Analyzing the golf betting odds to win the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
[jwplayer Mr8Fu9mp]
The PGA Tour shifts back to the West Coast for this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Dustin Johnson, ranked fifth by the Official World Golf Ranking, leads the field as he’ll tee it up on the mainland for the first time since August’s Tour Championship.
The key stats for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which will cycle through Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Monterey Peninsula Country Club, are:
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Around the Green
Strokes Gained: Scrambling
Birdies Gained
Par 4 Scoring: 350-400 Yards
Proximity from 125-150 Yards
My model at Fantasy National looks at the most recent 24 rounds on courses shorter than 7,200 yards.
Johnson returns to the USA following a runner-up finish at the European Tour’s Saudi International. He’s back in form following a lengthy injury layoff and a T-7 result at the 30-man Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii to open 2020. He’s a two-time winner of this event and leads the week’s stat model. He scores particularly well on the shorter courses and ranks second in birdies gained.
Looking to place a bet on this tournament? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
Brandt Snedeker (+2200)
Snedeker, the 2015 champ, suffered a rare missed cut at least week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open following a T-3 at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. He’s one of the best in the field at putting on the difficult Poa Annua greens, and he’ll benefit from playing the shorter venue.
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Tier 2
(Photo Credit: Mark Konezny – USA TODAY Sports)
Kevin Na (+6600)
Na has played this event just one of the last three years when he finished T-20 in 2018. He missed the cut last week to fall to 28th in the OWGR, but he remains a strong value play in a weaker field. He’s an expert scrambler, and his lack of distance will be mitigated here with none of the three courses topping 7,000 yards.
Kurt Kitayama (+6600)
Kitayama, ranked 68th in the world, will play his first PGA Tour event since the WGC-HSBC Champions in early November. The European Tour regular is coming off a T-6 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. His last professional victory was last year’s Oman Open after he won twice in 2018.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Longshots
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
Matthew NeSmith (+12500)
NeSmith, 26, will make his debut at this event. He sat out last week’s tournament after a three-event stretch composed of a T-32 at the Sony Open, T-17 at The American Express and a T-30 at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Brian Stuard (+17500)
Stuard ranks 10th by the week’s stat model. He has been strong on approach and around the greens. He’s also fourth in the field in three-putt avoidance on Poa Annua greens. He comes into the week ranked 145th in the world following a missed cut in Phoenix, but this event routinely produces longshot champs.
Get some action on this 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.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Analyzing the best fantasy golf options for the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Fantasy golf players are in for a solid week as Rickie Fowler prepares to defend his 2019 victory at the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, AZ ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl LIV matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.
He’ll take on a loaded field fronted by Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Webb Simpson and Tony Finau. Recent champs Gary Woodland and Hideki Matsuyama are also in attendance, and Bryson DeChambeau makes his 2020 PGA Tour debut. In other words, fantasy golf players have plenty of options to consider for this week’s event.
Waste Management Phoenix Open: Fantasy Golf Top 30
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
Horschel is a regular at this event and he hasn’t finished worse than T-43 in his last five appearances. He hasn’t finished better than two T-24 showings in that time, but he’s a safe option to make the cut.
29. Brandt Snedeker
Snedeker made a run at the Farmers Insurance Open last week at one of his favorite courses. He hasn’t had the same success at TPC Scottsdale, but he made the cut in each of his last four appearances with a top result of T-10 in 2015. He was the runner-up to Phil Mickelson in 2013.
28. Martin Laird
Another course horse, Laird has five straight made cuts at TPC Scottsdale with three top-10 results in that time. He finished T-55 last week in California.
27. Kyle Stanley
Stanley missed the cut in each of his last three events dating back to the Sony Open in Hawaii. He also missed the weekend each of his last two years here, but he remains strong off the tee and avoids bad holes.
(Photo Credit: Thomas J. Russo – USA TODAY Sports)
26. Adam Hadwin
Hadwin has played this tournament each of the last four years with a top result of T-12 in 2017. He returns to professional play for the first time since The RSM Classic following the birth of his first child.
25. Russell Knox
Knox missed the cut in back-to-back appearances in Scottsdale before a T-10 in 2019. He’s very good at avoiding positive scores and can do enough on the easier holes in order to contend.
