Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Memorial Tournament

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

[jwplayer zJvj1mJd]

Tiger Woods returns to play at this week’s Memorial Tournament – which begins Thursday – at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. This will be the second straight event held at the Jack Nicklaus course, following Collin Morikawa‘s playoff win over Justin Thomas last week in the Workday Charity Open. Below, we rank the top-30 fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Memorial Tournament.

Tiger will be joined in the 133-man field by Rory McIlroy and nine of the top-10 golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Woods enters the week ranked 25th and will tee it up for the first time since The Genesis Invitational in mid-February.

Also see:

2020 Memorial Tournament: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Jun 28, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Rory McIlroy at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

30. Paul Casey

Casey skipped the last two events following a T-32 at the Travelers Championship in his return to competitive golf. He has played 22 career rounds at Muirfield Village and has gained an average of 0.80 strokes per round, according to Data Golf.

29. Sungjae Im

Im still sits 14th in the Golfweek rankings despite finishing no better than T-53 in three events since a missed cut at the RBC Heritage. He uncharacteristically lost 0.56 strokes per round on approach last week, but should quickly rebound.

28. Ian Poulter

Poulter had a dominant putting performance last week while gaining 2.22 strokes per round with the flat stick. The greens will be firmer and faster this week, but the veteran Englishman will be able to adapt quickly.

27. Adam Hadwin

Hadwin’s coming off a 35th-place finish at the Workday marred by an ugly Saturday round of 76 in which he lost strokes all over the place, but most notably 3.31 strokes from tee-to-green. He still finished up 0.1 strokes in that column for the event.

26. Joaquin Niemann

Niemann has made four straight cuts since play resumed. He hasn’t been able to replicate the form of his T-5 finish at the RBC Heritage, but he’s at least a safe pick to make it to the weekend.

Jul 11, 2020; Dublin, Ohio; Matt Kuchar at the Workday Charity Open. (Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Matt Kuchar

Kuchar was part of a large group tied for 39th at 4-under par last week. He won this event in 2013 and has six other top 10s since 2008.

24. Rory Sabbatini

Sabbatini ranks among the best in the field with 2.02 strokes gained per round across 38 career rounds played here. He tied for 17th last week with a Sunday 73 knocking him out of the top 10.

23. Jon Rahm

Rahm struggled once again last week, as he finished T-27. He entered the midseason pause with four top 10s in his last five events, but hasn’t done better than last week’s performance since play resumed.

22. Matthew Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick tied for 27th last week after finishing 68th in the 2019 Memorial. Having Jim “Bones” MacKay seemed to help out quickly, as he averaged 1.16 Strokes Gained: Putting for the tournament.

21. Gary Woodland

Woodland’s T-5 last week was his best result and second top 10 since play resumed. He was one of two players to finish inside the top 10 last week who averaged better than 300 yards off the tee.

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20. Jason Day

Day had a resurgent showing last week with a T-7 finish while gaining 1.55 strokes per round from tee-to-green.

19. Rickie Fowler

Fowler has three straight top-15 showings in this event and finished T-22 in last week’s tune-up. He’ll be fully capable of handling the quicker greens this week.

18. Sergio Garcia

Garcia ranks fourth on Tour with 1.653 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green on the 2019-20 PGA Tour season. He tied for fifth in an incredibly strong field at the RBC Heritage.

17. Tony Finau

Finau skipped the Workday Charity Open, but stayed busy last week and shared evidence of a 59 shot at his home club. He missed the cut here last year, but previously had finishes of eighth, 11th and 13th.

16. Patrick Reed

Reed returned to play with a T-7 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but hasn’t finished better than T-24 in four events since. He lost strokes off the tee and on the greens last week. He may be one to find more success on the quicker putting surfaces this week.

Jun 27, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Xander Schauffele at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

15. Xander Schauffele

Schauffele’s T-14 last week was his best result since narrowly missing out on victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He won’t be able to lose his 0.36 strokes around the greens this week in a stronger field.

14. Justin Rose

Rose had an all-around poor performance last week, capped by his -3.02 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. He still ranks near the top of the field with 2.10 SG: Total at Muirfield Village for his career, and will benefit from a return to the usual conditions.

13. Abraham Ancer

Ancer ranks 11th on Tour this season in SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green. He’s well-rested after sitting out the last two events and made the cut here in each of his first two appearances.

12. Daniel Berger

Berger tees it up for the first time since a T-3 at the RBC Heritage. The Charles Schwab Challenge champion should be trusted to get right back to form as he continues to climb the world rankings.

February 14, 2020; Pacific Palisades, Calif.; Tiger Woods at The Genesis Invitational. (Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports)

11. Tiger Woods

Tiger seeks his record-setting 83rd PGA Tour victory at an event he has won five times. We haven’t seen him in a tournament since The Genesis Invitational, but his irons looked to be in peak form in The Match: Champions for Charity. No one may benefit more from fans being denied entry to the course.

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10. Brooks Koepka

Koepka fell flat last week with a missed cut and was a late entry to this event in what’s likely his final tune-up for the PGA Championship. He lost 0.33 strokes per round on the greens at the Workday, but has performed much better on firm and quick surfaces over his career.

9. Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama tied for 22nd last week despite losing 0.62 strokes putting per round, though he gained 2.25 strokes tee-to-green. He has three top-6 finishes in this event over the last six years, including his 2014 win.

8. Webb Simpson

Simpson hasn’t played the Memorial since finishing 67th in 2017. He has wins in two of his last five events and tied for eighth at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

7. Dustin Johnson

Johnson silenced an increasing number of critics with his win at the Travelers Championship. His 1.50 SG: Putting may not be repeatable, but he can at least lean on his 1.83 SG: Tee-to-Green and 1.50 SG: Approach.

