The so-called experts have continued a remarkable start to the year with seven of their nine tips last week finishing in the top-10, and the misses being a player who finished one shot out of that mark. Three wins also went on the board. Here are this week's efforts.
PGA TOUR & WPGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA – TPS MURRAY RIVER
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Reigning WA Open champion DEYEN LAWSON loves this part of the world and has been successful in events along the big river for several years.
In fact, he will arrive at Cobram as a last start winner on the Murray having defeated the prolific Matt Millar in a play-off for the 65th Border Open at Barham just a few months back.
Lawson is a quality ball-striker who can easily get into a zone and card some low numbers. Will be hard to catch if he enters the weekend in front.
Sportsbet odds: $46
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
As some might have gleaned from my preview of this event (if you haven’t read it shame on you!) I am struggling to nail down exactly who has the best chance of winning on the mighty Murray River.
The strong performers last week all can lay claims, region specialists are that for a reason and so on. All of which leads me to plucking one of my many chances and going with CASSIE PORTER here.
The Queenslander is getting used to Tour life where she isn’t just playing for experience but her paycheque and after a win in Melbourne coupled with a top-10 here last year I suspect she might just make it three women to win TPS events so far.
For another tip, if you haven’t made a golf trip down the Murray River with some mate, get to organising it now. One of the great collections of interesting regional golf mixed with great wind and food.
Sportsbet odds: $17
RELATED: TPS Murray River preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
I’m staying on the DAVID MICHELUZZI train after his close call last week at Rosebud.
An opening round 76 aside, he played well in this event last year and given recent form he is unlikely to be beset by a similar fate in 2023.
His game has gone up a gear in both quality and consistency in recent months and another PGA Tour of Australasia title will surely be his soon then later.
Sportsbet odds: $11
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
I never would have tipped again had Justice Bosio won at Rosebud; and oh so close!!! "Bugger", I hear from many dear readers. But never mind, unlike Jimmy who regularly drops a reasonable "Nutbush" around 9.30pm in nightclubs yet leaves the dancefloor at 2am alone and puzzled, I will seek new tactics.
This week will be about JUSTIN WARREN.
This delightful New South Welshman "coulda woulda shoulda" won a few four-rounders by now, but has somehow come up empty-handed. Has the game to overpower aspects of the Barooga Old Course, and will only need a few bounces to go his way to contend.
Sportsbet odds: $31
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
A big hitting Kiwi is coming off a solid display at last week’s TPS Victoria finishing T36. I think a big year is on the horizon for DENZEL IEREMIA.
He is my pick to go all the way this week at Murray River and is outstanding value for money if you are going to have a crack.
Sportsbet odds: $31
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
There are some things you simply must do in certain situations. For example, you’ve got to have fries when you go to Maccas. It’s a given. Tomato sauce on a meat pie. Given. Dipping an Arrowroot in your milky tea … absolutely given. Tipping JORDAN SPIETH at Pebble Beach. Given.
His record in this event is incredible and he ranks third in all-time earnings for this tournament on the back of a clean sweep on podium finishes, among six top-10 finishes. The only thing that could stop him winning is a dodgy draw … and me tipping him.
Sportsbet odds: $11
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
Unlike my tipping partners here, I am going to stray away from the favourites, albeit only slightly with my pick of Maverick McNealy.
Came out of Stanford with huge wraps on him and stumbled a little in his early pro days but has compiled some good results this season, and plenty here right near where he grew up.
Generally plays this with his father and gazillionaire Scott as partner which must help make this a less taxing affair where he would be a hugely popular winner.
Sportsbet odds: $16
RELATED: Pebble Beach Pro-Am preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Lots of smart money will be on Jordan Spieth and that’s not a bad pick but for mine the atmosphere of this particular event really plays into the hands of VIKTOR HOVLAND.
The Norwegian is Mr Personality and will thrive in this environment where the presence of some big time celebrities makes this more of a circus than the week to week PGA Tour stop.
Add in that he won the US Amateur at Pebble Beach not that long ago and you have a potential winning combination.
Sportsbet odds: $11
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
I'm using my self-styled lazy boy tip this week to reiterate BJ's tip of JORDAN SPIETH, with the bonus that if this prediction stops him in his tracks, I can blame our esteemed leader by his own words.
Sportsbet odds: $5.50
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
Although a large chunk of this week’s coverage will be focused on Bill Murray’s on course antics, and announcers breaking down Ray Romano’s swing, this event always provides a cracking finish.
For me this week shapes up beautifully for MATT FITZPATRICK.
T7 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions earlier this year, he comes into this week fresh off a couple of week spell. The current US open champion will be primed to kick off a winning 2023 season.
Sportsbet odds: $11
ASIAN TOUR – SAUDI INTERNATIONALBrendan James – Golf Australia Editor
I’m expecting Cam … no not that one, the other one, CAM YOUNG, to shine on his trip to the Middle East.
He’s 37-under for his past eight rounds so he’s obviously getting the ball out of the middle of the clubface … at least everywhere except on the green apparently where he ranks 172nd on Tour for Strokes Gained: Putting.