Poston took last week off following a T-37 at The American Express to wrap up a stretch of three straight events. His driver is in excellent form, and he’s setting himself up well for the approach.
23. Corey Conners
Conners has been off since a T-12 at the Sony Open. He hasn’t played in this event before, but his driving and ball striking are well suited to TPC Scottsdale. He’ll also be able to take advantage of the three short par 5s.
22. Ryan Palmer
Palmer is coming off an ugly closing round of 77 at Torrey Pines after firing a 62 Friday. It was his worst finish in his last five events, as he has become a steady cut-maker early this season.
21. Cameron Smith
Smith followed up his Sony Open victory with a T-64 showing last week. He ranks fifth on Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting on the season, and it’s contributed to a good scrambling performance.
20. Brendan Steele
The runner-up at the Sony Open, Steele hasn’t fared as well on the mainland. He tied for 43rd at The American Express before missing the cut last week. He tied for third here in 2018 but missed the cut last year.
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
19. J.B. Holmes
Holmes is a two-time winner of this event in 2006 and 2008, but his last PGA Tour victory was at last year’s Genesis Open and he’ll defend that title in two weeks. He tied for 16th last week and the familiar venue will provide an added boost.
18. Jason Kokrak
Kokrak is one of the best ball strikers in the field over everyone’s last 24 rounds on courses with Bermuda greens, according to Fantasy National. He tied for 20th last year and 21st last week.
17. Chez Reavie
Reavie followed up a runner-up result in 2018 with a T-4 last year. He enters this week off of back-to-back missed cuts.
16. Branden Grace
Last year’s runner-up has missed the cut in three of four PGA Tour events this season, but he more recently won the South African Open. He tied for 17th in a strong field in Abu Dhabi and seems to be back in form ahead of his return.
15. Viktor Hovland
Hovland will be a name to watch every week up until the Masters in April, as the young Tour sophomore still needs a victory to gain entry to the year’s first major. He has been putting very well and is always a strong ball striker.
14. Sungjae Im
Im hasn’t missed a cut in 14 straight events dating back to the 2019 Open Championship. He still needs a PGA Tour victory, but he’s 35th in the Official World Golf Ranking and is always a safe pick to play all four rounds.
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
13. Bubba Watson
Watson finally resurfaced last week, as he finished T-6 in a strong field. He has two top-5 results in his last five appearances in Scottsdale.
12. Gary Woodland
Woodland had a very disappointing missed cut last week, but he’s just two years removed from a win at this event, and he followed it up with a T-7 last year.
11. Matt Kuchar
Kuchar has strung together three straight top-10 showings at this event. He’s a very strong early-season performer, and he’s coming off a win at the SMBC Singapore Open as he returns to mainland USA for the first time since The RSM Classic.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
10. Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler struggled in a strong field last week, as he missed the cut for the first time in nine events this season. This week’s field is a little bit weaker, and he’ll be looking to start strong with a third-ranked first-round scoring average.
9. Byeong Hun An
Only three members of this week’s field with a minimum of five rounds played at TPC Scottsdale average more strokes gained per round than An.
8. Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau makes his 2020 PGA Tour debut ranked 17th in the world following a T-8 result at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. He’ll be looking to continue his strong play in a different desert.
7. Tony Finau
After a solo fifth-place finish at the Hong Kong Open, Finau has returned to America with a T-14 at The American Express and a T-6 last week. He’s back to No. 13 in the world and is in good form ahead of an event where he has oddly missed the cut in each of the last four years. He should be a much better course fit.
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
6. Collin Morikawa
Morikawa was finally able to prove his worth in a strong field, as he finished T-21 last week alongside Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. He’s one of the best in the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.
5. Webb Simpson
Simpson was the runner-up at The RSM Classic before a third-place showing at the Sony Open. He has been up-and-down at this event, having finished second in 2017, missing the cut in 2018 and tying for 20th last year.
4. Rickie Fowler
The defending champ enters in poor form off of a missed cut last week. He had previously tied for fifth in Hawaii and tied for 10th at The American Express. He tied for 66th at the Farmers before his victory at the WMPO last year, so form isn’t everything for him.