6. Patrick Cantlay

The 2019 Memorial champ finished T-7 last week on the back of a Sunday 65. He finished fourth here in 2018 and is a near lock for the top 10.

5. Rory McIlroy

McIlroy has never won this event, but has four top 10s since 2010. He leads the Tour in SG: Tee-to-Green on the 2019-20 season.

4. Justin Thomas

A couple of bad late breaks knocked Thomas out of the winner’s circle while shooting a final round 69 at last week’s Workday. He missed the cut last year, but finished fourth in 2017 and eighth in 2018.

Jul 12, 2020; Dublin, Ohio; Viktor Hovland at the Workday Charity Open. (Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports)

3. Viktor Hovland

Hovland led the field with 1.56 SG: Off the Tee and 3.74 SG: Tee-to-Green last week. He hasn’t finished worse than 23rd in five events since play resumed.

2. Collin Morikawa

Morikawa will be an interesting case study this week as he seeks back-to-back wins on the same course. The competition level increases and the course is expected to play tougher, but it shouldn’t impact the Tour’s leader in SG: Approach too much.

1. Bryson DeChambeau

DeChambeau is the co-favorite at BetMGM this week, along with Thomas. DeChambeau sat out last week to rest, but is already plenty familiar with a course where he won in 2018, as he looks to follow up his Rocket Mortgage Classic victory in a stronger field.

Get some action on the 2020 Memorial Tournament by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 Memorial Tournament odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

Analyzing the golf betting odds to win the 2020 Memorial Tournament, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.

[jwplayer c5NE1lir]

Tiger Woods is one of 23 members of the top 25 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings in the field for this week’s Memorial Tournament, beginning Thursday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Below, we look at the BetMGM PGA Tour betting odds and make our picks to win the 2020 Memorial Tournament.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy returns to play for the first time since a T-11 finish at the Travelers Championship. Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa all seek to defend wins in their last tournaments.

2020 Memorial Tournament Betting Picks – Tier 1

Jul 12, 2020; Dublin, Ohio; Collin Morikawa celebrates his Workday Charity Open victory. (Photo Credit: Adam Cairns – The Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, July 13 at 11:45 a.m. ET.

Collin Morikawa (+2000)

Morikawa shares just the sixth-best odds to win this week. Justin Thomas, who Morikawa toppled in a Sunday comeback ending in a playoff, is the tournament’s co-favorite with DeChambeau at +1000.

While Muirfield Village GC is expected to undergo some quick alterations this week to change tee boxes, rough length and green speeds, it’s still the same venue. The field will be considerably stronger, but Morikawa is still well worth a bet at 20-1 as he looks to go back-to-back on the same course.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Morikawa to win the 2020 Memorial Tournament returns a profit of $200. The same bet on Thomas would return a profit of just $100.

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Daniel Berger (+4000)

Berger hasn’t participated in an event since following up his resurgent victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge with a T-3 finish at the RBC Heritage. He enters this week with the longest odds of any winner since the PGA Tour’s restart.

He gained averages of 1.36 strokes per round on approach and 1.90 strokes per round from tee-to-green in his win at Colonial Country Club, according to Data Golf. He hasn’t played this event since finishing 67th in 2016, but claimed his first victory at the FedEx St. Jude Classic the week after.

2020 Memorial Tournament Betting Picks – Tier 2

Jun 27, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Abraham Ancer chips onto the 15th green at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

Abraham Ancer (+5000)

Ancer has been playing some of the best golf of his career since the PGA Tour returned to play and enters the week 16th in the Golfweek rankings. He was T-14 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, second at the RBC Heritage and T-11 at the Travelers Championship. He’s 11th on Tour this season while gaining 0.795 strokes per round on approach through 34 measured rounds.

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Sergio Garcia (+7000)

Garcia is fourth on Tour with 1.653 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green through 18 rounds on the 2019-20 season. He has averaged 1.63 strokes gained per round over 16 career rounds at Muirfield Village GC. He hasn’t played here since a 45th-place finish in 2008, but was a co-runner-up in 2001 and has three top-10 results in eight events in 2020.

2020 Memorial Tournament Betting Picks – Long shots

Jul 12, 2020; Dublin, Ohio; Rory Sabbatini at the Workday Charity Open. (Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports)

Rory Sabbatini (+10000)

Sabbatini finished in a five-way tie for 17th last week, with a Sunday round of plus-1 that knocked him out of the top 10. He gained 1.13 strokes per round from tee-to-green last week and broke 70 in each of his first three rounds of the Workday Charity Open. He’s sixth among those with a minimum of five rounds played at Muirfield Village with 2.02 strokes gained per round at this venue.

Shane Lowry (+12500)

Lowry is coming off of a 39th-place finish last week at Muirfield with opening and closing rounds of 69 bookending his tournament. He uncharacteristically lost 0.72 strokes per round off the tee, though was able to gain 0.95 strokes on approach.

The odds are far too high for the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year.

Get some action on the 2020 Memorial Tournament by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 Workday Charity Open Prop Bet Payday: Matchup, Placing and FRL Picks

Analyzing prop bets for the 2020 Workday Charity Open, with odds and picks for the best matchup, placing and FRL best bets.

[jwplayer Ed28Mjar]

The Workday Charity Open replaces the canceled John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour schedule this week and will be the first of two straight tournaments played at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village Golf Club. Jon Rahm fronts the strong 156-man field as the No. 2 golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Below, we look at the best matchup, placing and first-round leader bets to pair with your outright picks for the Workday Charity Open.

Also see:

2020 Workday Charity Open: Matchup bets

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, July 8 at 12:10 a.m. ET.

