It was a slower week for the so-called experts last week, but they will not be deterred. Especially when there is a bounty of golf on offer. Here they tip winners for the Vic Open, Phoenix Open, Singapore Classic and International Series Oman.
PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA – VIC OPEN
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Seven years ago he was touted as Australia's next big golfing export. Today, RYAN RUFFELS is trying to recapture that teenage form after a long run of poor form and a back surgery.
I can't think of a better comeback story than if Ruffels wins on home soil before heading off to try his luck in Europe. And who doesn't love a comeback story?
Sportsbet odds: $71
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
I like all the offerings of the tipsters here, however, they have all missed a trick in looking at the tea leaves and producing the winner.
He led for 54 holes last year, and took his slight Sunday collapse in stride while noting the lessons he could take from it. That same player was T8 in his last start at Rosebud before he took a week off at home in Sydney.
The above man in JOHN LYRAS.
Now a member of the Asian Tour after the recent Q School, Lyras performed well at the big events late last year and clearly loves 13th Beach and its two gems of layouts.
As an aside, Deyen Lawson will also likely feature, and if he is to triumph where he grew up it will be monumental … not least that he will be carrying an undisclosed kgs gorilla on his back in the form of Mark Hayes who will be passionately walking along. If you happen to see the self-appointed ‘Mayor of the Bellarine’ around 13th Beach this week he loves to meet what he calls his “adoring fans”. Right Hayesy?
Sportsbet odds: $21
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Yes, it’s three weeks in a row but despite a missed cut last week for DAVID MICHELUZZI I like his chances this week.
He was T5 here last year and playing in his own backyard always seems to bring out the best in him. The result at the TPS Murray was a blip, not a pattern, and he will bounce back at 13th Beach in style.
Sportsbet odds: $13
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
It's a great week on the mighty Bellarine Peninsula, full of fun and chances for mere mortals to see their heroes up close and personal.
They're both great courses and should work well for Jimmy Emanuel if he gets a start in the pro-am because there's not much water on either of the 13th Beach layouts. Last week he told his caddie he was nervous he'd drown he was so erratic in a practice round at The Lakes. The caddie was overheard by Jimmy's partners saying that he didn't fear that outcome because "there's no way he'll be able to keep his head down that long".
Speaking of reprieves, the Aussie men get one this week after the arse-kicking they've been getting at the hands of their female peers.
I'd really like to see Ryan Ruffels do well in his homecoming, but I fear he might be short of a gallop on courses that don't "splat".
So I'm going for the person who least needs the run around 13th Beach, given it was in his back yard growing up. DEYEN LAWSON will have a truckload of support from his mates who are desperate for him to get some rewards other than all their cash he's taken this summer during local practice rounds.
Sportsbet odds: $41
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
After bursting onto the scene last week and going 0/4 on tipping debut, I’ve been studying the form guide in a desperate attempt to source a winner.
Although it wasn’t a great week for me, I am always remembering that, the more you put on, the more you get back, and I’m chasing some value.
Coming off the back of a breakthrough win on New Zealand’s Charles Tour, I have landed on HARRY BATEMAN to cross the ditch and get the job done as he did at Bridge Pa contesting the Hastings Open. The layout should suit him, predicting a big week at odds that would feed the family for months.
Sportsbet odds: $251
WPGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA – VIC OPENBrendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Speaking of comebacks, SU OH has had a rough run of form in recent times and it would be great if she can emulate Ruffels and collect a long-awaited trophy before heading back overseas.
I suspect playing in front of familiar faces in friends and family will bring out the best in the Victorian.
Sportsbet odds: $19
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
This field is great considering there is no co-sanctioning in place and as much as I hate to be a conformist, I simply can’t go past GRACE KIM this week.
‘Gracey’ to her mates is the straightest driver of the ball I have seen, which makes her final two holes at the Aussie Open almost unbelievable.
Like Lyras last year, Kim will have learnt from what transpired at Vic and she will be a force to be reckoned with at 13th Beach where she will be smiling all the way. Don’t you hate when someone beats you on the course and you can’t even be mad at them for it?
