PGA TOUR - FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Like everyone this week, coming up with reasons not to tip Jon Rahm is easier to do than the opposite. However, I am taking a leaf from my son’s book and taking the contrarian route, even though perhaps I should know better.

Yes, Rahm has wins here, and plays the course like he was born in San Diego not Spain, but the World No.1 is frustrated by the scoring and “putting contests” of the PGA Tour of late, and I think that is enough to hold him back from his absolute best.

Someone who has been at their best of late is HIDEKI MATSUYAMA and although tough to win consecutive starts I think the Japanese star has it in him.

A renowned ball strike, this venue suits Matsuyama and his game, and he has played decently here in the past. Big year ahead for Hideki.

Sportsbet odds: $21

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

Everyone knows by now JON RAHM was no fan of the … how should we put it delicately ... ‘putting contest week’ at The American Express last week yet he still finished T14.

This week will be anything a ‘putting contest week’ at Torrey Pines which also happens to be Rahm’s happy place. His first Tour win came there as did his impressive U.S. Open win last year.

There is no such thing as a lock in golf but Rahm at Torrey Pines is getting close. (P.S.: Go Marc Leishman).

Sportsbet odds: $8

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I have to confess I read Rod's tips before submitting mine and I found myself drawn to his logic, which is a fair sign that the heat is rising in my own little Covid kitchen.

So, in desperate search for a point of difference, I convinced myself that if this was another Torrey U.S. Open, Rahm would win eased down by a handful of shots, yet the twin courses this week will alleviate his potential dominance.

I've decided to have a shout at RYAN PALMER, who has a great record here where his penchant for hitting fairways will pay off handsomely should the weather play up as it is wont to do in coastal California at this time of year.

Sportsbet odds: $51

DP WORLD TOUR - SLYN.IO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Another top quality field gathers for this event and I’ve got as much chance of doing so successfully as I do of knocking off more Coke No Sugars in a day of tournament coverage as Mark Hayes. But that’s the brief and I never back down from a challenge.

ADAM SCOTT didn’t get the job done last week when he looked a likely challenger to Thomas Pieters, and in fact when backward when he needed the opposite on Sunday afternoon. However, I like the form he showed and the latest putter and technique looked solid.

Anytime the Queenslander makes a change in schedule I am intrigued because in the past it has proven to Scott’s advantage. And this venue’s point and shoot style of golf is something that the former World No.1 is very adept at.

Sportsbet odds: $26

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

For the first 13 holes last Sunday in Abu Dhabi Rory looked a lot like … well … RORY MCILROY.

He was making birdies where others were going backwards, he had a hole out for eagle on a par-4 and there was no mistaking that bounce he gets in his step when everything is just going right. Then suddenly for the last five holes Rory looked a lot like the other Rory, the one whose bad shots are suddenly as bad as the good Rory’s are good and the dropped shots come all too easily.

Which Rory will show up this week? The one who has already won here twice and hasn’t been outside the top-10 since 2009? Or the one who missed the cut in 2006 and 2008? I’m tipping it will be the former.

Sportsbet odds: $7.50

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

Great to see so many "names" on the start list in Dubai, even if a few Dirhams have changed hands to make it possible. But there is no need to look too far for a winner, as tempting as the top end of town makes it look.

This is where LUCAS HERBERT made his first giant stride towards that echelon, amazingly enough two years ago already. He has an eye for this course and I think he's going to derive great confidence early in this season if he can hold his own again.

His length works well on the Emirates Golf Club, but his ability to explode out of sandy problems as they arise is almost unrivalled.

Sportsbet odds: $41

LPGA TOUR  - GAINBRIDGE LPGA AT BOCA RIO

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

In a weekend of quality tournament golf, this event shapes as arguably the most interesting with such a brilliant field competing across a genuinely interesting golf course at a facility that, shock horror, puts golf first. Plus, Karrie Webb is teeing it up.

Defending champion Nelly Korda will be keen to erase the memories of last week’s final round that cost her another Tour win, but she wasn’t at her best at this venue in 2020 and I see more of a bolter taking the spoils this week.

SU OH finally claimed a second pro win in Queensland earlier this month, and although this is a completely different animal to the limited field event where she was a $2.50 favourite, the Victorian will have taken a huge confidence boost from claiming the Karrie Webb Cup.

And having watched up close, Oh’s game is in impeccable shape and she knows how to play good golf courses well.

Sportsbet odds: $101

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

The players will face a different kind of test this week, one that requires some thought as well as execution and the ability to shape the ball around the Boca Rio course.

The winner will need to control their emotions as well as their golf ball while simultaneously holding off a field that includes 16 of the world’s 25 best players. All of which sounds like just the sort of tournament that will suit LYDIA KO down to the ground.

Sportsbet odds: $11

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

The stupid depth of this Tour is highlighted by the fact that at the time of writing, Emily Pedersen, the runaway winner of the LET 2020 money list, is first reserve.

Let's not kid ourselves, this is much of a lottery as backing Jimmy Emanuel to wear something fashionable to a golf writers' dinner. You could get lucky and get a tuxedo, or on bad day you could easily find yourself heading down Borat Boulevard.

So I'm going with GABY LOPEZ, primarily because little would give me more pleasure than a Mexican winning an event in the state that Donald Trump calls home. Unless it was Su Oh or another Aussie, in which case, I've lied completely. Which apparently doesn't matter much if I use Trump as an explanatory rider.

Sportsbet odds: $29

2021 RESULTS

So far our so-called experts have combined to tip THREE winners in 2021, with 12 of their picks recording top-10 finishes that week and a best return of $21 for Danielle Kang to win the Tournament of Champions (tipped by Rod Morri).