Patrick Cantlay (-118) vs. Hideki Matsuyama

Cantlay won the 2019 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village while Matsuyama finished sixth. The two are priced at +1500 and +1600, respectively, to win the tournament, making Cantlay a slight favorite in this matchup.

Cantlay has gained an average of 3.23 strokes across 12 career rounds at Muirfield Village to lead the field this week, according to Data Golf. Matsuyama tied for 21st in a weaker field at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week, while Cantlay tied for 11th at the Travelers Championship in his only event since play resumed.

Rickie Fowler vs. Justin Rose (-125)

Fowler’s T-12 finish last week was his best result since returning to play after he missed the cut in his first two events. Rose took a week off following a missed cut at the Travelers, but had previously tied for 14th at the RBC Heritage and third at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Rose has averaged 2.39 strokes gained per round across 46 rounds played here.


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2020 Workday Charity Open: Placing bets

Top 10: Tom Hoge (+1200)

Hoge has missed the cut in three of four events since returning to play, but returns to a course where he last finished T-13 in 2018. He ranks fifth in SG: Approach and second in Proximity from 175-200 Yards across everyone’s last 50 rounds on courses over 7,400 yards in length, according to Fantasy National.

Top European: Justin Rose (+500)

Rose is the third favorite behind Jon Rahm (+240) and Viktor Hovland (+400) in this group. Rose won the Memorial in 2010 and was the runner-up in 2008 and 2015, and showed great form in his first two events back.

Top Canadian Player: Adam Hadwin (+138)

We cashed this bet on Hadwin at a chalky -200 last week as he finished T-4 while gaining 1.37 strokes tee-to-green, to accompany his usually strong putter. His odds have risen considerably this week with Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes back in the field as two of the next best three Canadians, but Hadwin is still in the best form.


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2020 Workday Charity Open: First-round leader bet

Patrick Cantlay (+2800)

As noted above, Cantlay is just +1500 to win this event outright and is a much more profitable play to lead after Round 1 in his defense of Muirfield Village. He leads the PGA Tour with a first-round scoring average of 67.33 through six rounds in the 2019-20 season. His 5-under 65 in the final round of the Travelers was his best round since returning to play.

Get some action on the Workday Charity Open by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Workday Charity Open

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

[jwplayer Ed28Mjar]

Four of the top 10 golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings highlight the field in Dublin, Ohio, this week for the 2020 Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The tournament replaces the John Deere Classic this season and preludes next week’s Memorial Tournament at this same venue. Below, we look at the top 30 fantasy golf picks for the Workday Charity Open.

Also see: 2020 Workday Charity Open odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

2020 Workday Charity Open: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Jun 11, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Keith Mitchell at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

30. Keith Mitchell

Claimed his first career victory at the Jack Nicklaus-redesigned PGA National Golf Club in March of last year. Ranks fifth in this field in Birdies or Better Gained on courses measuring at least 7,400 yards over his last 50 rounds.

29. Ryan Armour

Still ranked just 182nd in the Golfweek rankings, Armour is coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Travelers Championship (T-6) and Rocket Mortgage Classic (T-4). He was in contention last week until a Sunday round of even-par 72 to finish seven strokes back.

28. Matthew Fitzpatrick

Finished in a tie for 68th in his debut here last year, but will be joined this year by veteran caddie Jim “Bones” MacKay. He should get a better feel for the greens after losing 1.56 strokes per round putting in the 2019 Memorial Tournament, according to Data Golf.

27. Louis Oosthuizen

Took last week off following a lackluster return to golf from the midseason suspension. Good tee-to-green game.

26. Scottie Scheffler

Has uncharacteristically missed consecutive cuts coming into this week. Performs well in the long approach shots required here.

Jul 4, 2020; Detroit; Rickie Fowler lines up a putt at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Rickie Fowler

Fowler finally showed a flash of his old form last week while finishing T-12 after taking a week off. Has averaged 2.00 strokes gained on the field across 34 career rounds played at Muirfield Village.

24. Byeong Hun An

Also well experienced at this course, An has averaged 1.93 strokes gained across 18 rounds. Finished T-17 last year while gaining 1.34 strokes per round from tee-to-green.

23. Bubba Watson

Ranks among the most experienced golfers in the field with 44 rounds played at this venue. Enters the week seventh in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green on courses of at least 7,400 yards.

22. Joel Dahmen

Ranks 32nd in my stat model with a top rank of eighth in Proximity from 175-200 Yards. Took last week off, but hasn’t finished worse than T-48 in three events since golf returned.

21. Corey Conners

Fifteenth in the field in SG: Approach and 20th in SG: Tee-to-Green on courses longer than 7,400 yards. Finished T-65 at last year’s Memorial Tournament due to uncharacteristic tee-to-green performance.


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20. Phil Mickelson

Mickelson has played every other week since returning to play. He showed at the Travelers Championship he can still hang with the top young power hitters and has more than enough distance for this lengthened course.

19. Ian Poulter

Ranks sixth in this week’s stat model and leads the field in the key proximity distance of 175-200 yards.

18. Matthew Wolff

Wolff resurfaced last week with a solo second-place finish. Gained 1.52 strokes per round putting but also gained 1.51 per round from tee-to-green.

17. Adam Hadwin

A T-4 finish last week was his best result since the same finishing position at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in the fall. Usually relies heavily on his putter, but gained 1.37 strokes per round from tee-to-green in Detroit.

16. Jordan Spieth

Spieth is coming off back-to-back disappointing finishes after a resurgent T-10 result at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Has averaged 1.52 strokes gained per round across 26 trips around Muirfield Village.

Jun 26, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Collin Morikawa with his caddie on the 18th fairway at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

15. Collin Morikawa

Took last week off to regroup after missing his first cut as a professional at the Travelers Championship. Struggles slightly with the long par 4s present here.

