PGA TOUR – SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

When in doubt, go with the guy with the best and most recent good memories of the venue course.

SAM BURNS defends his title here this week and after a good ball-striking week, without result, at the Presidents Cup he’ll be primed to cash in on that form here.

Sportsbet odds: $10

RELATED: Sanderson Farms preview

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

This one is about as predictable as whether Mark Hayes is going to tip each week, as in not very.

So I am going with the lone Aussie in the field in HARRISON ENDYCOTT to continue his dream start to his PGA Tour career with an even better result this week.

Will be chomping at the bit with motivation after his good mate Travis Smyth won in Asia last week as well.

Sportsbet odds: $201

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

There’s not a whole lot in the way of recognisable names in the field this week but that’s what research is for and mine tells me DENNY MCCARTHY should be a chance this week.

He finished the season with a run of good results and has two top-10s here in five appearances so clearly likes the venue. That all adds up to a player worth considering. So consider McCarthy considered.

Sportsbet odds: $23

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

No tip from me throughout the PGA Tour’s “fall series”.

Jay Monahan’s people tried to get in touch with my people to ensure their sponsor got their requisite exposure, but my people told his people that unless it was the Sanderson Farms New South Wales Open, he could go forth and aggrandise.

Sportsbet odds: N/A

DP WORLD TOUR – ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

It’s an impressive field assembled in Fife for the Dunhill. Those in the field that also played the Open at St Andrews back in July have exchanged short sleeves for jackets and beanies, and the three courses – the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns – will play quite differently to what they did during the hottest Scottish summer in recent memory.

But it’s still links golf and one of the masters of the ground game is PADRAIG HARRINGTON, who has won three times on the Champion’s Tour this year, including the U.S Senior Open.

I love the idea that a victory here would make him the oldest winner in the history of the Old World circuit. Oh, I forgot to mention he’s won this pro-am twice before. Go Paddy!

Sportsbet odds: $67

RELATED: Dunhill Links preview

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Links golf, fun atmosphere, good form, all things that lead me to believe RORY MCILROY will win here.

The former World No.1 will have dad Gerry for company this week that will keep him in good spirits and avenging that Open in July on the same Sunday venue will help numb the pain.

Sportsbet odds: $4.50

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

As with any tournament Rory is in he SHOULD win but this is golf so that’s not how things work.

Instead, let’s get on TOMMY FLEETWOOD who has a superb record at this event (including T4 at The Open just a couple of months ago) and is about due to run back into some of the form which saw him knocking on the door at the biggest events just a couple of years ago.

Sportsbet odds: $17

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

GRANT FORREST, the young Scot who has recently shown flashes of imperious former amateur form around Europe, is the luckiest man in Fife this week. Not only has he teamed up with legendary snooker ace Stephen Hendry – a single-figure golfer and member at Sunningdale who previously played at Gleneagles – as his amateur partner, but he’s grouped with walking comedy show (and winning chance) Scott Hend and his partner, some bloke named Kelly Slater.

Now Forrest, who loves these courses and has five rounds of 68 or better in his past five events, would normally be described as chilled himself. But among this lot, he’ll look more excitable than Jimmy Emanuel on the way to the Playboy mansion with a one-way grotto pass. It’s a once-in-a-career chance to have an awesome time for three days and wake up on day four in contention without even realising.

This is Forrest’s great chance to make a global name for himself – not to mention his only pro win came at the Fairmont ranch nestled halfway between Kingsbarns and the home of golf.

Sportsbet odds: $151

LPGA TOUR – THE ASCENDANT LPGA

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

There are few more exciting female players in full flight than MAJA STARK.

A first time LPGA winner in the co-sanctioned event in Ireland back in August, Stark has been a little inconsistent since moving onto American soil but I wouldn’t read too much into her missed cut last start.

The expansive nature of this week’s course will suit the Swede, who is capable of blowing the field away.

Sportsbet odds: $41

RELATED: Ascendant LPGA preview

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

LYDIA KO cannot keep playing this good and not add another win to her resume.

So with that logic I am sticking with the Kiwi this week. I will eventually remove the monkey off her back (read me tipping her) at some stage this year. But not yet.

Sportsbet odds: $9

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

Consider LYDIA KO my pick every week she is playing until the end of the year.

It’s ridiculous she has won only once in 2022 and every week that passes without her lifting a trophy only brings a week closer the tournament she is going to win. It will be this week. Or next. (Or the one after … you get the picture).

Sportsbet odds: $9

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

Frenchwoman CELINE BOUTIER is overdue. Winless this year doesn’t sound great, but she’s had six top-fives, three other top-10s and is among the top in almost every important stat on the LPGA Tour, including the liste d’argent, or money list to those of us who dabble in French just enough to decipher Boutier’s victory speeches.

But more importantly, the host Old American Golf Club is Boutier’s home track where she plays whenever she’s able, including several times this recent northern spring knowing that she’d be here competitively this week. Two previous top-15s in this event is enough for me to think that a 2022 victory is sur les cartes (that’s “on the cards”, which will help in any poker tournament you play in Paris and to help you read the menu when Rod Morri invites you around for a saucisse ou deux).

Sportsbet odds: $21

ASIAN TOUR – MECURIES TAIWAN MASTERS

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Impossible to look beyond Aussie TRAVIS SMYTH going back-to-back in Taiwan.

With his maiden title now behind him, and on the back of weekend six-under-par 66s, Smyth will have the confidence to go on with the job and get his second trophy in as many weeks.

RELATED: Taiwan Masters preview

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

TRAVIS SMYTH had suggested he was an Asian Tour winner in waiting almost since joining the circuit.

He finally became one last week and staying the same country and conditions I expect him to be confident beyond belief. He will be a two-time winner soon, so why not this week?

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

There is a strong local presence this week (as there was last week) and there is every chance a Taiwanese player we know nothing about is holding the trophy Sunday.

However, Brazil’s ADILSON DA SILVA has been a force to be reckoned with at this venue with two runner-up finishes and a win in his last three starts here (to go with a third runner-up back in 2014). Form like that has to be worth a look, surely?

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I see absolutely no reason in the world to tip against my man TRAVIS SMYTH this week.

Relieved of the burden of chasing that first international win and, far more importantly, knowing that he can carry the weight of multiple GA Mag tipsters around Taiwanese golf courses, the man from the Illawarra will go back-to-back.

2022 RESULTS

So far, our so-called experts have combined to tip 29 winners in 2022, with 178 of their picks recording top-10 finishes that week and a best return of $29 for Joohyung Kim to win the Wyndham Championship (tipped by Rod Morri).