There were top-10s and a gold medal for the so-called experts last week. Now they are hoping to end the PGA Tour regular season on a high, and have some joy as the European and LPGA Tours peg it up in the UK.
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
My head says I should be tipping Webb Simpson this week, whose scoring average for his past 16 round at Sedgefield is 65.31, but I’m going with my heart in backing AARON BADDELEY.
He recorded his best finish of the year last week at the Barracuda and is in desperate need of a good performance to ensure maximum playing rights for next year.
He’s still one of the best putters on the planet, which works in his favour at Sedgefield.
Sportsbet odds: $326
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
There are some serious horses for courses in this field, and while the temptation of an almost guaranteed top-10 with Webb Simpson is there, I am going to go with HIDEKI MATSUYAMA here in the hopes of getting a win.
Hideki was solid in Tokyo where he carried the weight of a nation and still almost claimed a bronze medal, then he lost another playoff last week in Memphis.
The Masters winner is clearly playing well and has three top-15s at this event from six starts. Could have taken a pre-Playoffs break, but paying on suggests to me he is trophy hungry.
Sportsbet odds: $15
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Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
He won’t get a lot of love and it’s understandable why given recent form but BYEONG HUN AN was third in this event last year and is just the type of player to bob up on a Sunday afternoon after a run of outs.
Having missed as many cuts as he has made in his last six starts, An is about due a good performance and this week could well be it.
Sportsbet odds: $151
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN. If an Aussie can’t salute, I just want him to be the man.
I’m sick of this “no good unless you’ve won in the USA” nonsense for all, so once and for all want it taken out of his conversation.
Obviously in great recent form and can’t see why it wouldn’t run on here.
Sportsbet odds: $19
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
A well-rested RICHARD BLAND heads to the London Golf Club and, while he might lack the length to overpower the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout, he makes up for it by excelling in other areas of his game.
Could it be possible that the man who went for so long on the European Tour without a win, makes it two victories in the same season? Three top-15 finishes in his past six events suggests, that in this field, he could hoist another trophy in 2021.
Sportsbet odds: $29
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
Chasing a Ryder Cup start, VICTOR PEREZ has struggled mightily of late, missing more cuts than he is making, focusing on big events like majors and WGCs.
The Scottish based Frenchman is a better player than he has shown recently, and I expect him to find something here amongst a weaker field than he has become accustomed to, as he tries for a final push to be a part of Padraig Harrington’s plans.
Sportsbet odds: $29
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Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
A new event on the European Tour schedule, the Cazoo Classic replaces the former English Open and will be played at the London Golf Club on the outskirts of the city of the same name.
Australia’s WADE ORMSBY returns from the WGC in Memphis where he finished T51 but his play in Europe in 2021 has been impressive.
He will be comfortable in the surrounds and expect a better performance this week.
Sportsbet odds: $46
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
The 2020/21 BRYDEN MACPHERSON yarn should be made into a movie one day — and this could be the final, glorious chapter.
Won twice at home this past summer, including the year’s biggest event, the NSW Open at Concord where he was outstanding. Has been in Europe for a few weeks now and has the bottle to press on once in contention.
A win here would take him from sponsor invite to front and centre in 2022 and beyond.
Sportsbet odds: $67
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Thirty two players who contested the women’s Olympic golf competition have left the heat of Tokyo for the slight chill of Scotland this week, with HANNAH GREEN being among the best of them.
Having narrowly missed a medal in Tokyo, Green is in terrific form and hopefully that translates into some good scoring across the Dumbarnie Links.
Sportsbet odds: $19
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
HANNAH GREEN has had a big circle around the month of August for some time and I expect her to be right in the mix here.
Green had an Olympic medal in her sights, and if not for a slow start on Saturday, she may well have had one in her luggage on her way to Scotland. Outside of Tokyo, the major winner has regularly mentioned her desire to play well over the next two weeks, in part due to her Scottish mother.
An inspired Hannah is generally a good indicator of success, and her little battle with Minjee Lee to be our top player is an interesting aside for the rest of the year.
Sportsbet odds: $19
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Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
A triple bogey on the 9th hole on Saturday at the Olympics derailed what was shaping as an impressive round by Ireland’s LEONA MAGUIRE and she never seemed to recover.
That aside, she is a player on the rise and will feel at home on the links land of Scotland.
Sportsbet odds: $29
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
The young Thai superstar, PATTY TAVATANAKIT, has so many weapons and besides, I’m saving my Hannah Green tip until the big upcoming major :)!!
‘Tava’ to her mates, broke through at the ANA, but most don’t realise she’s had five other top-five finishes this season alone.
Missed the cut in the Women’s Open in 2019 and didn’t play in the UK last year, so I suspect she’s well focused here.
Sportsbet odds: $15
2021 RESULTS
So far our so-called experts have combined to tip 21 winners in 2021, with 110 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
So-called expert golf tips for this week
