PGA TOUR - WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Surprisingly RORY McILROY makes his first appearance in this event so the only form guide for him is his recent run.

He followed up his third place in Abu Dhabi with a ‘disappointing’ T16 at Torrey Pines last week. He drove the ball well at the Farmers Insurance Open but his wedge game was ordinary, so he was not able to take advantage of his length and get his shorter approaches within birdie range.

I expect that will be the focus of his practice before round one and come Thursday he will hit the ground running. If there is one man in this week’s field who can cruise to 17 under (the winning score for three of the past five years) it is McIlroy.

Sportsbet odds: $11.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

I tipped XANDER SCHAUFFELE as the player to watch on the PGA Tour this year as he heads towards an eventual stint as the World No.1 in future years and a win this week will be part of that ascent.

Schauffele shared runner-up honours last week in his hometown event where he admits he has struggled to get comfortable in the past and in addition to good form the American has a game well suited to TPC Scottsdale.

Three top-20s from three starts at this event is very promising, so too the fact that Schauffele hasn’t finished outside the top-25 in any start since June last year.

Sportsbet odds: $11.

RELATED: Waste Management Phoenix Open preview

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

I also chose XANDER SCHAUFFELE as my player to watch this year and I reckon this week will justify that decision.

The World No.4 is obviously an outstanding talent. But he’s recorded seven runner-up finishes since his last victory, which came over two years ago. I’m hoping he will develop the skills to close out events, starting in Phoenix this week.

Sportsbet odds: $11.

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

He’s been at less than his best for far too long but a return trip to familiar ground will be just the boost HIDEKI MATSUYAMA needs to get back in the winners’ circle.

He’s twice been a winner at TPC Scottsdale but, more importantly, has never finished outside the top 16 in seven starts there.

Sportsbet odds: $21.

EURO TOUR - SAUDI INTERNATIONAL

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Really hard to go past World No.1 DUSTIN JOHNSON, who won this event in 2019 and was runner-up in the second edition last year.

So far, he’s 29 under for eight rounds played across the Royal Greens G&CC layout and by Sunday night he’ll be closer to 45 under and have a 28th professional victory.

Sportsbet odds: $6.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

With big money on offer plenty of big names have rolled into to town for this event, and I see one of the game’s up-and-coming stars getting the job done this week. VIKTOR HOVLAND did not finish with his best stuff last week in California, but a T2 was yet another strong showing.

The Norwegian shared third in his last desert start at the DP World Tour Championship in late 2020 and will be keen to add a European Tour victory to his resume this year as he targets a spot on the Ryder Cup team headed for Whistling Straits.

Sportsbet odds: $17.

RELATED: Saudi International preview

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

I really like the chances of MIN WOO LEE in Saudi this week.

The young Aussie averages 68 shots per round at Royal Greens and should have settled back into the swing of things after some time off over the New Year. Lee has an excellent game tee-to-green, so if his putter catches fire I’m expecting him to feature prominently over the weekend.

Sportsbet odds: $251.

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

It’s almost impossible to bet against the Wold No.1this week, especially when he has a record as good as he does in Saudi Arabia. DUSTIN JOHNSON has made the trip to the Saudi International twice for a win and a runner up result.

The reigning Masters champion hasn’t teed up since Hawaii in January but that will present no problem for a player who doesn’t need his ‘A’ game to win.

Sportsbet odds: $6.

PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA - VICTORIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

The Vic PGA moves to Moonah Links, with the Legends Course hosting the opening rounds and the brutal Open Course in play over the weekend. If AARON PIKE can enter the weekend within earshot of the lead I expect he will excel over the tough Peter Thomson-designed layout.

It is a course well-suited to the big fella, whose form has been solid in recent times and includes a win in the Northern Territory PGA and a T9 at The Players Series event at Rosebud last weekend.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

There was a lot to like about ALESSANDRO NOSEDA’s play on his way to a runner-up finish at the Gippsland Super 6 a couple of weeks ago and I think this event could suit him.

The Swiss player, who is now based in the Gold Coast, would have been disappointed with his T53 last week at Rosebud, but if he can make it to the weekend towards the pointy end of the leaderboard I think he could be in with a chance at claiming a somewhat surprising win in early in his professional career.

RELATED: Vic PGA preview

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

Tour veteran MARCUS FRASER has been hugely impressive for the past couple of weeks, winning in Gippsland and sharing seventh place in Rosebud last week.

I reckon the two courses at Moonah Links will set up perfectly for him to score another victory for the summer.

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

He’s been doing a lot of work on his swing the past two years and it paid off in spades last week for BRYDEN MACPHERSON who will be riding a wave of confidence into this week’s Victorian PGA at Moonah Links.

While he lacks the profile of some others in the field he is a proven winner with three victories on the China Tour and after changing to the finish line at Rosebud comes to nearby Moonah Links with momentum on his side.

2021 RESULTS

So far our so-called experts have combined to tip one winner in 2021, with 12 of their picks recording top-10 finishes that week and a best return of $19 for Marcus Fraser to win the Gippsland Super 6 (tipped by Jimmy Emanuel).