3. Hideki Matsuyama
Another two-time winner in the field, Matsuyama claimed both of his titles in playoffs in 2016 and 2017. He withdrew in 2018 but bounced back to tie for 15th last year. He’s able to cut out the distractions of one of the Tour’s biggest crowds.
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
2. Justin Thomas
It’s odd to not have Thomas ranked No. 1, but the fourth-best golfer in the world is coming off an extremely rare missed cut at the Sony Open and will make his 2020 debut on the mainland. He has three wins since August and there are no flaws in his game. He finished in solo third last year.
1. Jon Rahm
Rahm may be the only golfer in the world in better form than Thomas right now. After collecting two wins on the European Tour, he placed second at the Hero World Challenge, 10th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Plus he made a late Sunday charge to finish as the runner-up last week. He hasn’t finished worse than T-16 in his last four appearances in Scottsdale.
Analyzing the golf betting odds to win the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
The PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open will bring us right up to kickoff of Super Bowl LIV between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs Sunday evening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. First, Rickie Fowler returns to TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ to battle another loaded field led by world No. 3 Jon Rahm.
The key stats for the Waste Management Phoenix Open are:
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green
Strokes Gained: Ball Striking
Bogey Avoidance
Good Drives Gained
Strokes Gained: Scrambling
My model at Fantasy National looks at the most recent 24 rounds on courses featuring Bermuda Greens.
Waste Management Phoenix Open – Tier 1
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
Rahm is the betting favorite at BetMGM, and for good reason. Not only is he the top-ranked golfer from the Official World Golf Ranking, but he’s coming off a runner-up finish to Marc Leishman at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. He hasn’t finished worse than 10th in his last five worldwide events.
Xander Schauffele (+1800)
Schauffele was one of the biggest disappointments of the week at Torrey Pines, as he missed the cut for the first time since The Northern Trust in August. He returns to TPC Scottsdale having tied for 10th last year (with Rahm). He also tied for 17th in 2018. Schauffele ranks ninth in the stat model, ranking in the top 10 of four-of-the-five key stats (Good Drives Gained).
Waste Management Phoenix Open – Tier 2
(Photo Credit: Rob Kinnan – USA TODAY Sports)
Byeong Hun An (+6600)
An is the leader of the stat model; the 49th-ranked golfer in the world ranks fourth in the field among those with at least five rounds played at TPC Scottsdale in total strokes gained per round, according to Data Golf. He’s still seeking a PGA Tour win, but he hasn’t finished worse than T-23 in three appearances at this event.
Looking to place a bet on this tournament? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
Ryan Moore (+6600)
Moore missed the cut at this event each of the last two years. He enters this year’s tournament ranked eighth by the stat model, and he’s coming off a T-6 at The American Express. His ball-striking and play off the tee are well suited to this venue.
Waste Management Phoenix Open – Longshots
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
Rory Sabbatini (+10000)
Sabbatini slipped to 88th by the OWGR with last week’s missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. It snapped a streak of seven straight made cuts dating back to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He’s second-best in the field in Bogey Avoidance, and he’ll be able to capitalize on the many scoring chances at TPC Scottsdale.
Adam Hadwin (+11000)
Hadwin has made the cut here each of last four years with a top finish of T-12 in 2017. The Canadian hasn’t participated in an event since finishing in a tie for 68th at The RSM Classic while attending to the birth of his first child. He has slipped to 52nd in the world in his time off and now has fresh motivation at a familiar venue.
Get some action on this 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.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Previewing the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open and looking at the best fantasy golf selections for the tournament.
The 2020 Farmers Insurance Open boasts the PGA Tour’s strongest field of the calendar year to date. Justin Rose is back to defend his 2019 title at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, but he’ll need to hold off a group led by Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods. Woods is competing for a ninth career win at Torrey Pines and a record-setting 83rd career win on the PGA Tour.
The entire field will split their first two rounds between Torrey Pines’ North and South Courses. Those who survive the 36-hole cut will move to the South Course for their final 36 holes over the weekend.
Farmers Insurance Open: Top 30
(Photo Credit: Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports)
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
30. Luke List
List missed the cut at both the Sony Open in Hawaii and The American Express, but he tied for 12th here in 2018 and followed it up with a T-40 last year. He’s very strong tee-to-green and typically performs well at these longer courses.