Sportsbet odds: $17
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Opportunity knocks for some of Australia’s most promising young players this week in a field that features some highly decorated players who may be a tad past their best yet still have plenty to teach a younger group willing to learn.
Karrie Webb and Jiyai Shin stand out in the seasoned campaigner class and while it is unlikely, either is capable of recapturing lightning in a bottle this week. More likely, though, the winner will come from the assembled youth brigade and Hayes’ tip of Grace Kim is a good one.
But in the interests of variety, we’ll look elsewhere and go with the American EMMA TALLEY.
It’s not clear what prompted the long hitting LPGA player to head to Australia for these events but a T8 last week was a decent showing and she will be near the pointy end of the leaderboard again this week.
Sportsbet odds: $15
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
Readers of a certain age (Morri's and above), might remember a legendary race caller named Bert Bryant.
Bert was famous for his great sayings during his race calls; and also for his "moral" of the day, more commonly known as "Bert's nap bet", he would opine from his wicker "form guide chair".
Well, as Bert might say, for someone who's "hanging on like granny's front tooth" for relevance in this competition, I'm about to talk up on GRACE KIM like I've never done in this forum.
I'm arguably Kim's biggest fan, so keep that in mind before you part with your hard-earned.
But I honestly think she's bound for big things in the US of A this year and if there is ever a venue to add that final bit of polish on her soon-to-be sparkling LPGA Tour career, this is it.
Kim is a woman of the people and, unlike some of her peers, will thrive in the cauldron of people close enough to her on Sunday that they'll hear her changing her mind.
She's laser straight, has great ball flight control and is just out and out classy.
So this is my first and last "nap bet" in honour of Bert, who may well say of Kim's form and pedigree ... "Where there's smoke, there's often blue cod".
Sportsbet odds: $17
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
Plain and simple, I think GRACE KIM is going to be hard to stop this week.
She shapes as my ‘best bet,’ of the week.
Sportsbet odds: $17
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Any player who has won a PGA Tour event at the same venue more than once gets my attention. And when said player has been thereabouts when they haven't won, that gets my attention big time. HIDEKI MATSUYAMA is said player.
Loves the Tom Weiskopf redesigned Scottsdale course that plays right into his style of game. If he can avoid any wobbles with the putter, Matsuyama is the man to beat.
On a side note, how does Scottsdale resident Aaron Baddeley, in some solid form to start 2023, not get a start here?
Sportsbet odds: $29
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
Field is stacked and there are plenty of “horses for courses” to consider.
Rahm and McIlroy are clearly major chances of keeping their respective hot runs going, Schauffele loves the joint and Homa is in for a big year.
Yet I am going with HIDEKI MATSUYAMA who has won here twice and seemingly every time TPC Scottsdale rolls around finishes in the top-10.
Top-10 at Torrey last start, will be gearing up for Augusta, lock in a hat-trick for Hideki.
Sportsbet odds: $29
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
What an unedifying spectacle this tournament is every year and that is only compounded in 2023 by the obscene ‘Designated Event’ purse of US$20 million.
The cash (and the new Tour rules) mean an extraordinarily good field is assembled at TPC Scottsdale where JON RAHM will finally breakthrough for a ‘home’ win.
The Spaniard attended university in Arizona and while he has been a fixture at the tournament and a mainstay in the top-10 is yet to break through. The changes Sunday.
Sportsbet odds: $9
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
Finally, a field to get excited about on a Tour that's been running for approximately four months already (Ed's note: Stop nagging, mate, you've made your point – and get some new material!).
You could make a case for plenty in Phoenix, but I think watching LUCAS HERBERT go nuts on Monday morning and capping a big win with an ace on the famous 16th would be some of the best footage we'll have seen since his former Commonwealth clubmate Jarrod Lyle played his famous shot in 2011 (cannot believe it's 12 years, but I digress).
Anyway, it's Herbie time. He's in great form (tick) and loves a crowd (tick), so now for the BOOM!
Sportsbet odds: $96
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
The first of the PGA Tour’s designated events is something to get you up and about this weekend.
23 out of the top 24 in the world are playing and there will be feature group coverage, sensational.
