There is a wealth of tournament golf action around the world this week, and our so-called experts are primed to pick a winner. Here are their tips for the PGA, DP World, Australasian, LPGA and Asian Tours.
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Given the trend for super-low scoring set over the past few weeks, I’m turning to the man who carded a 61 in his last outing here in 2021.
PATRICK CANTLAY tore up the Stadium Course at PGA West for his 11-under (22-under total) and ultimately finished one shot out of a play-off with winner Si Woo Kim. Cantlay is more than capable of getting to 25- or 26-under this week and taking home the trophy.
Sportsbet odds: $9
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
It won’t take JON RAHM to win again, and I see the World No.1 getting the chocolates here this week.
Rahm was brilliant in the year opening event in Hawaii and if not for an even better Cam Smith would have taken the trophy and the Tour scoring record.
Rahm looked tired at the end of last year following a hectic schedule, multiple COVID related issues during the year and a maiden major win that helped take him to the top of the world ranking for the first time. The break he took from golf has clearly agreed with the Spaniard and he will once again be a force across the two main Tours this year. He also won this event in 2018.
Sportsbet odds: $6.50
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Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Sure he missed the cut in Hawaii but back to back top-five finishes in California in his last two trips here (including runner-up in 2020) is enough for me to suggest ABRAHAM ANCER will be worth watching this week.
He’s a mainstay in the world’s top-25 and with a WGC title now on his resume the Mexican is a genuine contender wherever he plays. His chances only improve at a venue where he is comfortable.
Sportsbet odds: $29
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
It’s an impressive field for the Abu Dhabi Championship this week with a host of major champions on show. But I think it will be the desert specialist, TOMMY FLEETWOOD, who gets the chocolates.
He’s won this event twice, been runner-up on another occasion, and always seems to produce his best work in the desert – whether it’s in Abu Dhabi or down the road in Dubai. If he doesn’t win this week, he will go perilously close.
Sportsbet odds: $26
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
Another of the tricky ones to pick as a large number make their first start of the year, and I think one of the players to have got their year already underway to take the spoils here.
MIN WOO LEE was clearly getting into his work last week at Royal Queensland, where he improved as the week went on a course that to my mind at least didn’t really suit his game.
Yas seems like Lee’s sort of venue and he will better for the run last week, and the West Aussie carried himself with plenty of confidence last week that generally translates into his best play.
Very interested to see how Adam Scott fares this week as well, with a return to the desert swing for the first time in a number of years and with some significant equipment changes as well.
Sportsbet odds: $34
RELATED: Abu Dhabi Championship preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
With a new – and very different – course being used for the first time in this event’s history, past form does little to help predict possible performance this week.
Rory McIlroy will likely start favourite but it is Australia’s MIN WOO LEE that I expect to contend on a course that should fit his eye. Lots of creativity will be required around the greens this week and with room to drive the ball off the tee, Lee will be in his element at Yas Links, especially after a solid if unspectacular week at Royal Queensland.
Sportsbet odds: $34
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Newly-minted Australian PGA Champion JED MORGAN gets to sleep in his own bed for the second week in a row with the Queensland PGA being played up the road at Nudgee GC.
Nearly all of the top-16 players at Royal Queensland will be backing up this week and Morgan, given his dominant display, will be tough to beat.
A back-to-back victory could see him surge into the top-200 of the world ranking.
Sportsbet odds: $26
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
The new Nudgee layout throws a cat amongst the tipping pigeons this week, with almost none of the field having a chance to play the course before this week.
Elvis Smylie, a former pennant player for the club, deserves some attention this week after finishing the Aussie PGA strongly, but for mine AARON PIKE is the man to beat here.
Pike’s third round cruelled his hopes of winning the biggest title of his career last week, not to mention Jed Morgan running amok on his home track, but his play was strong, he is swinging the club well and will be sleeping in his own bed this week. Always a positive for a Tour player so accustomed to a new temporary residence each week.
Sportsbet odds: $34
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
After the excitement of Jed Morgan’s historic win last week expect a return to more normal programming this week and that means keeping an eye on BRAD KENNEDY.
He’s not the most flamboyant player in any field but after another top-5 last week (that flew well under the radar) he cannot be discounted this week.
Sportsbet odds: $10
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
This is the fourth year of the season-opening Tournament of Champions and NELLY KORDA has never finished outside the top-10 with two thirds and a T10 to her name.
Sister Jess defends her title this year but will be toasting Nelly Sunday afternoon.
Sportsbet odds: $4.33
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
The parochial part of me wants to see Minjee Lee get her year off to a flyer in Florida, but I simply can’t in good conscience not tip NELLY KORDA this week.
The American World No.1 has never missed the top-10 in the three years of this event, and won at this venue last year. That is just too good a record to ignore, and her play last year was at times otherworldly.
Sportsbet odds: $4.33
RELATED: Tournament of Champions preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
After a relatively quiet (by her standards) 2021, last year’s runner-up DANIELLE KANG will be the player to watch in 2022 as she takes aim at a sixth LPGA title.
Known as one of the fiercest competitors in world golf, Kang will be stung by the fact she hasn’t won since the middle of 2020 and will be highly motivated to correct that this year.
Doing so in the first event of the season will be the ideal way to kick off her year.
Sportsbet odds: $21
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Coming off the back of a T16 at the Singapore International, PHACHARA KHONGWATMAI enters the season-ending Singapore Open with a slim chance of capturing the Order of Merit title, from his current third place position, and gaining all the benefits that come with that title.
The revamped Serapong Course will certainly suit Khongwatmai’s impressive ball-striking skills.
Sportsbet odds: $17
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
Australians have an exceptional record at this event, and there is a swag of them pegging it up at the redesigned Serapong Course on Sentosa Island and the winner might just come from our contingent.
MATTHEW GRIFFIN missed the PGA last week through a COVID related withdrawal, and that disappointment will fuel the Victorian’s drive to win again, this time on the Asian Tour.
Sentosa Golf Club will play tough this week, and Griffin is a gritty competitor who no person would bemoan some good luck going his way after last week’s drama.
Sportsbet odds: $111
RELATED: Singapore Open preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
While most in Australia were transfixed by the performance of Jed Morgan at Royal Queensland there was an equally impressive display put on by 14-year-old amateur RATCHANON CHANTANANUWAT at the Singapore International.
The Thai teenager finished in a share of third, just two shots behind the winner, on a golf course so demanding only 24 players finished in red figures for the 72 holes. The Sentosa course will also play difficult this week for the Singapore Open and after his extraordinary display last week it would be a fitting end to the Asian Tour season if Chantananuwat could take home the trophy.
And as ridiculous as it sounds, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.
Sportsbet odds: $20
So far our so-called experts have combined to tip TWO winners in 2021, with FIVE of their picks recording top-10 finishes that week and a best return of $2.50 for Su Oh to win the Fortinet Australian WPGA Championship (tipped by Brendan James and Jimmy Emanuel).
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So-called expert golf tips for this week