29. Matthew Wolff
The Tour sophomore finished just T-61 last week coming off a T-11 result at the 30-man Sentry Tournament of Champions. He’s not a true contender here, but he’s a safe pick to make it to the weekend.
28. J.B. Holmes
Holmes missed the cut in 2019 after picking up three top-10 results in his previous four appearances. He’s been in poor form since last year’s Genesis Open win, but his best golf typically comes early in the calendar year.
27. Brendan Steele
The Sony Open runner-up finished just T-43 last week. He has been very strong off the tee of late and will be well-equipped to handle the length of the South Course.
26. Joaquin Niemann
Niemann made the cut in his Farmers Insurance Open debut last year. He’s a quality ball-striker who can get hot with the putter to compensate for a lack of distance off the tee.
25. Jason Kokrak
The 65th-ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking tied for 20th here last year. He’s coming off of a rare missed cut after failing to make the weekend just twice last season.
24. Lucas Glover
Not known as a particularly long hitter, Glover is able to position himself well off the tee and it will help give him good approach angles to the greens. He’s also a strong sand player and will be able to survive the 54 bunkers scattered throughout the course.
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
23. Phil Mickelson
Mickelson missed the cut as the host of last week’s American Express. He has 70 career rounds played on Torrey Pines’ South Course and is among the most experienced in the field at the venue. He can still score on the long holes.
22. Bubba Watson
The 2011 champion hasn’t played here in the last five years. His length off the tee gives him an edge over most of the field, as he remains in search of his 2018 form which saw him win three times on Tour.
21. Byeong Hun An
An made his 2020 debut with a missed cut last week after going T-6, T-8 and T-14 over the Tour’s three-event swing through Asia to conclude the 2019 calendar year. He’s great tee-to-green and on approach, but putting remains an issue.
20. Ryan Palmer
Palmer’s a favorite of the key stats for Torrey Pines. He’s a great ball-striker with a strong tee-to-green game. He followed up a co-runner-up finish in 2018 with a T-13 last year.
19. Brandt Snedeker
The 2016 winner of this event has made the cut each of the three preceding years. He lacks the distance of the long hitters and top contenders, but if the California weather turns south, it plays to his advantage.
18. Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler will be put to the test in the strongest field in which he’s played against since the 2019 US Open. He finished third last week, but the strength of the field has risen considerably.
17. Sungjae Im
Im collected another top-10 result last week for his third of the PGA Tour season. Like Scheffler (and the entire field) he faces much stiffer competition this week, but he regularly works his way into contention.
16. Billy Horschel
Horschel has two 8th-place finishes here in his last four appearances. He’s not in good form right now, but the familiar venue can get him back on track.
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
15. Collin Morikawa
Morikawa has steadily risen up the OWGR since turning pro last year, as he’s yet to miss a cut. He’s a safe pick to play a full 72 holes each week.
14. Cameron Smith
Smith took last week off after winning the Sony Open in Hawaii. He tied for ninth here last year after making the cut in his third straight trip to Torrey Pines.
13. Tony Finau
Finau has been a regular contender here with four straight top-20 finishes, including two top 10s. He tied for 14th last week and can make up strokes on the longer holes.
12. Patrick Reed
Ranked 12th in the world entering this week, Reed missed the cut last week but returns to a venue where he tied for 13th last year.
11. Jason Day
Already a two-time winner over his last four appearances at Torrey Pines, Day picked up a T-5 in 2019. He’s the top sand player in the field. The only concern is his return from an injury which forced him to withdraw from the Presidents Cup.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
10. Rickie Fowler
Fowler had a stretch of three straight missed cuts here from 2016-18 before tying for 66th last year. He tied for 10th last week and will be preparing to defend his 2019 win at the Waste Management Open next week.
9. Francesco Molinari
Molinari makes his return to Torrey Pines after skipping last year’s event. He’s coming off a missed cut last week, but he positions himself well off the tee and gains his strokes tee to green at longer venues.
8. Marc Leishman
Leish has made the cut four of the last five years with a top finish of T-8 in 2018. He enters the week ranked 28th in the world and typically steps up in stronger fields.