If he can address the issues with the flatstick he will win this week.
Sportsbet odds: $13
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
This tournament is becoming mark in your calendar stuff, not for the quality of the golf as such, but the stage is set for some big LIV announcements, and in the past we have had the interesting elements of Bryson pulling out injured sparking all kinds of stories and Sergio going full Toro furioso in a sand trap a couple of years back.
As for the golf, DUSTIN JOHNSON either loves this course or something about the atmosphere of a rather crowd-less tournament and Saudi lifestyle, winning this twice in its Euro Tour days.
‘DJ’ will be in the mix again as a player who typically opens his year strongly.
As for the non-golf excitement of the week, I’ve heard after his appearance on the Good Good Golf podcast this week, Mark Hayes will be flown over to Jeddah for a Sunday night boxing showdown with Patrick Reed. A matchup that for the first time in my life will have me cheering loudly for Reed.
Sportsbet odds: $8
RELATED: Saudi International preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
The boost in both prizemoney and name players courtesy of the Tour’s relationship with LIV Golf will create lots of added interest from fans and golfers alike and the presence of CAMERON SMITH will make that especially so in this part of the world.
And given he is far and away the best player in the field, you’d have to like his chances of winning this week.
Sportsbet odds: $8
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
I really don't want to say anything too positive about DUSTIN JOHNSON other than he's got my tip here having saluted previously.
I will let you in on a special secret link between our newest member Callum and the Saudi government, though. He's been trying to keep this secret early days, but I can reveal that he has his own contract with this week's hosts as they seek a long-term solution to the issue of finding fresh water in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Yep, apparently whenever a new development is planned, they invite Callum across and put a driver in his hands because he's never failed to find water yet.
Sportsbet odds: $8
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
Although it seems hard to cast your eye past Australian, Cameron Smith. I’ve gone the way of the villain for this week. PATRICK REED is coming off the back of a close call after going toe to toe with Rory McIlroy who got the job done with his C game on the DP World Tour last week.
Reed’s final round 65 in the desert puts him in a great position to carry some momentum into this week’s Saudi International, and potentially go one better than he did at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Sportsbet odds: $17
DP WORLD TOUR – RAS AL KHAIMAH CHAMPIONSHIPBrendan James – Golf Australia Editor
It’s hard to defend a title but I think Dane NICOLAI HOJGAARD is up to the task. He’s notched up two top-10s in his past three starts and looked good early in Dubai last week.
But you can’t overlook the fact he reached 24-under in winning this event last year and will have some bankable memories of that victory to guide him this week.
Sportsbet odds: $17
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
After winning the Player of the Year award in Europe last year (awarded last week) RYAN FOX will show why with another strong performance here.
The Kiwi won at this course the week after this event was played last year in what looks like a one-off event, but he clearly likes the joint and will muscle his way around to once again remind Trevor Immelman what he missed by leaving him off the Presidents Cup team.
Plus, Fox is one of the best blokes in golf so who wouldn’t want him to win?
Sportsbet odds: $17
RELATED: Ras Al Khaimah Championship preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
The only way CALLUM SHINKWIN could have taken more out of his fourth place finish in Dubai last week was if he had won.
He made a horrible start on Sunday with three bogeys in his first five holes while playing in the presence of Rory McIlroy in the final group. That’s the sort of thing which would cause a lot of golfers to wilt but Shinkwin not only recovered, he shot under par for the day. It wasn’t the best score of the day but it might have been one of the best rounds of the day and he will parlay that into victory this week. (Maybe).
Sportsbet odds: $26
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
As we continue our slide north up the coastline of the Persian Gulf in the UAE (Abu Dhabi to Dubai to Rassy* as the locals know it (*not really), I can only ponder aloud again how the Australian and South African Opens are lumped together on the same week in this Tour's schedule.
But I digress.
It goes without saying that GUIDO MIGLIOZZI would like to be part of the Ryder Cup come September when it heads to near his back yard in Rome and if that's going to happen, these are the events he needs to win. Strangely battled last week, but he's moving from a Group 3 in town to a claimer in the bush here, so needs to shine.
Honestly, if the two marquee groups don't fire here, there'll be a lot of scrambling going on in the research department of the host broadcaster.
So I think Miggy will salute here, mostly because for a VERY rare occasion, there is not one Aussie in the field and like Jimmy in that nightclub dancing scenario, my Plan B is not strong.
Sportsbet odds: $41
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
With a majority of the “big guns” giving this week a miss I’m predicting a decent showing from GUIDO MIGLIOZZI.
The ways he hits the golf ball gets me excited. He has had a bit of a mixed bag to start the year, but there is no reason for him not to be in contention come Sunday.
Sportsbet odds: $41
So far, our so-called experts have combined to tip FOUR winners in 2023, with 16 of their picks recording top-10 finishes that week and a best return of $21 for Max Homa to win the Farmers Insurance Open (tipped by Rod Morri).
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