PGA TOUR - AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Having jumped a flight on Sunday night out of Saudi Arabia, DUSTIN JOHNSON will be fresh by the time he strikes the first blow on Thursday. His record in this event speaks for itself … he has two wins, two seconds, a third, a T4 and a T5 in 12 starts at Pebble. Not to mention his first two events of 2020 have yielded a T7 at Kapalua and a second at the Saudi International. Could win this by a street.

Sportsbet odds: $6.50.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

VIKTOR HOVLAND will win on the PGA Tour in 2020 and what better place to do it than at the site of his 2018 US Amateur victory. The Norwegian has all the tools to be one of the game’s top players in the future and his European Ryder Cup push will get a significant boost this week.

Sportsbet odds: $29.

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

More than happy to back the favourite here this week ... DUSTIN JOHNSON is in terrific form – having finished runner-up in Saudi last week – and loves it at Pebble Beach. His record here is insanely good: Two wins, two seconds, a third, a T4 and a T5 in 12 starts. If he doesn’t win, he will be close.

Sportsbet odds: $6.50.

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

J.B. HOLMES. Two missed cuts the last two years here mask a decent record including a T2 in 2010. Yes he shot 75 on Sunday in Phoenix to tumble out of the top 10 but that was a blip rather than a pattern and he will bounce back this week. He has the added advantage of being completely unfazed by the snail's pace of play induced by the Pro-Am format.

Sportsbet odds: $51.

EUROPEAN TOUR - VIC OPEN

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Just two weeks on from his win in Dubai, LUCAS HERBERT tees it up at home and will be in the mix for his second victory. His high ball flight will be an asset on the firm Thirteenth Beach layouts and he could scare the course record at some stage during the four rounds. I suspect he will be chased all the way by MIN WOO LEE.

Sportsbet odds: $13.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

LUCAS HERBERT is unquestionably a confidence player and right now it will be sky high. Still riding the emotions of his debut European Tour win in Dubai two weeks ago I expect the Victorian to play freely around 13th Beach this week and prove his credentials as one of our very bright talents.

Sportsbet odds: $13.

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

The recently married ANTHONY QUAYLE returns to competitive play this week and I reckon he’s an excellent chance of hoisting the silverware. The Gold Coast product shared third place here in 2018 – and he finished his latest season in Japan strongly after acknowledging he struggled early in the year.

Sportsbet odds: $41.

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

I’m staying on the MIN WOO LEE train even after a less than stellar performance in Saudi Arabia last week. Consistency likely won’t be Lee’s legacy when his career is over but flashes of brilliance will be. When he is good, he is very, very good and being home for the week on a course that will suit his imaginative style of play will see him at the pointy end come Sunday.

Sportsbet odds: $19.

LPGA TOUR - VIC OPEN

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

MINJEE LEE is making her fast start for 2020 this week, having put the clubs away back in November to spend time with family. She looked relaxed when she fronted the media on Tuesday at Thirteenth Beach and, as a two-time winner there, she will be confident  of starting the season on the right foot with a win.

Sportsbet odds: $9.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

As much as I would love to see one of the Aussies get it done, I think the recent domination of overseas players will continue, with ANNE VAN DAM the winner this week. The Dutchwoman is a previous winner in Australia, appears to be settling in more and more in LPGA Tour events and is an outstanding ball striker, a necessary requirement to win here most years.

Sportsbet odds: $51.

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

The field is certainly strong at 13th Beach this week … But I find it bizarre that HANNAH GREEN is eighth in the betting. The major winner missed the cut here last year, sure, but her second-round 78 essentially came down to two bad holes. I think she will win and win well.

Sportsbet odds: $23.

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

Former Australian Open winner HARU NOMURA has exactly the game required to do well here. How do I know? A very experienced caddy told me ('perfect ball flight for the wind’ was the exact quote) and further investigation revealed a T5 in 2019. In a field as strong as this that’s enough to sway me, so Haru Nomura it is.

Sportsbet odds: $34.

OUR BEST BETS OF THE WEEK

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

DIMI PAPADATOS is a past winner around the links at Thirteenth Beach and will contend this week. Money for jam for him to finish Top-10 in the Vic Open. I also thing MINJEE LEE will win her third title. Combine for a two-leg multi ...

Sportsbet odds: $54 (two-leg multi).

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

JORDAN ZUNIC paying $8 to finish in the top-20 at the Vic Open is great value for mine. The New South Welshman is playing the opening two rounds with his mental game guru Nick O’Hern that will make him extremely comfortable as he makes his first start since tying the knot in December at an event he has a previous top-10.

Sportsbet odds: $8.

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

JASON NORRIS is paying $24 to finish inside the top-10 at 13th Beach this week. The 2010 champ may have won his title at another course (Spring Valley) but he has finished T22, T32 and T26 in his last three starts here. If his body holds up, he’s a pretty good top-10 shot at those odds.

Sportsbet odds: $24.

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

MARCUS FRASER to finish top 10 at 13th Beach. As he proved at Rio in 2016 a course that requires as much thought and imagination as length and execution is right in his wheelhouse and he will be in his element this week.

Sportsbet odds: $7.50.