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
7. Gary Woodland
The 2019 US Open champ will be taking an advanced look at the 2021 US Open venue. It’s considerably longer than Pebble Beach Golf Links, at which he won last year’s third major, but he has a strong history here, including a T-9 in 2019.
6. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele bucked a trend of three consecutively missed cuts here to finish T-25 last year. He can struggle off the tee at times, but he can score low if the conditions allow.
5. Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama tied for third a year ago. His strengths are positioning off the tee and his play from tee to green.
4. Jon Rahm
The 2017 champion finished just T-29 in 2018 before rebounding with a T-5 last year. He has three worldwide wins since July.
3. Justin Rose
The defending champ and former world No. 1 is coming off a runner-up finish at the Asian Tour’s SMBC Singapore Open.
(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)
2. Tiger Woods
As noted above, there’s plenty on the line for Tiger this week at one of his favorite courses. He’s three months away from his defense of the Masters, but his hand-picked schedule before then includes only tournaments he plans on winning.
1. Rory McIlroy
The reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year is having his 2020 debut overshadowed by Tiger’s hunt for history. He hasn’t played this even often, but he tied for fifth a year ago.
Analyzing the golf betting odds to win the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
Tiger Woods‘ hunt for a record 83rd career PGA Tour victory is the story of the week heading into the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Tiger makes his 2020 debut in San Diego, Calif., at a course where he already has eight professional victories, as he tries to surpass Sam Snead. Below, we assess the field and make our PGA Tour betting picks for the Farmers Insurance Open.
The key stats for the Farmers Insurance Open are:
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green
Strokes Gained: Ball Striking
Birdies or Better Gained
Good Drives Gained
Proximity from 150-175 Yards
Sand Saves Gained
My model at Fantasy National looks at the most recent 36 rounds for each golfer in the field on courses longer than 7,400 yards.
McIlroy’s a heavy betting favorite in his first event of 2020. He won his second-last worldwide event of 2019, the WGC-HSBC Champions in early November. It followed up his 2019 Tour Championship win en route to being named the PGA Tour Player of the Year.
He finished T-5 at this event last year, and enters this week ranked first in the field in both SG: T2G and SG: BS to lead the stat model. Four of the last five winners here came from inside the top 25 of the Official World Golf Ranking. McIlroy ranks second.
Tiger Woods (+1100)
Tiger has owned this course, winning this event seven times along with the 2008 US Open. He’ll be looking to tie Jack Nicklaus’ record of six Masters Tournament wins in April, but first, he can break the tie with Snead. He was T-20 here last year and T-23 in 2018.
Gary Woodland (+2200)
Woodland is discounted among those at the top of the board. The 2019 US Open champ enters the week rank 15th by the OWGR. This venue is much longer than Pebble Beach Golf Links, where he won last year, but it is a US Open course and distance has never been an issue for him. He picked up a T-9 here last year, five months before his major win.
Farmers Insurance Open – Tier 2
(Photo Credit: Matt Roberts – USA TODAY Sports)
Jason Day (+4000)
Day enters the week off of an injury, which forced him to pull out of the Presidents Cup. Before that, he missed the cut at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, and he hasn’t won since the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship. Two of his 12 career victories have come at Torrey Pines, though, and he managed to finish in a tie for fifth last year. He leads the field in Sand Saves Gained.
Leish is a bargain in an event where they’re hard to find due to the influx of talent this week. He’s ranked 28th by the OWGR but is only 19th by BetMGM‘s odds. He’s ranked 10th in the field in SG: BS, and he tied for eighth in 2018.
Farmers Insurance Open – Longshots
(Photo Credit: Joe Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports)
Keith Mitchell (+20000)
If you absolutely hate betting favorites, shoot your shot with Mitchell. One of the longest hitters on Tour, he’s more than up to the task of taming Torrey Pines. He’s third in the field in SG: BS and BoB Gained.
Get some action on this 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.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Previewing the 2020 American Express and looking at the best fantasy golf selections for the tournament.
[jwplayer DXHEzR1s]
The PGA Tour returns to mainland USA this week for The American Express in La Quinta, Calif. The tournament (formerly the Desert Classic) is played over three courses — TPC Stadium Course at PGA West, PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course and La Quinta Country Club. It runs as a pro-am with a 54-hole cut before the remaining professionals tee it up on the Stadium Course for Sunday’s final round.
