Are our so-called experts worth listening to? They started their tipping year with a win and six top-10s so they might know a think or two. Here they pick winners for the PGA, DP World and Aussie Tours.
PGA TOUR & WPGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA – TPS VICTORIA
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
It has been two years since ELVIS SMYLIE turned pro and announced himself to the golfing world with a runner-up finish in this event.
A T3 the following week in Sydney and a T2 at the NSW Open a fortnight later and it seemed a golfing superstar had arrived. But injury and limited starts overseas have been the recent Elvis Smylie story but with a new year dawns new hope and what better place to reignite your career than Rosebud.
Sportsbet odds: $51
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
I am on the record as a huge fan of the TPS format and its role in Australian golf, but tipping winners in here is as reliable a construct as waiting for Rod Morri’s content to be delivered on time each week rather than sitting in his email drafts.
However, tipping winners, or near enough, is the job and for this week I think our champion will come from the women’s side of the draw.
STEPH KYRIACOU isn’t a consistent week in, week out performer at this stage in her career, but she has the ability to make plenty of birdies and when she gets a sniff is exceptionally dangerous.
Expect her to come out of the gates firing at Rosebud, and if the course setup is right, be right there when the winning post is in sight. More than likely to give one of the interviews of the year too if she wins.
Sportsbet odds: $21
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Lots of players can make a case this week and while I love Hayes’s idea of Justice Bosio getting the job done the name DAVID MICHELUZZI has been on too many leaderboards on too many Sundays recently not to grab a second local title soon.
Playing in his own backyard and with the ability to go super low when things are going well I’ll be surprised if he’s not there or thereabouts late Sunday.
Sportsbet odds: $17
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
I love the TPS concept for Australian golf – just another great local concept that has developed roots. We've already seen the mighty Hannah Green put a female name in the winner's circle, but I'm going to take that concept one step further for Rosebud.
The rider on this is that there are holes on the Mornington Peninsula course on which long-hitting men might have an advantage, but equally there are holes where JUSTICE BOSIO will begin to emerge as one of the great hopes of our next generation of Aussie women.
Bosio is ultra consistent, has a good head in a pressure situation and must have completed a few school levels since she last wasn't in contention in important events.
So we're heading down the female amateur path here, and this young Queenslander is just the person to blaze the trail.
Sportsbet odds: $51
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
There’s something brewing in the JASON DAY camp.
It has been almost six years since his last PGA Tour victory thanks, mostly, to a dodgy back. In fact, most bricklayers have a spine in better shape than Day’s. Back in 2017, the former World No.1 won the Wells Fargo, five months after his first victory of the year, which just so happened to be his second Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
Only two players – Tiger Woods and Brandt Snedeker – have earned more prizemoney than Day in this event. Currently ranked 10th on Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, Day has been lurking in the top-10-20 on leaderboards in recent months. You can just feel a win is coming.
Sportsbet odds: $23
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
I’m not one to gloat … who am I kidding, I definitely am. As the only tipster with a win to their name in 2023, I am full of confidence ahead of this week.
Sure I tipped a red hot favourite in Jon Rahm to win last week at an event where he is already on the honour roll, but Jon and I still had to get it done. That’s right it’s a “we” thing getting tipping victories.
So to keep the winning going, I am going for RAHM again here.
Beyond the fact that he is the hottest golfer on the planet and has been for a while now, the Spaniard loves Torrey, winning his first Tour event and major with putts dropping on the 18th hole of the South Course each time.
If he does fail to get over the line (that’s on Jon alone not “us”) then it could be Jason Day who takes a third win at Torrey. Loves the joint, playing well and working hard. And it is always nice to see an Aussie win at a place where the water in front of the 18th green is named ‘Devlin’s Billabong’ for Bruce’s misfortunes there.
Speaking of misfortune and eponymous hazards, if you ever meet our ‘Man About Golf’ ask him about “Hayes’ Hole” at Curlewis Golf Club … now THAT was misfortune on a golf course!
Sportsbet odds: $5.50
RELATED: Farmers Insurance Open preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Only a fool would tip against Jon Rahm this week so it’s a good thing I’m here.
Jason Day has a case to make but since BJ already gobbled up that opportunity I’m turning slightly left and picking MAX HOMA.
Nobody is suggesting I’m out dangerously far on a limb with this but he’ll hardly be the first choice of most and has a less than spectacular record at Torrey. He did, however, have a good start to the year at Kapalua and that will continue this week.
Sportsbet odds: $21
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
So very happy to see my good friend Jimmy salute with a brain-stretching call on Jon Rahm this week (please don't think about that when you see my Euro tip below!).
In fact, just to show how delighted I was with Jimmy's commitment, I'm going to RAHM up myself this week.
Has a ripping history here and if I could figure out the world rankings system a bit more in my bonce, I'd make a strong case why he should be No.1 right now.
But I can't let Jimmy off that easily ... I won't say he's an erratic golfer in as many words, but I will say that when he gets his clubs regripped, he's the only bloke I know who asks the pro to regrip his ball retriever at the same time.
Sportsbet odds: $5.50
DP WORLD TOUR – HERO DUBAI DESERT CLASSICBrendan James – Golf Australia Editor
It is absolutely impossible to tip anyone other than RORY MCILROY to win in Dubai.
Since 2009, when he won this event for the first time, he’s played a further eight times and NEVER finished outside the top-10.
In that time, he’s won a second title (2015) and his last two starts he was on the podium. Dare I suggest he will cruise to 22-under and win by four strokes
Sportsbet odds: $4.33
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
I note the sly dig at tipping a favourite last week on the US Tour from one of my colleagues above, yet there is plenty of support for one Rory McIlroy here.
Sure, the World No.1 will be in the mix this week as he seemingly always is in the Middle East, yet I have a feeling MIN WOO LEE will be the one to hold the trophy aloft.
Lee was a few rolls of the ball from winning last week at Yas Links and feels like he is set for a banner year. The result last week lifted him into the all important top-50 on the world rankings, and after this week I believe worrying about an invite to that town in Georgia in April will no longer be an issue.
Sportsbet odds: $21
RELATED: Hero Dubai Desert Classic preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Like Rahm in the US Rory McIlroy looks almost unbeatable this week but there is no such thing in golf. In fact, my sense is that it is MIN WOO LEE’s time again despite having played here just once previously and missing the cut by thousands.
He looked fabulous last week in Abu Dhabi and his run of form going back to late last year is extraordinary. Surely that can only end in a victory and this week would be as good a time as any.
Sportsbet odds: $21
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
As per my 2023 minimalistic tipping gibber formula, see BJ's words on RORY.
The surest thing this year to be in contention (never guarantee wins!).
Sportsbet odds: $4.33
So far, our so-called experts have combined to tip ONE winners in 2023, with SIX of their picks recording top-10 finishes that week and a best return of $6.50 for Jon Rahm to win The American Express (tipped by Jimmy Emanuel).
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