It was another successful week for the so-called experts last week, with a winner, runner-up and a number of other close calls. And with five events on their radar this week, there is plenty of chances to add to their tally.
WGC-DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
It’s only four years since JON RAHM was runner-up in this event and there are few that have struck the ball as well as the Spaniard since the Tour returned after COVID last year.
His only real concern in his corner of the qualifying brackets is Xander Schauffele, who is struggling for consistent form. Rahm gets by him and he will be tough to knock over in the finals.
Sportsbet odds: $12.
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
Despite being drawn in something of a pool of death for the round robin portion, I like SERGIO GARCIA here this week.
The Texas-based Spaniard is a member at Austin Country Club, so course knowledge is certainly there, so too previous good play in this event – T9 in 2018 and T5 in 2019.
Garcia showed some signs of promising form at The Players when sharing ninth, and his match play chops are well and truly established as one of Europe’s main players in the Ryder Cup for almost his entire career.
Sportsbet odds: $36.
RELATED: WGC-Match Play preview
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
He’s probably going to have to get past Dustin Johnson the way the bracket is set up but SUNGJAE IM is hard to go past for mine.
The South Korean is making his first appearance in this event but his game sets up perfectly for match play. He’s an absolute ball-striker and has the ability to go low quickly, as seen at The Players where he made six consecutive birdies during the second round.
The World No.17 shared eighth place during his title defence at The Honda Classic last week.
Sportsbet odds: $31.
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
A good run of recent form and a format that suits means CAM SMITH is the man to beat at this week’s WGC Dell Match Play in Texas.
The 2013 Australian Amateur champion tees up for the third time in the event where he finished just outside the top four on debut in 2018 before a disappointing campaign and early exit in 2019.
Smith is a proven match play performer with his record including a victory over Justin Thomas in the singles at the 2019 Presidents Cup proof he won’t be daunted by the big names in the field.
Sportsbet odds: $36.
PGATOUR OF AUSTRALASIA - GOLF CHALLENGE NSW OPEN
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
The Tom Doak remodelled Concord GC course is a thinking player’s layout, with brains winning out over brawn.
Conditions will also be trying and it will take a player of great mental aptitude to prevail, and that player is MATT MILLAR. He’s coming off a clean sweep of four Pro-Am wins in the NSW Riverina so good form is not an issue.
TAB odds: $41.
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
This is going to be a real slog for all involved after the horrendous weather Sydney has copped over the past week or so, and it makes picking a winner a little more difficult than it already was, with so many players unable to familiarise themselves with Concord.
Having caddied for him a few weeks ago, where he missed the cut on the number, I am going with AARON PIKE this week.
Pike was impressive in his last start in Queensland, sharing 12th, and adapts to new courses well. His creative and varied short game will also suit Concord well and there is plenty of fire to win again burning within after claiming the NT PGA last year that didn’t deliver a winner’s exemption due to the field makeup.
TAB odds: $41.
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
Great to see the NSW Open return to Concord for the first time in 33 years. The big question is, who will best approach the Tom Doak redesign?
I reckon the answer to that is TRAVIS SMYTH.
The Sydneysider has finished T12th, T8th and T4th from his three most recent starts and should have enjoyed some practice rounds around the Doak layout.
TAB odds: $17.
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
A water logged golf course will favour those who hit the ball long and high at this week’s NSW Open which likely eliminates some of the old guard who might have otherwise fancied their chances on the Tom Doak reworked Concord Golf Club.
The torrential rains that have battered Sydney in the week leading up to the tournament will make this event a test of both skill and patience and after a disappointing week at the Queensland Open (MC) expect the exciting left handed youngster ELVIS SMYLIE to be in the mix come Sunday.
TAB odds: $19.
PGA TOUR - CORALES PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
LUCAS HERBERT was one of ten players to receive an unrestricted sponsor’s exemption for this event and I expect he will grab the opportunity to with both hands.
He’s got no real form to speak of but I think the course this week might suit his eye.
Sportsbet odds: $56.
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
So long as he doesn’t get the last minute call up to the match play as the first alternate I am backing LUCAS HERBERT to make it two wins a row for Aussies on the PGA Tour.
