So-called expert golf tips for this week

After a short, but well earned, break the so-called experts are back for 2023. Here they attempt to open their account on the PGA, DP World and LPGA Tours.

PGA TOUR – THE AMERICAN EXPRESS

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

How has CAMERON YOUNG not won on the PGA Tour yet?

Here’s a guy who drives it longer than most and, as we saw several times in 2022, can chip and putt with the best of them. He was a bridesmaid five times last season – his rookie year – but his weekend rounds of 69-64 at Kapalua a fortnight ago suggest he’s in pretty good nick.

His win this week will be the first of several in 2023.

Sportsbet odds: $22

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Taking some time away from the keyboard for a few weeks, it has been a slow start to 2023 personally, which is quite the opposite situation to JON RAHM who went out and claimed a third win in five starts when he made his debut for the new year in Hawaii.

The Spaniard looks dangerous this year, and given he has won this event before it is a no brainer to pick him here to get my chase for the tipping crown off to a good start.

Speaking of good starts, it is good to see below that after a brief moment of kindness shown to me at the Australian Open by the man now known as Mark ‘The Colonel’ Hayes, he is back to his old ways in the new year.

Here’s hoping his resolution might have been to add some winners to his weekly stand up routine performed in this column!

Sportsbet odds: $6.50

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

Like his namesake Cameron Smith, Sydneysider CAM DAVIS just seems to improve each and every year.

His win at the Sandbelt Invitational — and the shot he hit to achieve it — suggests 2023 will be a continuation of that curve and after a third place finish here last year look for him to be at the pointy end of proceedings come Sunday.

Sportsbet odds: $34

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

Hello and best of 2023 to all readers and welcome back to the column where cliche and inwardly focused humour are all too willing bedfellows, yet research and vision combine far less often than we care to admit.

That said, I'm going to take a different approach to my tips (at least to start) this year because I was badly burnt out towards the end of 2022. I didn't get to put my tipping clubs down and see the tipping family while I fought to keep my card on this esteemed panel.

But first, I would like to celebrate the undeniable success of my protest to kill off the American "fall series", so much so that I've singlehandedly shortened the PGA Tour season by three months. You're welcome.

This has left me in a far more invigorated mental position, ready to give (some variation of) my all as often as I can (be bothered) so that you can share in the rewards of my rare pearls (and/or laugh at Jimmy's expense whenever possible).

What I won't be doing is giving alternative reasons to pick a bloke my learned peers – or Rod – have already identified.

So on my return to US PGA tipping, I totally concur with BJ's thoughts above in tipping CAMERON YOUNG.

But so you don't feel short-changed, I've got a quick story about playing golf with Jimmy one day when we had compulsory caddies. Jimmy had been hacking around in the trees having sliced his tee shot and after a couple of windy swings, found his ball in the clear about 170m from the pin. "Do you think a 4-iron will get me there?" Jimmy asked his caddie. "Eventually," came the reply.

Sportsbet odds: $22

DP WORLD TOUR – ABU DHABI HSBC CHAMPIONSHIP

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

If there is one thing you can count on during the DP World Tour’s desert swing, it is likely that TOMMY FLEETWOOD will contend at some point.

The Englishman has won this Abu Dhabi Championship twice and has been in the top-10 on two other occasions. He’s only two months removed from a win at the Nedbank and top-5 in the Tour Championship and last week he was one of the best for a losing Great Britain and Ireland in the Hero Cup, just down the road at the Abu Dhabi GC.

Tommy should hoist another trophy this week.

Sportsbet odds: $12

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

This field is sneaky good and so is the course, so the DP World might be the Tour to watch this week if you’re looking for one.

Among the intrigue is the presence of the LIVers like Westwood, Poulter, Reed, and it wouldn’t surprise if one found themselves in the hunt late on Sunday.

However, I am going to plump for SEAMUS POWER to get a first European win this week in the Middle East.

The Irishman has come into his own recently on the PGA Tour, and his appearance here and inclusion in last week’s Hero Cup suggests he is in the Ryder Cup frame so will want to make an impression.

Hits it long and stripes his irons, good combo around Yas Links.

Sportsbet odds: $26

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

You’ll get good odds about it but there is no reason why the 2018 Open champion, FRANCESCO MOLINARI, can’t get the job done this week.

The 40-year-old was impressive at last week’s Hero Cup but more importantly he has plenty of motivation this year given the Ryder Cup is being played in his home country and he wants nothing more than to be on the team.

Expect a return to form for the Italian in 2023 and it could start this week on a course that should suit his eye in Yas Links.

Sportsbet odds: $41

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

TYRRELL HATTON scares me, so if I tip him early, word might get back that I'm in his camp and I can breathe easier.

Nah, he's been a good starter in past seasons and I think that he's suited to not spending time in weather that risks making him terse, so I expect (without any research) that he's been smashing balls in the middle-east since Boxing Day. Go Tyrrell!

Sportsbet odds: $11

LPGA TOUR – HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Surprisingly, no Lydia Ko (World No.1) or Minjee Lee (No.3) in the field for the LPGA’s season-opener. Which leaves World No.2 NELLY KORDA the opportunity to open 2023 with a win and move ever so close to reclaiming top spot in the world ranking.

She’ll have some competition from the likes of Danielle Kang and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, but Korda loves the style of Florida golf she will face this week and will prevail.

Sportsbet odds: $5

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Obviously form isn’t an indicator here given none of these players have teed it up competitively so far this year on a big stage, so it is somewhat luck of the draw.

Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson had my interest, but you will see both with new clubs this week after signing endorsement deals that although they won’t impede long term success might take some getting used to. Especially for Korda with a golf ball switch.

So with that in mind LEONA MAGUIRE will be the one to beat here around a course that bears no resemblance to golf in her homeland of Ireland but will suit her game.

Sportsbet odds: $11

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

There’s a different vibe about this week on the LPGA. The presence of celebrities and DJ’s and music and associated non golf related party goings on gives it a less serious feel and that’s right in the wheelhouse of the defending champion, DANIELLE KANG.

Kang hasn’t won since lifting the silverware here last year and will be desperate to add a seventh LPGA Tour title to the trophy cabinet.

Sportsbet odds: $10

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

This is as much of a test of who's been bunkered down in horrendous winter weather with spiced Kraken rum as opposed to belting balls at the local range.

So in what little exposed knowledge we have right now, I'm going to say that the combination of NASA HATAOKA's insatiable appetite for improving her golf and the marginally nicer Japanese December weather, she's my pick as we saddle up again way too early in Florida for a tournament that's as far out of place on the calendar as BJ is on a Country Road catalogue cover.

Sportsbet odds: $13