The major season continues this week, with best players in women’s golf teeing it up at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. After a couple of close calls last week, including a US Open runner-up, can the so-called experts tip a winner across the LPGA, PGA and European Tours?
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
NELLY KORDA will win this week.
It’s her time to shine and claim her first major title, having finished in the top-3 twice in recent years.
Her win last weekend will have her in the right frame of mind to score well this week.
Sportsbet odds: $14
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
Having tipped Nelly Korda multiple times this year only to miss out on her win last week I am avoiding temptation to jump back on this week. Instead I am going with a redemption story for LEXI THOMPSON.
The American threw away a chance to win her national open at The Olympic Club just a few short weeks ago, and I think she will make amends this week in Atlanta.
Thompson possesses power in spades, and has been absolutely striping her irons this year. The issue will be whether Lexi’s short game holds up, and I think she will have put plenty of work into this area since the US Women’s Open to make sure it does.
Sportsbet odds: $23
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Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
I really tried to find someone other than INBEE PARK to tip this week – but how can you possibly go past her?
The South Korean won this event back-to-back-to-back from 2013-2015 and I think the Highlands Course at Atlanta Athletic Club sets up perfectly for her.
Park is ranked eighth on Tour for her driving accuracy, fourth for her putting average and second for her scoring average. Lock it in
Sportsbet odds: $15
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
It would almost be too easy to pick NELLY KORDA this week but it would also be kind of difficult not to.
Clearly the standout player of 2021, her stunning performance in winning last week could easily carry her to the first of what seems likely to be multiple career major titles.
There are few – if any – weaknesses in the American's game and Atlanta Athletic Club should suit her style of play.
Sportsbet odds: $14
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Would be great if SU OH’s first LPGA victory was a major.
She is a chance this week after finding some good form at the Meijier Classic. Even if she doesn’t win I expect a top-10 finish awaits.
TAB odds: $5.50
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
It is a great thing for Aussie golf that we have a number of genuine chances to not only be our best performer but lift the trophy this week. And I am going for a slight outsider in GABI RUFFELS.
The transplanted Victorian has shown the major stage doesn’t intimidate her and watching some of her work last week at the Meijer Classic it felt as though she is right on the verge of doing something special and securing LPGA Tour membership.
TAB odds: $6.50
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gabi Ruffels contend this week – given she has never missed the top-20 at the majors from her four starts – but I’m expecting HANNAH GREEN to be right amongst it on Sunday evening.
Here’s hoping Green will hoist the LPGA Champions Trophy for the second time.
TAB odds: $3
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Australia is well represented this week but in 2021 our best player has been the 2019 PGA winner, HANNAH GREEN.
The West Australian’s game has come a long way in the last two years and the official rankings now reflect what has been obvious for a while – she is Australia’s top female player.
Expect Green to contend not only for top Australian but for the trophy come Sunday.
TAB odds: $3
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Got to like the defending champion DUSTIN JOHNSON here.
This is where he started his winning run last year and those memories will certainly help as he tries to emerge from a mini slump.
Sportsbet odds: $13
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
The US Open will have taken plenty out of many of the main contenders here, so I am looking to a player who arrives fresh to take the title in Connecticut. RICKIE FOWLER will have been gutted to miss Torrey Pines, and having done the right thing for fans at final qualifying I think karma will pay him back this week.
Fowler was T8 at the PGA, T11 at the Memorial and will no doubt have a pep in his step post announcing the impending birth of his first child.
Statistically there isn’t much to get excited about with Rickie’s game at the moment beyond his work around the greens, but if he finds anything like his old putting form he will be a chance here.
Sportsbet odds: $51
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Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
I know he said otherwise, but I reckon BRYSON DECHAMBEAU would be spewing after his back-nine collapse at Torrey Pines last week.
His ‘bomb and gouge’ strategy nearly delivered back-to-back US Open titles. But the wheels well and truly fell off at the 13th hole after his right foot slipped during his tee shot.
TPC River Highlands will play much easier than the South Course did last week, though, so I expect to see him bounce back with PGA Tour title number nine.
Sportsbet odds: $12
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Forget Sunday's disaster at Torrey Pines, MACKENZIE HUGHES will be feeling plenty good about his game coming to TPC River Highlands this week.
The bizarre double bogey he made at the 11th hole of the final round clearly unsettled the otherwise steady Canadian and put an end to his US Open bid. But there was a lot to like about the rest of Hughes’ performance last week and he is a good bet to be around the pointy end come the end of the week in Connecticut.
Sportsbet odds: $91
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
He might be a little drained from his runner-up finish at the US Open, but LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN will find a way to get into contention in Germany.
Whether it’s his ball striking or his putting, he’ll find a way.
Sportsbet odds: $8
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
Difficult to gauge the field here with many having last week off, while the others have made a long journey from San Diego. I am going with one of the latter group to claim the trophy in Aussie WADE ORMSBY.
The South Australian’s form has been up and down this year, but a T40 last week at the US Open included some really solid stuff and he recorded a top-20 in his last visit here in 2018.
Ormsby will hit plenty of fairways and greens, which works around this layout, and will be brimming with confidence after his best finish in a major.
Sportsbet odds: $131
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Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
Young gun VIKTOR HOVLAND was forced to withdraw from Torrey Pines last week after getting sand in his eye – but I’m expecting the Norwegian to bounce back strongly to collect his maiden European Tour title.
The 23-year-old is an elite ball-striker and is already 14th in the world rankings. My only concern is his streaky short game.
Sportsbet odds: $7.50
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Not for the first time in the last couple of years MARTIN KAYMER showed flashes at Torrey Pines last week of the game that captured two majors and a Players Championship last decade.
A former winner at this tournament (admittedly in another lifetime, 2008) he has had mixed results in recent years but the possibility of the German ending his career with no more Tour victories seems preposterous.
This week’s course will not only be familiar but feel like a walk-in the park after last week’s setup and is exactly the type of event you would expect Kaymer to do well at.
As a side note, pay particular attention to the play of Elvis Smylie this week. His first foray onto the international stage as a professional will be interesting to watch.
Sportsbet odds: $26
2021 RESULTS
So far our so-called experts have combined to tip 13 winners in 2021, with 77 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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