14. Matt Kuchar

Ranks second in the field with an average of 2.75 strokes gained per round across 46 career rounds at this course. Took the last two weeks off following a T-41 result at the RBC Heritage.

13. Sungjae Im

Coming off three straight disappointing results after returning to play with a T-10 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Finished T-57 at the 2019 Memorial Tournament while losing 1.25 strokes per round on approach.

12. Viktor Hovland

Hasn’t finished worse than his T-23 at the Charles Schwab Challenge since returning from the midseason pause. Also hasn’t finished better than his T-11 at the Travelers Championship.

11. Patrick Reed

Missed the cut in two of his last three events but ranks fourth in this field in Birdies or Better Gained on courses of 7,400 yards.


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10. Joaquin Niemann

Returns after a week off following a disappointing 63rd-place finish at the Travelers Championship on the heels of a T-5 at the RBC Heritage. Ranks 12th in the field in SG: Approach and third from the key distance of 175-200 yards.

9. Gary Woodland

Fifth in this week’s stat model and fourth in SG: Tee-to-Green. Highly experienced here with 32 rounds played and 0.99 strokes gained per round.

8. Marc Leishman

One of 11 golfers in the field with at least 42 rounds played at Muirfield Village. Has averaged 1.10 strokes gained per round and ranks fourth in the field in SG: Approach and eighth in Par 4 Efficiency: 450-500 Yards.

7. Xander Schauffele

Tied for 14th last year while gaining 1.17 strokes per round off the tee. Missed the cut in his lone other appearance.

6. Patrick Cantlay

The 2019 Memorial Tournament champ returned to play with a T-11 finish at the Travelers Championship and took last week off. He gained 3.64 strokes per round from tee-to-green last year.

Jun 26, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Jon Rahm reacts after missing a putt at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

5. Jon Rahm

Fifth in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and 10th in Birdies or Better Gained. Still No. 2 in the Golfweek rankings. He’s the top golfer in the field.

4. Hideki Matsuyama

Slipped to a T-21 finish last week after firing a Saturday round of 65. Finished alone in sixth at the 2019 Memorial Tournament while gaining 2.50 strokes per round from tee-to-green.

3. Brooks Koepka

Returns following two weeks off after his caddie tested positive for COVID-19 and he withdrew from the Travelers Championship. Had returned to form with a seventh-place finish at the RBC Heritage.

2. Justin Rose

Ranks third in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and Birdies or Better Gained. Has played 46 rounds at Muirfield Village with a win at the 2010 Memorial Tournament and an average of 2.39 strokes gained.

1. Justin Thomas

Leads the field in SG: Tee-to-Green, Birdies or Better Gained and Par 4 Efficiency: 450-500 Yards on courses longer than 7,400 yards. Has gained 0.45 strokes on the field across 18 rounds played here.

Get some action on the 2020 Workday Charity Open by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 Workday Charity Open odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

Analyzing the golf betting odds to win the 2020 Workday Charity Open, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.

The 2020 Workday Charity Open begins Thursday, replacing the John Deere Classic on the 2019-20 PGA Tour schedule, and takes place before next week’s Memorial Tournament as the first of back-to-back events at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Below, we look at the tournament betting odds at BetMGM and make our picks to win the 2020 Workday Charity Open.

Jon Rahm, who enters the week at No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings highlights another strong 156-man fieldBryson DeChambeau is taking the week off after winning last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit and rising to No. 6 in the Golfweek rankings.

2020 Workday Charity Open Betting Picks – Tier 1

Jun 19, 2020; Hilton Head, S.C.; Justin Rose lines up a putt at RBC Heritage. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, July 6 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Justin Rose (+2500)

Only three golfers in the field have played more career rounds than Rose’s 46 at Muirfield Village. He ranks third among all golfers in attendance with an average of 2.39 strokes gained per round, according to Data Golf.

Rose leads my stat model at Fantasy National with field ranks of third in both Strokes Gained: Approach and Birdies or Better Gained over his last 50 rounds played on courses longer than 7,400 yards. The course has been lengthened to 7,456 yards for this week’s event.


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Matt Kuchar (+4000)

Kuchar matches Rose’s experience at Muirfield Village and has gained 2.75 strokes per round on the field. The 2013 Memorial Tournament champion missed the cut last year in an uncharacteristically poor performance from tee-to-green and on approach. He has taken the last two weeks off following a T-41 showing at the RBC Heritage.

2020 Workday Charity Open Betting Picks – Tier 2

Jun 20, 2020; Hilton Head, S.C.; Matthew Fitzpatrick on the 18th hole during the third round of the RBC Heritage. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

Matthew Fitzpatrick (+5000)

Fitzpatrick tied for 68th at last year’s Memorial Tournament while losing 1.56 strokes per round on the field putting. The star of the European Tour will play his fourth of five events since the PGA Tour returned to play after skipping out on the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He’s linking up with veteran caddie Jim “Bones” MacKay this week and should be able to gain a better feel for the Bentgrass/Poa Annua greens.


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Corey Conners (+8000)

Conners tied for 65th here in 2019. He finished at plus-four in his debut at Muirfield Village. He’s coming off a missed cut at the Travelers Championship and a week off, but had previously tied for 19th at the Charles Schwab Challenge and 21st at the RBC Heritage in strong fields. He has plenty of distance for this venue and is an expert ball-striker.

2020 Workday Charity Open Betting Picks – Long shots

Jun 20, 2020; Hilton Head, S.C.; Ian Poulter on the 10th fairway during the third round of the RBC Heritage. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

Ian Poulter (+10000)

Poulter ranks sixth in my stat model and leads the field in Proximity from 175-200 Yards. He’s also fifth in Par 4 Efficiency: 450-500 Yards and ninth in SG: Approach on courses longer than 7,400 yards. The veteran Englishman has averaged 0.89 strokes gained per round across 17 career trips around Muirfield Village.

