a nail-biter.

Jonathan Wall

To-win: Webb Simpson, +2,200. Sawgrass is built for the past champion. Love where his game is at heading into a big event. 

Top 10: Jordan Spieth, +350. Feels like he’s in contention each week he tees it up. 

Prop: Winner to par the 72nd hole, yes, -175. A par gets the job done on a tough finishing hole. 

Sean Zak

To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,600. Everything about Rahm’s game tells us he should win here. Everything. He’s been quiet, but not bad. Perhaps he gets it done. 

Top 10: Collin Morikawa, +300. Ditto the above. Morikawa is too good to not play well here.

Prop: To make the cut, yes, Matt Kuchar, +100. Among the few players you can get even money on to make the cut, Kuchar is clearly the best. 

The post Players Championship picks to win: Here’s who our staff is betting on appeared first on Golf.

The post Subpar’s Masters gambling preview featuring Long Shots Golf Betting’s Brady Kannon appeared first on Golf.

The post Subpar’s Masters gambling preview featuring Long Shots Golf Betting’s Brady Kannon appeared first on Golf.

On this week’s special Masters gambling edition of GOLF’s Subpar, handicapper Brady Kannon joins former PGA Tour pro Colt Knost and his close friend and on course rival Drew Stoltz live from the sports book at the new Circa Las Vegas. The host of ViSN’s Long Shots Golf Betting talks what stands out to him with Masters week upon us before all three guys provide you with their picks. And do not forget, the Subpar Chirp league is back! Listen in to hear what odds they are taking in the Chirp App and how to compete head to head with the Subpar team all weekend with live betting.

The post Subpar’s Masters gambling preview featuring Long Shots Golf Betting’s Brady Kannon appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club appeared first on Golf.

Every week Colt and Drew bring you their picks for the upcoming PGA Tour event. The Rules: 1 pick each at 25-1 or better, 1 between 26-1 and 50-1, and 2 picks at 50-1 or better. At the end of the season, man with the most prize money wins. This week they break down the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The Northern Trust at TPC Boston appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The Northern Trust at TPC Boston appeared first on Golf.

Every week Colt and Drew bring you their picks for the upcoming PGA Tour event. The Rules: 1 pick each at 25-1 or better, 1 between 26-1 and 50-1, and 2 picks at 50-1 or better. At the end of the season, man with the most prize money wins. This week they break down The Northern Trust at TPC Boston.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The Northern Trust at TPC Boston appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The Wyndham Championship appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The Wyndham Championship appeared first on Golf.

Every week Colt and Drew bring you their picks for the upcoming PGA Tour event. The Rules: 1 pick each at 25-1 or better, 1 between 26-1 and 50-1, and 2 picks at 50-1 or better. At the end of the season, man with the most prize money wins.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Colt and Drew’s picks for The Wyndham Championship appeared first on Golf.

The post This is how Matt Wolff spent his first $1.1 million winner’s check appeared first on Golf.

The post This is how Matt Wolff spent his first $1.1 million winner’s check appeared first on Golf.

Any golfer’s first PGA Tour win is a monumental and fulfilling experience — it is the true barometer that unequivocally proves you are excelling in your craft. However, what is (arguably) sweeter than the trophy and prestige that one gets from winning, is the seven-figure check deposited straight into one’s bank account. 

For Matthew Wolff, who, in his third tour appearance, won the 2019 3M Open with a decisive putt on the 18th hole, the paycheck went a long way — in both affording him to provide for his family, but also to repay his debts to other tour golfers.

Tournaments

In a pre-tournament interview for the 2020 3M Open, Wolff was asked about what it was like receiving that $1,152,000 check, and what he spent it on. Wolff, answering humbly, mentioned how he used the money to purchase a house. However, he made sure to be economical and financially-responsible with his winnings.

I really didn’t splurge on anything,” said Wolff. “I didn’t get myself a sports car or do anything like that. I feel like I live a pretty simple life in regards of, you know, me going out and spending a bunch of money or buying a bunch of things.”

Wolff also stressed the importance of not being distracted by potential winnings or the prize pool, but rather focusing on playing his best golf.

“I’m thinking about the money or thinking about anything else, that’s when I don’t play my best,” Wolff mentioned. “So if I just make sure to stay in the moment and try to play the best golf I can, I know like the money will be there, the world ranking points, everything like that is going to take care of itself, so I just make sure to not think about all that.”