The American Express Fantasy Golf Rankings: Top 30
Sungjae Im. (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 American Express in La Quinta, Calif.
30. Jason Dufner
The 2016 champion missed the cut last year, and he has slipped all the way to No. 265 in the Official World Golf Ranking, but he has fared very well on Pete Dye courses over his career.
29. Sebastian Munoz
Munoz missed the cut last week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. It came just two events after his third-place finish at The RSM Classic. He had another strong putting performance last week and his weaker tee-to-green game will be mitigated here with all three courses shorter than 7,200 yards.
28. Brendon Todd
Already a two-time winner in 2019-20, Todd continued his climb up the OWGR with a T-21 result last week and now sits at No. 58. He hasn’t played this event since back-to-back missed cuts in 2015 and ’16.
27. Nick Taylor
Taylor always has a strong approach game, as seen in his 1.27 Strokes Gained: Approach per round last week, according to Data Golf. He lost nearly a half-stroke per round putting, and an average performance would allow him to contend.
Cameron Davis. (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
26. Cameron Davis
Davis was the 36-hole co-leader last week in Hawaii en route to a T-9 result. His driver was a big part of his performance, but it won’t be as valuable at the shorter courses this week.
25. Brendan Steele
Last week’s runner-up, Steele gained 1.49 strokes per round putting. That sort of success on the greens is rarely replicated week-to-week, but he also gained 1.61 strokes on approach and is worth a shot while he’s hot.
24. Jason Kokrak
Kokrak finished T-8 in 2018 and T-18 last year. The 64th-ranked golfer in the world missed just two cuts in 24 events last year and is a safe pick with a guaranteed 54 holes of play.
23. Alex Noren
Noren has made nine straight cuts in worldwide events. He’s coming off a T-32 finish last week despite losing 0.95 strokes per round with the flat stick.
22. Rory Sabbatini
Sabbatini has made three straight cuts in La Quinta, with last year’s T-57 finish his best result in that span. He missed the cut just once since last July.
21. Bud Cauley
Cauley has averaged 2.01 strokes gained per round on the Stadium Course, more than anyone else in this week’s field. He missed the cut last year but a T-3 result in 2017 was sandwiched by T-14 showings in 2016 and ’18.
20. Billy Horschel
Horschel hasn’t played here since missing the cut in 2016. He already has two top 10s early in the 2019-20 PGA Tour season and has one of the best resumes in this week’s weaker field.
19. Cameron Champ
Champ took last week off after a T-14 finish at the Sentry Tournament of Champions the week before. The Safeway Open champ makes his debut at this event.
18. Brian Harman
Harman ranks second to Cauley in Strokes Gained at the Stadium Course among those in the field with a minimum of six rounds played. He used a well-balanced game to pick up a T-32 finish last week.
17. J.T. Poston
The Postman missed the cut last week, as he lost 1.26 strokes per round on approach. He’ll look to rebound at an event where he finished T-7 in 2019.
16. Kevin Na
Na skipped last year’s tournament, but he hadn’t missed the cut in any of his previous four appearances. He had a top showing of T-3 in 2016. He’s incredibly strong in proximity to the pin on approach shots from 100-125 yards. With many of the par 4s on all three courses ranging between 350-400 yards, he’ll have plenty of his favorite shots.
Russell Knox. (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
15. Russell Knox
Knox was third among those to make the cut last week with 1.47 strokes gained per round on approach. He was T-18 here last year following a T-29 in 2018.
14. Lucas Glover
Glover’s a regular contender in La Quinta with three top-20 showings in his last five appearances. His strong approach game sets up plenty of scoring chances at these shorter venues.
13. Phil Mickelson
The new co-host of this event, Lefty was a co-runner-up last year. He has slipped to No. 79 in the world entering this week, but he’s still a safe choice at these familiar courses.
12. Chez Reavie
Reavie had a rare missed cut last week. He has gained 1.45 strokes per round over eight career rounds on the Stadium Course, and he can create scoring chances.
