So-called expert golf tips for this week

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Hideki Matsuyama will get a hero’s welcome home as he gets to play in front of Japanese fans properly for the first time since winning the Masters in April. But under the weight of that expectation, I reckon it will be one of his countrymen to rise to the top.

TAKUMI KANAYA is warming to a victory after an impressive run of form during the past two months, in which he has played seven events, finishing no worse than T16, and had five top-10s.

Sportsbet odds: $51

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

This isn’t quite the field the PGA Tour would have been hoping for, but that presents a chance for the big names in the field to add another victory and that player will be COLLIN MORIKAWA.

Hideki Matsuyama will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders at home, Rickie Fowler would be a great story, but it is The Open winner who looks the pick here.

Morikawa played well at his home club last week and has some unfinished business in Japan after the Olympics. Expect something special from the best iron player in the game this week.

Sportsbet odds: $6.50

RELATED: ZOZO Championship preview

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

The year of the comeback player has already featured Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko and now it’s time for RICKIE FOWLER to complete the circle.

One of the most popular players of his generation, his slump has been well documented but last week's performance in the Las Vegas desert suggests he is out the other side. With confidence high and his game in good shape he will be dangerous this week and it will be a surprise if he’s not at the pointy end of the leaderboard Sunday afternoon.

Sportsbet odds: $21

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

Many will tell you that Audrey Hepburn was the next big thing the last time I tipped a winner, so if you can imagine Eliza Doolittle speaking to one increasingly impressive American golfer: "Just you wait, 'Arry 'Iggs, just you wait."

Well, HARRY HIGGS, I'm nothing if not one fair laddy (yes!), so I'm saying the wait is over. Higgs has a great short game, was top-10 last week – his third top-15 finish in his past six events – and can break through here with many top-end guns absent.

Sportsbet odds: $56

EURO TOUR - MALLORCA GOLF OPEN

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Irishman NIALL KEARNEY returns to action this week on the back of some quality form, with 14 sub-par rounds (to reach 40-under) in his past 16 tournament rounds.

He is yet to win on the European Tour but it’s only a matter of time. And a win this week could propel him into the vital Top-125 in the Race To Dubai.

Sportsbet odds: $56

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

This one is a real mystery, reflected by the World No.188 being the betting favourite.

So I am going with a patriotic and value driven pick in MAVERICK ANTCLIFF.

The Queenslander has lost the consistency he had earlier during this European Tour season and has missed his last two cuts, but he appears to be a winner of the future on this circuit and with the Aussies performing well across the world last week will want to get in on the act.

Sportsbet odds: $81

RELATED: Mallorca Open Golf preview

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

Big hitting Kiwi RYAN FOX has been rounding nicely into form in recent weeks but the icing on the cake was an impressive T4 finish at Valderrama last week.

To post a top-five result on a course that shouldn’t really suit his game or style of play says a lot about where Fox’s game is, signing for three sub 70 scores at one of the toughest courses on Tour a bonus.

Sportsbet odds: $23

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I wanted to say something positive around RYAN FOX, then noted that the normally inimitable Rod Morri is precisely the opposite today and highly imitable.

I second everything the great man said, adding that not even a recent Dunhill visit from Warnie (which would inevitably have featured some non-early nights) passed without denting

Sportsbet odds: $23

LPGA TOUR - BMW LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Two top-10s in her past four starts has SU OH on the verge of a breakthrough LPGA victory, which will be the icing on the cake of an already successful season.

It will also see her rise to her highest world ranking since 2019.

Sportsbet odds: $67

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor

Of her last 21 rounds on the LPGA Tour JIN YOUNG KO has failed to break par just twice. In that time Ko has also won three times and also had a runner-up and T6 finish, so it is fair to say there isn’t a player in better form teeing it up here.

This rich vein of form has to end at some point, but playing at home in Korea ought to be enough impetus to keep it going one more week. If the World No.2 doesn’t win, she will go very close with Minjee Lee the most likely challenger. A win-win situation for mine.

Sportsbet odds: $5.50

RELATED: BMW Ladies Championship preview

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

There are plenty of name players in the field this week but perhaps more interesting at LPGA International Busan will be the play of the lesser known KLPGA players. Their names won’t be as familiar but their games are unquestionably good enough to win and it is one of those players, HYE JIN CHOI, who will be the one to watch this week.

An 11-time winner on the Korean Tour and runner-up as an amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2017, Choi is a special talent and won’t be afraid of the stage this week.

Sportsbet odds: $61

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

These are brilliant events when we get to see the FULL force of Korean golf unleashed on the world. PLUS, it gives my favourite non-Australian player, HA NA JANG, the chance to remind us all just how awesome she is away from the daily rigours of the LPGA Tour.

A former Aussie Open champ, her game can run as hot as anyone's and if she can get up and about, the "Jang Gang" supporting her will urge her over the line.

Sportsbet odds: $31