However, on a more light-hearted note, Wolff was asked about the $60 dollars he owed fellow tour professional Hollis Cavner. Wolff narrated how he was playing a friendly match against someone in a practice round, and didn’t have the money on hand to pay up after he lost a bet. Wolff ended up asking Carver for a small loan and Carver left Wolff his money in Wolff’s locker.

“It was just funny how it all kind of happened and ended up,” Wolff said. “And then at the end of the week, me winning the tournament. I think that’s honestly when I did pay him. I think it was after I won and after I got that check. He was like, “All right, now you have money to pay me back, I need my money back.

The post This is how Matt Wolff spent his first $1.1 million winner’s check appeared first on Golf.

The post Here’s our very best bet for The Match (plus 9 bonus winners!) appeared first on Golf.

The post Here’s our very best bet for The Match (plus 9 bonus winners!) appeared first on Golf.

I cannot shake the feeling that betting this match is too easy. Tiger Woods is a better golfer than Phil Mickelson. Peyton Manning is theoretically a better golfer than Tom Brady. The Match II will be played at Tiger’s home course, practically in his backyard. Phil Mickelson’s game does not traditionally mesh well with the state of Florida. Tom Brady says his game is “s—poor.” He and Mickelson are supposed to take down the greatest golfer of all time?

The voices in my head are telling me a few things. They’re reminding me that Mickelson was made for events like these, while Woods does them somewhat against his nature. That Brady thrives under pressure and uncertainty, notably more so than Manning. That Brady’s golf swing is unquestionably better than his counterpart’s. That Keegan Bradley said Brady once took his lunch money, and James Driscoll said he played one stretch at Pebble Beach like a Tour pro.

But let’s not overthink this. Instead, let’s get to the betting board. If you’re wondering about my credentials, let’s just say you should have followed my advice for last week’s match and doubled your money. (I should have followed my advice, too — somehow I won 800 Internet Dollars and lost 20 real-life dollars. Anyway…) Here are 10 bets you should have in mind when you’re checking out the numbers for The Match II. Let’s start with 2000 Internet Dollars and spread ’em out accordingly — thanks again for my bosses at GOLF.com for the investment!

The first five bets come from FanDuel, while the next five come via Bovada.

1. Peyton Manning/Tiger Woods to win the match (-190)

The bet: $750 to win $394.74. Here we go! This one’s our best bet, and even at these odds we’re happy to invest.

2. Tiger Woods to hit more front-nine greens than Phil Mickelson (-126)

The bet: $100 on Woods (-138) to win $79.37. The man’s the best irons player in history and he’s teeing it up at his home course. Against Phil Mickelson. C’mon.

3. Tom Brady to make most birdies on front nine (+2000)

The bet: $50 to win $1000 on Tom Brady (!) at 20-1. What if nobody makes more than one birdie but Brady drips in a couple from the front tees? That’s worth a longshot.

4. The match will finish on No. 15 (+550)

The bet: Let’s go with the moderate blowout. $100 to win $550, with a Peyton Manning six-footer for par on No. 15 to seal the deal.

5. Tom Brady to hit the 1st fairway (+102)

The bet: I sort of feel like Brady is MOST likely to hit the first fairway. Who knows what’ll happen down the stretch, but to get plus money at No. 1? We’ll take it. Find your slot receiver, Tom! Nice short completion. $250 to win $255.

6. The match will finish on holes 15-17 (+115)

The bet: $200 to win $230. We’re not going all 18 like we did in The Match, Vol 1, when we went 19.5 holes, or whatever. An early conclusion is far more likely.

7. Team Phil after nine, Team Tiger on the overall (+500)

The bet: I don’t see the modified alternate shot going well for team Mickelson/Brady. $100 to win $500 on Tom/Phil to lead at the turn but lose to Tiger/Peyton overall.

8. Tiger Woods will wear red and Phil Mickelson will wear black

The bet: Red is listed at -350 for Tiger, while Mickelson is listed at -285 to wear black. Both are nearly guaranteed winners. I’d have to take out a GOLF.com loan to bet enough money to make it worth my while, though, so let’s just move on without a technical bet added to the ledger.

9. Tiger will be closest to the pin at No. 12 (+125)

The bet: They’ve made the turn and it’s time for Tiger Woods to take command of this match. At this price, there’s plenty of incentive for $200 to win $250 that Woods will take the greenie at 12.