I think this week we will see TAYLOR MONTGOMERY enter the winner’s circle. Been playing outstanding golf all year, and if he does win, my living room might look a lot like the 16th party hole will late in the day.
Sportsbet odds: $61
DP WORLD TOUR – SINGAPORE CLASSICBrendan James – Golf Australia Editor
I'd love to read a headline in the next week that screams FOX LOOSE IN SINGAPORE. Of course, I'm hoping that fox is the RYAN variety.
Laguna National is a course that might just suit Foxy's game and given the strength of the field he could run away with this one if he taps into the form he showed in 2022.
Sportsbet odds: $13
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
Ryan Fox has to like his chances this week given form and the slightly weaker field than we typically see on the DP World Tour.
However, while I would be stoked to see the Kiwi win again, for mine it is ROBERT MACINTYRE’s week.
The lefty from Oban has a big circle around the Ryder Cup this year, and while he is certainly on Luke Donald’s radar after winning at the host venue last year, a dominating performance here would make him a hard case to argue against.
Mixed form of late, MacIntyre is an absolute flusher which is a key attribute for success at the brutal Laguna National that rumour has it still has our leader Brendan James occasionally waking in a cold sweat years removed from his last visit.
Sportsbet odds: $15
RELATED: Singapore Classic preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Like many I hadn’t taken a lot of notice of Spain’s ADRI ARNAUS until this year. But he has played some impressive golf in recent weeks and while his game has some rough edges his raw talent is undeniable.
He was T6 last week and T13 the previous in Dubai, is playing well and a maiden Tour title could well be the result this week.
Sportsbet odds: $15
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
I think ADRI ARNAUS has been impressive of late without getting the chocolates. My good friend Larry Canning will get a good smile about Arnaus being mentioned, particularly in a humid environment.
Keep an eye on the Aussie contingent in Singapore, too. I actually mean this ... both Dimi Papadatos and Anthony Quayle really run well at 13th Beach, so to have given up that chance is a good sign of their thinking in particular.
Sportsbet odds: $15
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
Sticking with a shameless Kiwi trend that you will find runs prevalent through my tips. But no, it’s not the one you’re thinking of … the other one, DAN HILLIER.
After a solid start to his career as a full-time member on the DP World Tour, I think he breaks through at Laguna National this week. Really putting my neck on the line by chasing some value this week … but one is bound to hit at some point. Isn’t it?
Sportsbet odds: $151
ASIAN TOUR – INTERNATIONAL SERIES OMANBrendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Put simply I like how SADOM KAEWKANJANA goes about his business on the golf course. I like the cut of his jib.
He played well last week and I expect that form will easily translate to a similar golf course this week.
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor
The Asian Tour is starting to reap the benefits of its alignment with LIV Golf and the ongoing battle in men’s professional golf, evidenced by the field this week in Oman.
Tempting to go for one of the big name LIV players here, or even one of the disruptor’s rising starts, yet I am going to opt for some Aussie flavour.
The various men teeing it up anywhere but the Vic Open this week will be wanting to put in a good performance given they are missing a tournament most love, that is certainly true of TRAVIS SMYTH.
The New South Welshman is playing with the confidence of a winner, shown with his T6 in Saudi last week.
Smyth has serious talent and won’t be intimidated if he ends up going toe-to-toe with the likes of Brooks Koepka. Also a good record so far in the International Series, whatever that’s worth.
RELATED: International Series Oman preview
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
There are some much higher profile names than you might expect teeing up on the Asian Tour this week, four time major winner BROOKS KOEPKA standing out among them.
At this level Koepka would (and probably should) expect to dominate and that’s what he will do at Laguna National Golf Club.
Mark Hayes – Man About Golf
My heart says Matt Jones, but my head says JOAQUIN NIEMANN.
And that's all I've got for now.
Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer
This event shapes up for one of the South Africans.
No real merit behind that take, but I think the silky move of LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN can swoop in and springboard into his LIV season with a W.
So far, our so-called experts have combined to tip FOUR winners in 2023, with 17 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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So-called expert golf tips for this week
So-called expert golf tips for this week