11. Abraham Ancer
Ancer tied for 18th last year after finishing 76th in 2018. He gained 0.93 strokes per round on approach last week on his way to a T-38 finish.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
10. Matthew Wolff
Wolff played just the first of the two events in Hawaii, picking up a T-11 result in his first Tournament of Champions. The PGA Tour sophomore has been struggling on his approach shots, but he’s very strong off the tee and on the greens.
Francesco Molinari. (Photo Credit: Ian Rutherford – USA TODAY Sports)
9. Francesco Molinari
The odds may be stacked against the Italian Stallion, as only five non-Americans have won this event. He strung together a stretch of T-10, T-62 and T-12 from 2015 through ’17 before skipping the event the last two years.
8. Charles Howell III
Howell’s yet another course horse very familiar with all three tracks. He has collected three top-20 showings in his last five appearances, and he’s coming off a solid T-12 result last week.
7. Tony Finau
Finau’s the top golfer in the field from the OWGR (15), but he’s playing his first full-field PGA Tour event since the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He was fifth in last week’s Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour.
6. Byeong Hun An
An makes his debut at the event formerly known as the Desert Classic and CareerBuilder Challenge. He hasn’t participated in a tournament since early November’s WGC-HSBC Champions, but he already has three top 10s on the 2019-20 season.
5. Paul Casey
Similarly to Molinari, Finau and some of the other top-ranked golfers in the field, Casey may struggle to get up for this event as he looks ahead to next week’s Farmers Insurance Open. He hasn’t played in La Quinta since a T-58 result in 2017.
Scottie Scheffler. (Photo Credit: Ray Carlin – USA TODAY Sports)
4. Scottie Scheffler
We haven’t seen Scheffler, a recent Korn Ferry Tour graduate, since a T-5 showing at The RSM Classic. He has three top 10s and two top 5s early in his PGA Tour season.
3. Rickie Fowler
Fowler skipped last week’s event following a T-5 finish at the TOC. He’s well worth backing ahead of his defense of the Waste Management Phoenix Open during Super Bowl week.
2. Kevin Kisner
Kis made the cut here each of the last three years but with a top showing of just T-25 in 2017. He finished T-4 last week while gaining 1.32 strokes per round on approach and losing 0.23 strokes putting. Nine of the last 10 champions here played in Hawaii the week before.
1. Sungjae Im
Im finished T-21 last week while picking up 0.84 strokes per round on the putting surfaces. He was T-12 in his La Quinta debut last year and is still looking for his first PGA Tour win.
Analyzing the sports betting odds to win the 2020 American Express, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
The PGA Tour is in La Quinta, Calif. this week for The American Express. Tony Finau, Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari and Rickie Fowler highlight those in the field for the event hosted by Phil Mickelson.Below, we look at the best PGA Tour bets to win the 2020 American Express
The event is played on three courses and features a 54-hole cut. All three tracks were designed by Pete Dye and play to a par of 72. The key stats for the week are:
Strokes Gained: Approach
Par 4 Efficiency: 350-400 Yards
Opportunities Gained
Proximity: 100-125 Yards
Pay added attention to golfer success on Dye-designed courses with Bermuda greens.
Im debuted at this event with a T-12 result last year. He enters the week 35th in the Official World Golf Ranking following last week’s T-21 finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He’s still looking for his first PGA Tour victory and will be one of the more motivated golfers in a rather weak early-season field.
Kevin Kisner (+2800)
Kisner enters the week as the sixth-best golfer in the field by the OWGR measure, but he’s seventh by the odds at BetMGM, representing moderate value for the three-time PGA Tour champ. He made the cut here each of the previous three years, but with a top finish of T-25 (2017). Only four golfers who made the cut last week gained more strokes per round on approach than Kisner’s 0.85.
The American Express – Tier 2
(Photo Credit: Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports)
Chez Reavie (+6000)
Reavie’s coming off a missed cut last week in Hawaii, but he made the weekend each of the last four years in La Quinta. His best finish was a T-12 in 2017. The 37th-ranked golfer in the world ranks third in the field in Opportunities Gained on Pete Dye courses with Bermuda greens.
Cauley leads this week’s field with 2.01 strokes gained per round over seven rounds played on the Stadium Course in La Quinta, according to Data Golf. He missed the cut last week in his first event since a T-9 finish at the Houston Open. He was T-3 here in 2017 with T-14 finishes in 2016 and 2018 before missing the weekend last year.