10. Tiger Woods will make an eagle (Yes is +600)

The bet: Let’s live a little! With any luck the tees will be pushed up on a couple par-5s to make them reachable. Plus you’ve won your first nine bets, so there’s money to play with. The final bet is Yes, $250 to win $1500. What a moment this will be…

Good luck — to you and to me!

The post Here’s our very best bet for The Match (plus 9 bonus winners!) appeared first on Golf.

The post 5 winning bets for Sunday’s Seminole skins game appeared first on Golf.

The post 5 winning bets for Sunday’s Seminole skins game appeared first on Golf.

Yesterday, our staffer James Colgan laid out a full slate of prop bets for this weekend’s skins game. But I’m willing to go a step further and give you some cold hard winners.

This slate is provided courtesy of the good folks at BetOnline.ag, which has a nice selection — but you can find a variety of odds at a variety of sites, depending on where you live and how much you fear the rule of law. Anyway, that’s enough preamble. You’re here for one reason. Let’s get to the picks!

Ground rules: GOLF.com gave me $1000 in imaginary money to invest, so here goes…

1. Driving Relief Winner: Most money won from Skins Game

Rory McIlroy/Dustin Johnson -180 (5/9)

Rickie Fowler/Matthew Wolff +150 (3/2)

Let’s not overcomplicate this one. Rory McIlroy is the greatest player in the world and plays at Seminole with some regularity. His partner is Dustin Johnson, one of golf’s most physically gifted talents and one of the greatest players of the last decade. They’re better, particularly in this format. -180 is a good bargain.

THE PICK: $300 on McIlroy/Johnson to win $166.80

2. Will all 4 players hit the fairway on hole No. 1?

Yes +275 (11/4)

No -450 (2/9)

We turn here to our Seminole correspondent, noted insider Michael Bamberger. His scouting report on the first hole: “Very easy. Straight short wide.” Good enough for me. These guys are going to be dialed in after a range session and eager to get some first looks at birdie.

THE PICK: $100 on YES to win $275

3. Who will win longest drive bonus on hole No. 2 (and holes 3, 4 and 14)?

Rory McIlroy 5/4

Dustin Johnson 2/1       

Matthew Wolff 4/1       

Rickie Fowler 15/2

Rory McIlroy is better at driving the golf ball than just about anyone in the history of golf. But we’re talking about playing the odds here, and that means McIlroy would have to find the fairway AND hit the longest tee shot. Yeah, he slings it. But y’know who else slings it? Matthew Wolff. The young gun isn’t going to be holding anything back, and he’s already one of the better drivers in the game. Book $75 on Wolff to hit the longest drive on each of the offered holes. He’s bound to cash in at least once.

THE BET: $75 each ($300 total) on Matthew Wolff for long drive on holes 2, 3, 4 and 14 to win $1200.

Instruction

4. Will Rickie Fowler wear orange pants?

Yes +110 (11/10)

No -140 (5/7)

Nah, Rickie’s over the orange pants look. I just don’t see it. He’s going to be showcasing some of Puma’s seasonal line, and I’d bet 31-year-old Rick is going to be sporting something more age-appropriate — maybe even something floral. For that matter, if he’s carrying his own clubs, won’t he be wearing shorts? I’d smash the non-orange pants here.

THE BET: $200 to win $142.80

5. Which team will record the most eagles or better?

Rory McIlroy/Dustin Johnson -350 (2/7)

Rickie Fowler/Matthew Wolff +275 (11/4)

Sure, I think McIlroy/Johnson is the better team. But are they that much more likely to make an eagle than Fowler/Wolff? I don’t think the math checks out. The most likely result here is a push, with a chance for glory if Rickie rolls in a rangy look for eagle…

THE BET: $100 to win $275

Happy hunting! And remember — just because Rickie won’t wear orange pants doesn’t mean YOU can’t while watching.

The post 5 winning bets for Sunday’s Seminole skins game appeared first on Golf.

The post Open Championship 2019 | Betting with Bookmakers appeared first on Golf.

The post Open Championship 2019 | Betting with Bookmakers appeared first on Golf.

Across the pond in Northern Ireland, Dylan Dethier and Luke Kerr-Dineen give you their best bets for the upcoming week at Royal Portrush.

The post Open Championship 2019 | Betting with Bookmakers appeared first on Golf.