So-called expert golf tips for this week

 

PGA TOUR - RBC HERITAGE

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

TOMMY FLEETWOOD is trending in the right direction for mine.

He’s had two top-10s in his past four starts, including a T5 at the WGC Match Play. His closing 76 at The Masters saw him tumble down the leaderboard and his T46 was not reflective of the solid week he had at Augusta.

Good quality ball-strikers always excel at the Heritage and you can count the Englishman among those well-suited to the layout.

Sportsbet odds: $41.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

ABRAHAM ANCER was never a significant factor last week at Augusta on his way to a T26, but there was enough to convince me that this week he finally might break his PGA Tour duck and claim a trophy.

Ancer is a fairway finding and ball striking machine, both key ingredients for success at Harbor Town, as shown by his runner-up finish here last year.

The former Australian Open winner has finished in the top-25 five times already this year, suggesting that first win is close.

Sportsbet odds: $31.

RELATED: RBC Heritage preview

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

Another good showing at Augusta last week and his killer wedge game has me confident CAMERON SMITH will be right amongst it this week at Harbor Town.

The mullet-sporting Queenslander has only missed one cut this season and was T15 here during his first appearance in 2015.

Sportsbet odds: $26.

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

He snuck into the top 20 at Augusta without much fanfare and after a T3 result at Harbor Town last year England's TYRRELL HATTON will be the player to watch this week.

The last of the players to finish under par at The Masters his Sunday 68 was behind only Jon Rahm on the final day and if he brings that form this week he will be at the pointy end of the leaderboard.

Sportsbet odds: $23.

LPGA - LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Really, really hard to tip against BROOKE HENDERSON who will be looking to make it a three-peat at the Lotte Championship, albeit a lengthy period since her second victory in 2019 due to the event being postponed due to COVID.

No player has a record in this event like the Canadian, who made her debut in this event in 2016 and has not finished outside the top-10 since.

In fact, she is an incredible 49 under par for the 16 tournament rounds she has played in that time. It will be a massive upset if Henderson doesn’t prevail here.

Sportsbet odds: $15.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

The stop-start nature of the LPGA Tour so far this year has made it hard to make a selection each tournament, so I am going with a proven performer in extremely strong form here. NELLY KORDA has recorded four top-10s so far this year from her five starts, with a win amongst them, and a worst finish of T28.

The younger Korda has taken the top spot on the season long points race and it won’t be long before she ascends to the top of the world rankings in this writer’s opinion. And that will be helped with a win in Hawaii, where she has made one previous start, finishing eighth in 2019.

Sportsbet odds: $8.

RELATED: LOTTE Championship preview

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

ARIYA JUTANUGARN represents serious value here this week for mine.

The Thai phenom has an excellent record at this event – 3rd (2013), 16th (‘14), T15th (‘16), T7th (‘17), T3rd (‘18) and T3rd (‘19) – which suggests her near three-year winless drought could finally be broken.

Sportsbet odds: $41.

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

Like Jordan Spieth two weeks ago LYDIA KO is on the verge of breaking a victory drought that has gone on far too long and this week in Hawaii presents an ideal opportunity.

Her heroics in the final round the ANA were surely the final piece in the confidence puzzle for her and while it has been three years since she made the trip to Hawaii she has played well enough in five previous appearances (including a runner up in 2017) to like her chances.

Sportsbet odds: $10.

EURO TOUR - AUSTRIAN OPEN

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

It’s not a very strong field teeing it up in the Austrian Open this week but there are some notable players to follow. JUSTIN HARDING is one of the form players on the Euro Tour in recent times, having had a win and a T14 in consecutive weeks in Kenya.

More notable is his scoring across that fortnight where he carded seven consecutive rounds in the 60s, with a two-tournament average of 66.5.

Any semblance of that form this week and he will win going away.

Sportsbet odds: $19.

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

As mentioned by my fellow tipsters, this is far from the best field we will see all year, but someone has to win and I think that will be Aussie JAKE MCLEOD.

McLeod’s year so far has been a bit of a mixed bag, but there was enough over the local summer to give him confidence as he heads back to Europe in search of his first overseas win and better status. And his straight driving and accurate approach play will be a good match for Diamond Country Club this week.

Sportsbet odds: $151.

RELATED: Austrian Open preview

Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer

Danish young gun RASMUS HOJGAARD will make his first Austrian Open start this week and I think it will be one to remember.

The 21-year-old started the year well – with shares of 25th, 9th and 6th – but missed the cut in his most recent effort at the Qatar Masters in mid-March.

I expect him to bounce back quickly and claim his third European Tour title.

Sportsbet odds: $19.

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

2021 RESULTS

So far our so-called experts have combined to tip EIGHT winners in 2021, with 55 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).