So-called expert golf tips for this week

They were a little off their game last week, but with five tournaments to tip this week the so-called experts are a big chance to add more wins and top-10s as their year draws to a close.

PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA – VIC PGA

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

The name's Bling, DEVON BLING.

It's a different name but this 22-year-old Californian rookie pro has some serious talent. You might remember him from a few years ago, finishing runner-up to Viktor Hovland at the U.S Amateur. He's played the Masters (and made the cut) and a U.S Open on the back of his amateur success.

He finished college and now he's trying out the big, bad world of professional golf. Get on board people ... bring the Bling.

Sportsbet odds: $67

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

It has been a nightmare of a year overseas for BLAKE WINDRED but expect that to cease now he is back home.

The winner here last year, if it is windy, the boy from Newcastle will be right in the thick of things.

One of the purest putting strokes you will ever see that will work to perfection during the relaxed pro-am format.

As for the below slander from Mr. Hayes, I have been instructed by solictors to keep quiet and await his sizeable defamation cheque in the mail.

Sportsbet odds: $21

RELATED: VIC PGA preview

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

Some good form in WA, including a first pro win is enough for me to go with DAVID MICHELUZZI here.

Micheluzzi is too good a player not to win more, look for him toad to his tally at Moonah Links.

Sportsbet odds: $12

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

Just to set the record straight after the latest in a long line of defamatory remarks from one James Emanuel … the odds of me singing Country Road, or anything from John Denver for that matter, are substantially less than the chances of said slanderer having departed Thailand without having sworn at least one (redacted) to secrecy.

Now that we’ve got that sorted, I think you’ll see DEYEN LAWSON salute again this week. There are plenty of live chances, as always on the Aussie PGA Tour, but after missing out on his European card last week, Lawson will be hell bent on franking his upper echelon standing domestically after his win in Perth last month.

His coach Darrell Brown, courtesy of Lawson and then twice with Richard Green on the Legends Tour, in golfing terms is on something of a St George Dragons circa 1960 streak. Hottest mentor in world golf, no reason why the party won’t continue at Moonah.

Sportsbet odds: $23

PGA TOUR – CADENCE BANK HOUSTON OPEN

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Houston, we have no problem at all in tipping SEPP STRAKA to pull on the cowboy boots this week.

He's a pure ball-striker, who can peel off a string of birdies when in the right frame of mind. He finished T5 here in 2020 and, despite some ordinary recent form, I'm sure he can bounce back in Texas.

Sportsbet odds: $67

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER is a special here!

Went close last time. Fired a Sunday 62 last week in Mexico. Is Texan in Texas. Say hello to the trophy, Scottie.

Sportsbet odds: $6.60

RELATED: Houston Open preview

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

With a liking for this course (two top-10s the last two years) and showing good form (T7 last start at Congaree) SAM BURNS will be the man to beat this week.

It’s a typically less than stellar field for this time of year and the 26-year-old stands out.

Sportsbet odds: $13

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

My Fall Series protest continues. Say NO more.

Sportsbet odds: N/A

LPGA TOUR – PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHP

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Nelly Korda prevailed in an all-star four-way play-off last year, but one player she beat in sudden-death is a good thing to go one better this week and claim the title.

LYDIA KO has had a great year (two wins and 13 top-10s) and, not surprisingly, leads the Race to CME Globe standings. A win in Florida this week could see the Kiwi reclaim the World No.1 ranking, so she has plenty of the motivation to get the job done.

Sportsbet odds: $6

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

I gave LYDIA KO the week off last time she teed it up and of course she won.

Well the millstone is back in place because even with my dead weight slowing her momentum the Kiwi is set for a huge finish to the year, both on and of the course.

Does it in a canter here.

Sportsbet odds: $6

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

It’s been hard not to pick Lydia Ko every week this year and there is every chance she will get the job done again this week but if not Ko then SEI YOUNG KIM is the player to watch.

A winner here two years ago and part of a four-way play-off last year she clearly has a liking for the course and tournament. 2022 hasn’t been her best year but returning to such a happy hunting ground could be just the tonic required for a big finish to the season.

Sportsbet odds: $21

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

BRITTANY ALTOMARE will be the longest-priced “certainty” in LPGA history.

She needs a great result to make the season-ending championship; she (or another winless player in 2022) needs to win to tie the tour’s record for most individual winners in a season (26); she’ll sleep in her own bed this week in Tampa; she is taught by the bloke who’s the director of golf at the host course; and she’s due.

Sportsbet odds: $151

DP WORLD TOUR – NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

RYAN FOX hasn't got a great record in his three previous appearances at Sun City, but he hasn't been in such a rich vein, like he is currently, before.

A win and T4 in his past three starts has him edging closer to Tour leader Rory McIlroy. A win this week will have him breathing down the Northern Irishman's neck.

Sportsbet odds: $17

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

TOMMY FLEETWOOD is finding something and I expect him to be one of the longest between drinks defending champs in golf history.

Has the perfect game for this joint and not the best field we have seen at Sun City.

I also fully endorse the good juju going Lucas Herbert's way for taking the time to answer questioinss from jiberers like me this week when he has a big week ahead.

Sportsbet odds: $10

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

There are plenty of first timers teeing up at Sun City which welcomes golf back after a nearly three year Covid break.

Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood will like his chances of defending despite the three year hiatus but MIN WOO LEE will be the player to watch.

The West Australian is among those making his debut here and after back to back third place finishes in Spain last month is due for another breakout performance.

Sportsbet odds: $17

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

LUCAS HERBERT did media this week and I want to start a trend for all golf writers that the bloke who’s good enough to get off his Tijuana and give us a chop-out before the event be rewarded.

Given that’s a wish and not a reason, I’d better find something … Herbie has a sensational strike rate in the tour formerly European, but more importantly, at the Gary Player CC (the best of its kind in the world – Clayts will like that joke), his primo bunker game will enable him to go at a lot of flags that others won’t attempt if it gets tight on Sunday.

Sportsbet odds: $23

ASIAN TOUR – INTERNATIONAL SERIES EGYPT

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

I'm tipping a Thai clean sweep of the Asian Tour's two-event swing through northern Africa. Morocco winner Jazz Janewattanond isn't playing this week in Egypt, so I'm looking to his compatriot, PHACHARA KHONGWATMAI, to grab his first Asian Tour win of the year.

Surely he is due given he's had six top-10s in 2022, including two runner-up placings.

TAB odds: $15

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Got to be an Aussie here, and for me it is TODD SINNOTT.

The Victorian has been so solid all year and deserves an Asian Tour win before he heads home for the summer and likely features plenty on leaderboards as he fulfils the potentialy so many knew he had.

TAB odds: $34

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

It will be unfamiliar surrounds for pretty much the entire field this week as the Asian Tour heads to Egypt, one of the more unusual destinations for international tournament golf we’ve seen this year.

On a course that looks like it wouldn’t be out of place in Florida, low scores will likely be the order of the day and if that turns out to be the case look for TRAVIS SMYTH to contend.

The Australian is fourth on Tour in total number of birdies and would love nothing more than to add a second title to his maiden victory in September.

TAB odds: $29

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

How BERND WIESBERGER is playing here is a little bit beyond the small research budget Jimmy permits me to have in this role, but it is fascinating.

I think the Austrian champ will beat rising Australian star Travis Smyth in a 4-hole playoff.

Sportsbet odds: $11

2022 RESULTS

So far, our so-called experts have combined to tip 35 winners in 2022, with 215 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).