Keith Mitchell (+25000)

Mitchell’s lone career victory came at the Nicklaus redesigned-PGA National Resort and Spa last March. The strong field this week results in him being buried in the odds, as he missed the cut at both the RBC Heritage and Travelers Championship following a T-64 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge in his return to play.

He ranks fifth in this field in Birdies or Better Gained and 10th in SG: Tee-to-Green on long courses, and he’s one of the longest hitters on Tour.

Get some action on the 2020 Workday Charity Open by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Prop Bet Payday: Matchup, Placing and FRL Picks

Analyzing prop bets for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic, with odds and picks for the best matchup, placing and FRL best bets.

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After placing your bets for the outright winner of the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic and setting your fantasy golf lineup, it’s time to flush out your weekly betting card with a wide selection of prop bets.

The 7,334-yard, par-72 Detroit Golf Club welcomes Webb SimpsonBryson DeChambeau and yet another strong field – starting Thursday – for the fourth event in the PGA Tour’s return to play. Simpson leads all in attendance while ranking third in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. The RBC Heritage winner returns after withdrawing from the Travelers Championship last week amid COVID-19 concerns.

Also see:

2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic: Matchup bets

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, June 30 at 9:45 p.m. ET.

J.T. Poston (-118) vs. Kevin Na

Poston, who finished T-11 here last year, is in a pick’em with Na, who debuts at this event. Na finished fifth last week at the Travelers Championship, while Poston missed the cut after finishing T-8 at the RBC Heritage and T-10 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Trust his modest experience here to spark a return to form.

Sungjae Im vs. Tony Finau (-106)

Both golfers have disappointed in stronger fields the last two weeks. Finau ranks first in this field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and eighth in SG: Approach over everyone’s last 50 rounds, according to Fantasy National, and he’s a value as a slight underdog in this matchup.


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2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic: Placing bets

Top 5: Cameron Tringale (+2800)

Tringale will need to repeat last year’s finish in Detroit despite the significantly stronger field in attendance. He was second among those who made the cut with 2.02 SG: Tee-to-Green per round last year, according to Data Golf, while finishing eight shots off the lead at minus-17. He ranks fourth overall by my stat model this week.

Who will the best player from the Rest of The World be? Hideki Matsuyama (+400)

Matsuyama is getting much better odds here than he is for Top Asian Player (+125), despite his top competition being Im in both pools. Matsuyama topped Im with a T-13 to T-21 finish at Detroit Golf Club in 2019. He ranks third in SG: Tee-to-Green, and ninth in SG: Approach and Bogey Avoidance.

Top South African Player: Erik Van Rooyen (+220)

Van Rooyen is the best course fit with the best tee-to-green game in a pool that includes Christiaan BezuidenhoutBranden Grace and Charl Schwartzel. Top-ranked South African Louis Oosthuizen isn’t in attendance.

Top Canadian Player: Adam Hadwin (-200)

Sometimes it’s OK to eat a little chalk. At 19th in the Golfweek rankings, Hadwin is easily the top-ranked Canadian. No. 2, Corey Conners (69th), and No. 3, Mackenzie Hughes (234th), are off this week. Roger Sloan (+450) ranks 343rd.


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2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic: First-round leader bets

Bryson DeChambeau (+1600)

The odds for DeChambeau to lead after Round 1 are much better than his +600 odds to win the tournament. He’s third on Tour in the 2019-20 season and first in this field with a first-round scoring average of 67.80 through 10 rounds. Plus, he has started two of his last three tournaments with an opening-round 65.

Doc Redman (+5500)

Redman was last year’s runner-up, losing by six strokes to Nate Lashley. Redman resurfaced last week with a T-11 finish at the Travelers Championship. Like DeChambeau, his first-round leader odds are much better than his tournament price of +4500. He has a scheduling advantage by being in the second group off the first tee Thursday.

Get some action on the Rocket Mortgage Classic by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club.

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Detroit Golf Club hosts the second annual Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, beginning Thursday. Webb Simpson and Bryson DeChambeau highlight a slightly weaker field than golf fans have seen in the last three events, but it’s still significantly stronger than last year when Nate Lashley won by six strokes at 25-under par. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Detroit Golf Club, designed by Donald Ross, measures 7,334 yards and plays to a par of 72. Simpson returns to play after withdrawing from the Travelers Championship amid COVID-19 concerns. He rose to No. 3 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings following his win at the RBC Heritage.

Also see: 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic odds, picks, predictions and PGA Tour best bets

2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Jun 28, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Brendon Todd reacts to a putt during the final round of the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club.

30. Brendon Todd

Resurfaced with a T-11 finish last week in Connecticut. A back-to-back winner early in the 2019-20 season, we know he can stay hot for two weeks in a row.

29. Matthew Wolff

He’s out of form with two straight missed cuts, but he’s a PGA Tour winner and his stock rises in the weaker field after missing the cut on the number last week.

28. Rafael Cabrera Bello

Finished T-32 last week with thanks to a final-round 64. Tied for 16th in a strong field at the WGC-Mexico Championship before the season was suspended.

27. Rory Sabbatini

Riding a streak of five straight made cuts dating back to The Genesis Invitational. Ranks sixth in this field in Sand Saves Gained over everyone’s last 50 rounds, according to Fantasy National, and will be capable of escaping any of the 87 bunkers covering this course.

26. Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Has three international wins in the last five years, but still looking for his first in North America. This will be one of the weaker Tour fields in which he has played.

Jun 14, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Branden Grace tees off at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Branden Grace

Missed the cut on the number last week. Ranks 26th in this field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.

