So-called expert golf tips for this week

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Assessing the form for a LIV event is like trying to pick a winner in a maiden at a country race meet.

The founding LIV members have played less golf than I have in the past few months ... so I'm ruling them out immediately.

Might be one of the new kids coming in and if that's the case you have to go with the guy in some kind of form ... CAMERON SMITH to win first up.

Sportsbet odds: $5.50

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Despite the positivity about Cam Smith's chances from my fellow tipsters, I am less inclined to believe what has transpired in his world will lead to having his best in "Boston". (The inverted commas is due to the fact that The International ain't Boston).

For mine Joaquin Niemann has plenty to prove after agonising over his decision to join LIV following a good run of form during the PGA Tour Playoffs.

Niemann didn't get right in the hunt over the three weeks but showed enough, and will have plenty of knowledge of where his game is, unlike longer term LIVers who haven't played competitive golf in a significant period.

Sportsbet odds: $9

RELATED: LIV Golf Boston preview

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

One advantage of forgetting to put your tips in on time is that you have the opportunity to see what the field will actually be at the next LIV event.

Given the names announced yesterday, hard to imagine anyone but CAM SMITH getting across the line.

Not only is he clearly the best player in the field, he also has a bit of something to prove given the criticism for his decision.

Sportsbet odds: $5.50

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I cannot tip here. It’s not a stand against Saudi politics, nor even the fact that there’s something vaguely arousing about seeing Jimmy Emanuel’s moustache twitch in disbelief at the things I’ve gotten away with in this column.

It’s not even the fact that I’ve had a gutful – and yes, Jimmy, that’s a sizeable chunk of real estate – of golf tournaments with more cash than soul.

It’s that I cannot (at the time of tipping) find a FINAL field of entrants.

Bugger it, I have a conscience, if not a form guide … put me down for ABE ANCER; I assume he’s playing and he’s a decent bloke.

Sportsbet odds: $5.50

DP WORLD TOUR – MADE IN HIMMERLAND

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

MATT WALLACE is the kind of player that goes on form runs and when he finished second in Switzerland at the weekend, I immediately looked to Denmark this week.

And what did I find? Wallace won on this course in 2018, shooting 19-under. Couldn't feel any more confident about this tip.

Sportsbet odds: $21

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

When in doubt, follow what the boss does. And for me that means going with MATT WALLACE as the big man has above.

Wallace was very impressive last week when he went close to a win in the Alps and has a good record here. Seems determined to find his best form after attempting to switch over to the PGA Tour and struggling a little.

Sportsbet odds: $21

RELATED: Made in Himmerland preview

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

The return to the winner’s circle for EDDIE PEPPERELL feels near and this might just be the week.

One top-five and one missed cut in four trips around the Himmerland course (T37 and T56 in the others) means he doesn’t mind the course and a run of T11, second, T20 and T8 in his last four starts is trending in the right direction.

And if you haven’t listened to his episode of The Thing About Golf podcast from a fortnight ago I suggest you do that immediately after placing your bet on him.

Sportsbet odds: $29

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

ADRI ARNAUS didn’t have much go his way in Switzerland last week and was still right in the hunt.

I’ve never been able to look at his name without a chuckle after my friend Larry Canning – himself drier than a Sahara vermouth – wrote one of the all-time great columns suggesting a certain baby powder was the key to the Spaniard’s disposition.

But in watching him since, I actually think he’s on the verge of becoming a world-class player. Who knows, he might even be a future Ryder Cupper assuming that things will permit that at some point.

Sportsbet odds: $31

LPGA TOUR – DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

What a great story for the game it would be if DANIELLE KANG completed her comeback to the game – after surgery to remove a tumour from her spine – with a second victory (she won here in 2020) in this event.

Sportsbet odds: $26

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

It seems there is a consesus among the majority here that this is LYDIA KO's to lose.

The Kiwi has been so consistent this year, almost to the levels of Mark Hayes sending in his tips late and making a mockery of the format.

Like Hayes did this week in breaking his streak and being the first tipster in, Ko will break her habit of playing well and not winning and grab a third title here.

Sportsbet odds: $8.50

RELATED: Dana Open preview

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

There’s a broken record element to this tip but surely … surely … it must be LYDIA KO’s time.

That she has won just once this year is absurd when you consider these stats: 16 starts, 16 cuts made, 10 top-10 finishes, seven of those inside the top-five.

A previous winner of this event (twice) and a final round 63 in Canada last week all point to her finally notching win number two for 2022.

Surely!

Sportsbet odds: $8.50

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

If you looked up the form line of LYDIA KO, you’d see the Kiwi with a ‘T’ here in Ohio. That’s racing parlance for having won on the track and Ko has done that twice in this tournament’s rich history and I can’t see why it won’t become thrice this weekend.

As opposed to their male counterparts’ hard-to-follow road to the season’s end, you can readily see what’s at stake in coming weeks and Ko needs to frank her season-long form with another ‘W’ soon. Here’s her best chance.

Sportsbet odds: $8.50