Herbert is familiar with last minute dashes to tournament venues and tackling an unfamiliar course, and with his deep held desire to play his way onto the PGA Tour full time this week presents a fantastic opportunity to do just that.
Sportsbet odds: $56.
RELATED: Corales Puntacana preview
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
Terrible form and $101 odds shouldn’t get in the way of KELLY KRAFT featuring across the weekend in the Dominican Republic.
The 32-year-old American, who is still searching for his maiden PGA Tour title, finished T14th here last year and was T5th in 2019.
Sportsbet odds: $101.
Opposite field events set up best for players on the fringes of the PGA Tour and one name stands out in this week’s Puntacana Corales Championship as being a class above the field.
Most fans would assume THOMAS PIETERS is in the field at the WGC Match Play but at 76th in the World Ranking he is well outside qualification. However, the former Ryder Cup player should excel in this company and it would be a surprise if he isn’t in the thick of the action late Sunday.
Sportsbet odds: $19.
EURO TOUR - KENYA SAVANNAH CLASSIC
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
The European Tour stays in Kenya this week and the player who impressed me last week is the man to watch this week. KURT KITAYAMA, beaten into second place by two strokes by South Africa’s Justin Harding, was fantastic.
Having opened with a 67, he strung together three consecutive rounds of 66. If he can replicate that form on the same course this week, he will contend again.
Sportsbet odds: $15.
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
SCOTT HEND found some form at this very venue last week, and I am hoping it carries over and lasts the distance of the tournament this week.
Hend’s attitude towards his game is as fantastic as ever, and he won’t be holding onto his poor final round and putting from last week. Ans as one of the most frequent players in professional golf he will have no dramas with the extremely short turnaround here.
Sportsbet odds: $81.
RELATED: Kenya Savannah Classic preview
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
Pretty happy to stick with JUSTIN HARDING after his victory here last week. More of the same please, Justin.
Sportsbet odds: $17.
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Last week’s pick KURT KITAYAMA came so close at the Kenya Open that we will be sticking with him this week as the Euro Tour plays back-to-back events at the Karen Golf Club.
The American has been on a good run recently and while there is a danger of fatigue after such an intense battle last Sunday the greater likelihood is extra motivation after coming up just short.
Sportsbet odds: $15.
LPGA TOUR - KIA CLASSIC
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
The Kia Classic returns after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. The reigning champ Nasa Hataoka has started this year slowly and I suspect she won’t be a factor this week.
But the same can’t be said for one of the women who finished runner-up to her in 2019. DANIELLE KANG has had two top-six finishes in three events, including an outright second at the season-opener. We’ll forget about the MC in between and look for her to notch up her sixth career victory this week.
Sportsbet odds: $17.
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
Going with a real fairy tale type pick this week, MICHELLE WIE WEST, as the LPGA Tour gets back underway after a brief hiatus.
Wie West last teed it up on Tour in mid-2019, having her first child since, and although she is obviously extremely underdone when it comes to tournament golf, the former major champion wouldn’t be teeing it up just to register another start on her career tally.
The American has been working at her game consistently for months now, and a win or high finish here would add another unique chapter to her amazingly unique career.
Sportsbet odds: $326.
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
We haven’t seen much of JIN YOUNG KO so far in 2021. She place fourth at the Gainbridge LPGA in February and missed the cut at the Drive On Championship the week after.
But be prepared for the World No.1 to re-enter the winner’s circle this week at the Kia Classic, where she was runner-up in 2019 and T10th in 2018.
Sportsbet odds: $13.
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
World No.1 Jin Young Ko and in form Nelly Korda will draw much of the attention this week but it is another Ko – LYDIA KO – who is the player to watch.
A winner here in 2015 and well on her way back to the form which took her to World No.1 at just 17 years of age, familiarity will be the Kiwi’s friend this week.
Her two year victory drought has been well documented and while a late stumble at the Marathon tournament in August last year when the win was there for the taking was costly, they are merely steps on the journey for one of the most prodigious talents the game has seen.
Sportsbet odds: $12.
2021 RESULTS
So far our so-called experts have combined to tip FIVE winners in 2021, with 37 of their picks recording top-10 finishes that week and a best return of $61 for Max Homa to win the Genesis Invitational (tipped by Rod Morri).
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