24. Brian Harman

An expert sand player who ranks 18th in this field in SG: Tee-to-Green. Came out of the break with back-to-back top-30 finishes before a missed cut last week.

23. Sebastian Munoz

Got off to a strong start at the RBC Heritage before slipping to a T-28 result, and then missed the cut at the Travelers Championship. Ranks 17th in SG: Tee-to-Green and 23rd in SG: Approach.

22. Tom Hoge

Came back from consecutive missed cuts to finish T-37 last week. Ranks fifth in the field in SG: Approach.

21. Russell Knox

Seven missed cuts dating back to a T-16 finish in a strong field at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Still ranks seventh in SG: Approach and 13th in Bogey Avoidance.


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20. Harold Varner III

Missed the cut in 2019 despite gaining a stroke per round on the field in SG: Approach, according to Data Golf. Flashed his potential with a T-19 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but needs to string four rounds together.

19. Adam Hadwin

One of the best putters on Tour on any surface. Has missed the cut in just one of his last 12 events.

18. Cameron Tringale

Tenth in this field in Bogey Avoidance and 16th in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Approach. Tied for fifth in 2019 while gaining 2.02 strokes per round from tee-to-green.

17. Erik Van Rooyen

Rested last week following a T-21 finish at the RBC Heritage. Ranks 11th in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and 18th in SG: Approach.

16. Doc Redman

Last year’s runner-up heated up last week with a T-11 finish at the Travelers Championship. Hasn’t missed a cut in his last four events.

Jun 19, 2020; Hilton Head, S.C.; Kevin Kisner at the RBC Heritage. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

15. Kevin Kisner

Missed the cut in three of his last four events and each of his last two, but finished T-46 in the weaker field last year at 9-under par, despite losing strokes putting.

14. Bubba Watson

Lost 1.70 strokes per round on approach in 2019 and missed the cut last week following a T-7 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T-52 at the RBC Heritage. Ranks 28th in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and is 13th by the betting odds to win at BetMGM.

13. Rickie Fowler

Fowler returned to play with consecutive missed cuts before taking last week off. He has slipped all the way to 98th in the Golfweek rankings, but he’s still 10th by the tournament’s betting odds.

12. Brandt Snedeker

Fourth in the field in Sand Saves Gained and 14th in Bogey Avoidance. Finished T-41 last week following a missed cut at the RBC Heritage in his return to play.

11. J.T. Poston

One of my favorite betting plays this week at +4000. Finished T-10 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and T-8 at the RBC Heritage before a missed cut last week. Tied for 11th in Detroit last year.


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10. Kevin Na

Ranks 11th in Bogey Avoidance and 13th in Sand Saves Gained. Finished fifth last week.

9. Scottie Scheffler

Yet another player who missed the cut on the number at 3-under last week. Ranks eighth in this field in SG: Tee-to-Green.

8. Patrick Reed

Reed missed the cut at the RBC Heritage following a T-7 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but returned with a T-24 last week. He’s seventh in Bogey Avoidance and 13th in SG: Tee-to-Green.

7. Tony Finau

Ranks eighth in SG: Approach and leads the field in SG: Tee-to-Green. Hasn’t finished in the top 20 since a disappointing runner-up result at the Waste Management.

6. Viktor Hovland

Up to 21st in the Golfweek rankings following a T-11 finish last week. Has steadily improved his results over his four events dating back to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Jun 14, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Sungjae Im on the third tee during at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

5. Sungjae Im

Returned to play with a T-10 result at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but missed the cut at the RBC Heritage and finished T-58 last week. Ranks fourth in this field by the Golfweek rankings and has the seventh-lowest betting odds.

4. Tyrrell Hatton

Ranked fourth by the betting odds, Hatton is 17th in the world and fifth in the field by the Golfweek rankings. Took last week off following a T-3 at the RBC Heritage.

3. Hideki Matsuyama

Missed the cut last week, but ranks third in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and ninth in both SG: Approach and Bogey Avoidance. Ranks fifth by the betting odds at +1800.

2. Bryson DeChambeau

A massive betting favorite at +650, DeChambeau has six straight top-10 finishes. Ranks fourth in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and Bogey Avoidance.

1. Webb Simpson

The RBC Heritage champ withdrew last week, but returns to lead this week’s stat model. His first career win came at the Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield Country Club in 2011.

Get some action on the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

Analyzing the golf betting odds to win the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.

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Detroit Golf Club hosts this week’s Rocket Mortgage Challenge, beginning Thursday in Detroit. Webb Simpson highlights the field as the third-ranked player in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. He’s joined by sixth-ranked Bryson DeChambeau as heavy betting favorites this week. Below, we look at the best bets and long shots to target in our 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic betting picks.

Dustin Johnson, now ranked 10th in the world following his Travelers Championship victory, is among the best in the world taking the week off.

Detroit Golf Club measures 7,334 yards and plays to a par of 72.

2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Betting Picks – Tier 1

Jun 19, 2020; Hilton Head, S.C.; Hideki Matsuyama and his caddie during the second round of the RBC Heritage. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, June 29 at 2 p.m. ET.

Hideki Matsuyama (+1800)

Matsuyama is playing for the second time since the PGA Tour resumed the 2019-20 schedule. He missed the cut at the RBC Heritage, but finished T-13 here last year in the first running of the Rocket Mortgage Classic as one of the top names in the field. He hasn’t won anywhere in the world since the 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, but has excelled in strong fields over his career with five PGA Tour wins, including two in WGC events.

Matsuyama is third in the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and ninth in both SG: Approach and Bogey Avoidance.


