A couple more winners and five top-10s last week for the so-called experts keeps their hot streak going. Having cast their eyes over the Scottish Open, John Deere Classic and Marathon LPGA Classic fields, here are their picks.
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Lots of big names teeing it up in Scotland this week and there are few bigger than World No.1 JON RAHM, who hasn’t played since his U.S. Open victory last month.
The Spaniard has shown a liking for the links game, winning the Irish Open twice, and is a very good wind player. Recent heavy rain has left The Renaissance Club a little soft so low scoring may be a factor over the first few days.
If Rahm can get among the leaders early, he’ll be too hard to catch on Sunday.
Sportsbet odds: $8.50
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
I am really looking forward to this week, with a top field taking on an interesting golf course, and I think it will be a slight outsider who takes the title come Sunday afternoon rather that one of the favourites.
IAN POULTER hasn’t played his best golf of late, but hasn’t been far off the mark with his last missed cut at The Honda Classic and some solid mid-field results on the PGA Tour.
The World No.56 loves links golf and next week’s Open Championship, so will be up and about having made the jump across from his US base, and has good memories at Renaissance after a T6 and T14 in 2020 and 2019 respectively.
Sportsbet odds: $56
RELATED: Scottish Open preview
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
I was happy enough with what I saw from TOMMY FLEETWOOD in Ireland last week to justify giving him another go in Scotland.
The Englishman was runner-up here last year after losing to his compatriot Aaron Rai in extra holes.
I’m confident he will find himself in the thick of things again.
Sportsbet odds: $31
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
The big names are in town with The Open next week and on a course that saw low scoring two years ago expect one of the world’s best to lift the trophy.
JUSTIN THOMAS was top-10 here in 2020 and having been less of a fixture at the top of leaderboards recently will be highly motivated in his final warm up before Royal St Georges.
Sportsbet odds: $19
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Now that the first-win hurdle has been cleared, CAM DAVIS can really make a name for himself by accumulating more victories.
TPC Deere Run might be the ideal follow-up course for Davis – it is the easiest par-71 on the PGA Tour and a winning score lower than 20 under usually prevails.
Given the way he played last week, it wouldn’t surprise if this Sydney lad went back-to-back with a winning score of 24 or 25 under.
Sportsbet odds: $26
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
At one time ALEX NOREN was ranked as the best player in men’s golf, and has won 11 times around the world.
Now sitting in No.83 on the rankings, Noren showed some vintage form on his way to a share fourth last week in Detroit and having similarly shown some positives signs during his T13 at The Memorial a little while ago could be a somewhat surprise winner this week.
Since committing to the PGA Tour full-time, the Swede hasn’t managed a win on the world’s top circuit but he remains an insanely hard worker, who might just find this event to his liking.
Sportsbet odds: $29
RELATED: John Deere Classic preview
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
American AARON WISE has posted four top-20s from his past eight starts and was T16th here back in 2016.
The World No.102 hasn’t been able to add to his maiden PGA Tour title – which he claimed in 2018 at the AT&T Byron Nelson – and will be eager as ever to re-enter the winner’s circle. His game tee-to-green is very solid and he’s currently ranked ninth for greens in regulation.
The main area of concern is his putting, for which he is ranked 200th. I’m hoping the putts start dropping for him this week.
Sportsbet odds: $34
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
It’s not every week you tip an over 50’s player to win on the PGA Tour, but it’s not every week STEVE STRICKER tees up in the John Deere Classic off the back of a six stroke PGA Tour Champions victory.
A three time winner at TPC Deere Run and in a weaker than normal field ahead of next week’s Open Championship he isn’t out of it by any means.
Sportsbet odds: $41
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Korea’s SO YEON RYU has worked her way into some good recent form and it’s about time she registered a win for 2021.
She is a model of consistency, having not missed a cut in 19 LPGA starts since September 2019. But she must be feeling closer to a victory after recording four top-six finishes in her past seven events.
In the absence of most of the world’s top-10 this week, she will be hard to beat.
Sportsbet odds: $12
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
SEI YOUNG KIM faded badly on Sunday last week to record one of her worst results of the year, but it will be merely a blip on the radar for the South Korean, who wouldn’t surprise with a win this week.
Eight top-20s so far this year have yet to wield a victory, however, Kim returns to the site of her 2019 win by two shots over Lexi Thompson this week that will surely put some confidence in the tank.
The only weak parts of her game so far in 2021 has been finding the fairways and bunker play, so if she can find the short grass a little more it will have the flow on effect of missing the sand more often and likely success.
Sportsbet odds: $10
RELATED: Marathon LPGA Classic preview
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
South Korean AMY YANG stormed home with the round of the day at the Women’s PGA Championship two weeks ago and should arrive in Ohio brimming with confidence.
The four-time LPGA Tour winner has posted six top-20s from 11 starts this year and has never missed the cut at this event from seven efforts.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the three-time Honda LPGA Thailand winner claim her first Tour title since February, 2019.
Sportsbet odds: $29
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
It’s been a difficult few weeks for Canada’s BROOKE HENDERSON and her results have been less than stellar but on a course she has shown a liking for in the past (third in 2018 and T11 in 2019) look for her to turn things around this week.
With a win in 2021 already, it could hardly be described as a poor season but Henderson will be less than happy with her overall performances and with just two weeks till the next major at Evian the run up begins now.
Sportsbet odds: $19
2021 RESULTS
So far our so-called experts have combined to tip 18 winners in 2021, with 86 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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So-called expert golf tips for this week