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J.T. Poston (+4000)

Poston’s strength among the key stats for this week is in Sand Saves Gained. Detroit Golf Club features 87 bunkers as the primary hazard. He tied for 11th last year while gaining an average of 1.32 strokes per round on the field, according to Data Golf. He tied for 10th at the Charles Schwab Challenge and eighth at the RBC Heritage before missing the cut last week. This is the weakest field of the four events in the Tour’s return.

2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Betting Picks – Tier 2

Jun 11, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Adam Hadwin and his caddie during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

Adam Hadwin (+6000)

Hadwin took last week off following a T-43 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T-41 at the RBC Heritage. He ranks fifth in this field in Sand Saves Gained and 19th in the Golfweek world rankings as the sixth-best golfer in attendance, but he’s 18th by the odds to win.


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Harold Varner III (+6600)

Varner once again flashed his potential by starting the Charles Schwab Challenge with opening rounds of 63-66, before finishing T-19. He finished 32nd in last week’s scoring fest at 10-under par, while shooting in the 60s all four rounds. He ranks sixth in the field in SG: Approach and fifth in SG: Tee-to-Green. He’ll need to go low with last year’s winner, Nate Lashley, finishing 25-under par.

2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Betting Picks – Long shots

Jun 13, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Matthew Wolff from the ninth tee at the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

Matthew Wolff (+12500)

Wolff ranks 96th in the Golfweek rankings coming into the event. The one-time PGA Tour winner has missed the cut in back-to-back weeks, doing so on the cutline last week in Connecticut. He’s not a strong statistical fit and missed the cut last year, but his odds are grossly inflated for a PGA Tour champion in a softened field.

Cameron Tringale (+17500)

Tringale trails only Simpson (+1100), DeChambeau (+650) and Doc Redman (+4500) in my stat model at Fantasy National. Tringale is 10th in the field in Bogey Avoidance and finished T-5 here last year, while ranking third with 2.02 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green per round.

Get some action on the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Travelers Championship

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.

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The 2020 Travelers Championship is set to tee off Thursday at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. The third event on the PGA Tour’s revamped 2020 schedule is the first to be played on its regularly scheduled dates and features another star-studded field. Below, we look at the top-30 fantasy golf power rankings for the 2020 Travelers Championship.

Thirteen of the top 15 players in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings will be in attendance, including reigning RBC Heritage champ Webb SimpsonDaniel Berger, who has risen all the way to No. 5 in the Golfweek rankings, withdrew from the event Sunday night.

TPC River Highlands is a par-70 measuring just 6,841 yards and featuring Bentgrass greens.

Also see:

2020 Travelers Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 30

(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.

30. Ryan Moore

Moore has never won here, but has gained an average of 1.75 strokes per round on the field across 44 career rounds at TPC River Highlands, according to Data Golf.

29. Matthew Fitzpatrick

A regular contender on the European Tour, Fitzpatrick is still looking for his first win on the PGA Tour after a T-14 result last week at a favorite course of his.

28. Corey Conners

Conners again lost strokes putting last week and still managed a T-21 finish. His ball-striking should shine through at this short venue.

27. Joel Dahmen

Dahmen has quietly climbed into 31st in the Golfweek rankings with a top-50 finish in each of the last three events. He was in contention last week until a Sunday 75 dropped him to T-48.

26. Ian Poulter

The veteran Poulter has taken up residency on the PGA Tour with the European Tour still on pause. He tied for 14th last week after grabbing a share of the first-round lead.

(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Jason Day

Still one of the best Bentgrass putters on Tour, Day has a good history here with a T-8 in 2019 and T-12 in 2018.

24. Scottie Scheffler

Potentially a sneaky play after last week’s Tuesday morning withdrawal. Scheffler scores well on par 4s from 400-450 yards and gains scoring opportunities on these shorter courses.

23. Patrick Reed

Missed the cut last week at a short, but tight course following a T-7 finish at Colonial Country Club. Reed is a much better putter on Bentgrass than last week’s Bermuda greens.

22. Jordan Spieth

The rollercoaster continues, but there’s denying Spieth is a strong choice in any fantasy format that rewards birdies more strongly than it punishes bogeys.


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21. Sergio Garcia

A T-5 finish last week was his best result since a T-4 at the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship. Led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and ranked second in SG: Approach last week.

20. Sungjae Im

A rare missed cut was entirely the fault of losing 2.20 strokes per round putting on the Bermuda greens at Harbour Town Golf Links. He ranks 41st in this week’s field on Bentgrass greens, according to Fantasy National.

19. Joaquin Niemann

A first-time winner at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in the first event of the 2019-20 season, Niemann resurfaced with last week’s T-5 result in a considerably stronger field. He excelled from tee to green and on approach.

18. Jon Rahm

Still ranked second in the Golfweek rankings, Rahm is one of the few players from among the world’s elite without a top-20 finish in two events back from the midseason pause.

17. Xander Schauffele

Lost strokes in all key areas except for SG: Off the Tee last week after narrowly missing out on a playoff at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Missed the cut in 2018 after a T-14 in 2017.

(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

16. Viktor Hovland

His first victory at the Puerto Rico Open in February was on a much longer course, but he’s an expert ball-striker who can create scoring opportunities.

15. Tony Finau

A disappointing restart to the season with a T-23 and T-33 finish. Missed the cut last year, but tied for 17th in 2017.

14. Dustin Johnson

Johnson gained an impressive 1.35 strokes off the tee and 0.79 strokes on approach last week. The T-17 finish was his best result since a T-10 at The Genesis Invitational.

13. Gary Woodland

Stumbled to a T-62 last week following a ninth-place finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Playing here for the first time since 2016.

12. Collin Morikawa

Last year’s T-36 finish in his debut last season now pales in comparison to what he has accomplished since. Still hasn’t missed a cut as a professional.

11. Patrick Cantlay

Back-to-back T-15 finishes here in the last two years. Returns to play for the first time after sitting out the last two events following the midseason suspension.


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10. Justin Rose

Another veteran with good history here, but no appearances since a 13th-place showing in 2013. Back-to-back top 15s out of the break.

9. Bubba Watson

A three-time champion here looks to tie Billy Casper’s 47-year-old record four titles. Has been quietly playing well and salvaged a T-52 finish with a Sunday 65 last week.

8. Bryson DeChambeau

All that added power may be for naught at such a short venue. Struggles on Bentgrass greens compared to Bermuda or Poa Annua, as well.

7. Rory McIlroy

Has excelled on shorter courses in his career, including a victory at 22-under par at last year’s RBC Canadian Open. Has gained 1.84 strokes per round in two appearances here.

6. Marc Leishman

A champion in 2012, Leishman has averaged 1.13 strokes gained per round on the field at TPC River Highlands. Leads this field in SG: Ball Striking and Par Efficiency: 400-450 Yards on courses shorter than 7,200 yards and featuring Bentgrass greens.

(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

5. Webb Simpson

Now a two-time winner in 2020, Simpson rebounded nicely from a missed cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge to win last week. He’s been largely unimpressive here and last missed the cut in 2018.

4. Abraham Ancer

Came oh-so-close to his first career PGA Tour win last week in Hilton Head, S.C. Led the field with 2.96 SG: Approach and ranked second in SG: T2G.

3. Justin Thomas

Two top 10s since returning to play, but has struggled at this venue since tying for third in 2016.

2. Brooks Koepka

Flashed his old form in a seventh-place finish last week, while gaining 1.73 strokes per round off the tee. Also gained 0.94 strokes putting on the Bermuda greens, including some clutch long attempts on Sunday.

1. Paul Casey

The would-be course history darling if it weren’t for Watson. Casey has finished either T-5 or as a runner-up in four of his five appearances here. Leads the field in Opportunities Gained in what should be another shootout in the Tour’s return to play.

Get some action on the 2020 Travelers Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 Travelers Championship Prop Bet Payday: Matchups, Placing and FRL Picks

Analyzing prop bets for the 2020 Travelers Championship, with odds, picks and best bets for the best match betting and placing options.

The best way to ensure a consistent return on your investment when betting golf is to pair your outright picks with a broader series of safer prop bets. Below, we look at the best matchup, placing and first-round leader bets to make for the 2020 Travelers Championship this week at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.

Also see:

2020 Travelers Championship: Matchup bets

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, June 23 at 11 p.m. ET.

Justin Rose vs. Paul Casey (-118)

Casey will appear in his first event since the PGA Tour resumed play, while Rose has finished T-3 and T-14 in two events back. Course history is on Casey’s side in the battle of Englishmen, as he has gained an average of 2.46 strokes per round on the field across 20 rounds played here, according to Data Golf. Rose has averaged 1.37 SG per round, but hasn’t played here since 2013.

Matthew Fitzpatrick vs. Marc Leishman (-105)

Fitzpatrick is coming off a T-14 finish last week, while Leishman took the week off following a missed cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge. The Aussie won this event in 2012 and already has a PGA Tour win in 2020 at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Xander Schauffele vs. Patrick Reed (+105)

Reed is coming off a missed cut on the heels of a T-7 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Schauffele is favored in the head-to-head matchup following a disappointing T-64 finish of his own last week. Reed has had much better success here, highlighted by a T-5 showing in 2017, and is catching plus-money.


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2020 Travelers Championship: Placing bets

Top American Player: Brooks Koepka (+1400)

Koepka is listed at +2000 to win this tournament and is taking only a very small hit when narrowing his top competition to Bryson DeChambeauJustin ThomasWebb Simpson and Patrick Cantlay. Koepka’s seventh-place finish last week was better than all but Simpson.

Top 5: Bubba Watson (+750)

Watson seeks to tie a tournament record with a fourth career victory at TPC River Highlands. Two of his three wins came in the last five years, and he has scored in the 60s in seven of eight rounds since play resumed.

Top 10: Doc Redman (+1600)

The 22-year-old excels on par 4s from 400-450 yards and on approach shots from 150-175 shots to represent a strong course fit as he seeks his first top-10 finish since a runner-up at last year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. He gained 1.95 strokes per round on approach last week and can slice his way through this 6,841-yard venue.

Top 20: Hudson Swafford (+1200)

Ranked 134th in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings, Swafford jumped quite a bit with a T-9 finish in a strong field at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February. He’s a strong putter on Bentgrass greens and he hits a lot of greens at these short courses.

2020 Travelers Championship: First-round leader bets

Corey Conners (+6600)

One of the best ball-strikers on Tour and a short-course wiz who can make sure he leaves himself with only short putts to limit his greatest weakness. Fired a second-round 63 last week and has scored in the 60s in six of eight rounds since the return.

Ryan Moore (+9000)

Few are more experienced here than Moore, who has played 44 rounds with an average of 1.75 strokes gained per round. He opened with a 64 at the Charles Schwab Challenge before shooting a Friday 74 to miss the cut.

Dylan Frittelli (+9000)

Frittelli opened the RBC Heritage with a 65, but it was quickly overshadowed by a Sunday 62 that earned him the early Round 4 lead. These are high odds for someone who shot the round of the day his last time out.

2020 Travelers Championship: Tournament specials

Winner NOT in final pairing final round: +175

There’s no easier bet to make than this one. These incredibly strong fields in the first two weeks since the PGA Tour returned have led to some high-profile and crowded weekend leaderboards and the last two winners came from outside of the final group. The tournament winner can even enter Sunday tied for the lead and/or playing from the second- or third-to-last pairing for this bet to cash.

Get some action on the Travelers Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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