The American Express – Longshots
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
Cameron Davis (+10000)
Davis finished T-9 at 7-under par in Hawaii last week. It was a Saturday round of 71 which was the difference for the 36-hole co-leader. He averaged 0.85 strokes gained per round on approach, but it was his 2.00 SG per round tee-to-green which had him contending. Davis finished T-28 here a year ago.
Doc Redman (+12500)
Redman’s worth a roll of the dice as our deepest shot for the week with a $10 bet returning a profit of $1,250 with a tournament win. He missed the cut last week for his third MC in nine events to begin the 2019-20 PGA Tour season, but his runner-up finish at last year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic was in a much stronger field than the one slated to tee off this week.
Get some action on this 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.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Previewing the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii and looking at the best fantasy golf selections for Waialae Country Club.
A field of 140 golfers descends on Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii this week for the 2020 Sony Open. It’s the first full-field tournament since late November’s RSM Classic. Justin Thomas, who claimed his second victory of the 2019-20 PGA Tour season at last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions is the top golfer from the Official World Golf Ranking in attendance at No. 4.
Fantasy Golf Rankings: Top 30
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club.
30. Zach Johnson
The former major champ hasn’t accomplished much of late, but the short venue (7,044 yards) suits his game. He was T-6 here in 2017 and T-9 in 2016.
29. Patton Kizzire
A winner in 2018, Kizzire followed it up with an adequate T-13 showing last year. He missed 15 cuts in 2019, but he’s still worth trusting in Honolulu.
28. Hudson Swafford
Two top 10s and no missed cuts in his last four appearances. The approach game is strong, he just needs to get there.
27. Kyle Stanley
Has slipped to No. 118 in the world after peaking at 26th in 2018. One of his five top 10s over the last two years came at Waialae.
(Photo Credit: Steve Flynn – USA TODAY Sports)
26. Keegan Bradley
Enters in woeful form since his co-runner-up finish at the 2019 Travelers Championship, but his best success has come on shorter tracks (like TPC River Highlands).
25. Sebastian Munoz
Munoz stood his ground at his first Sentry Tournament of Champions following a breakthrough win at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He has been great off the tee and avoids trouble.
24. Brian Stuard
A true course horse with a T-8 and T-4 results in his last two visits to the Sony Open.
23. Shugo Imahira
Has a win, two runners-up and a third-place finish on the Japan Tour since mid-October to rocket up to No. 30 in the OWGR.
22. Brendon Todd
Todd fell back to Earth with a 29th-place finish in the more competitive 30-man TOC last week, but he still jumped 11 spots in the OWGR to 61st.
21. Kevin Na
Only Martin Trainer lost more strokes per round putting last week than Na’s 1.45. It’s usually a strong part of his game and can be expected to bounce back.
20. Russell Knox
One of the best in the field at avoiding trouble and taking bogeys. Has three top 20s in the last five years.
19. Emiliano Grillo
Winless since 2015, Grillo has slipped outside of the top 100 in the world since finishing T-41 at the Mayakoba Classic. He’ll rely on a strong approach game to set up birdies on the short par 4s.
(Photo Credit: Shanna Lockwood – USA TODAY Sports)
18. Alexander Noren
Makes his debut at this event, but has the driver to make a short course even shorter and give himself good angles into the greens.
17. Rory Sabbatini
Loves carding eagles and has the approach game needed to compete at Waialae.
16. Abraham Ancer
Had a T-8 at the Mayakoba and a T-4 at the WGC-HSBC Champions before shining for the International team at the Presidents Cup. Will be able to set himself up well off the tee.
15. Cameron Smith
Another Presidents Cup star for the losing side, Smith hasn’t missed the cut here in his last four tries. Can handle the par 4s but will need to make some eagles.
14. Joaquin Niemann
The Greenbrier champ picked up a surprising T-5 result at the TOC last week with a well-balanced game.
13. J.T Poston
Ranked third in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting last week at the TOC and will look to keep the flat stick hot in Honolulu.
12. Corey Conners
Broke through with a T-3 result here last year after gaining entry as a Monday qualifier. He won’t need to rely on his shaky putter with his driver and irons dicing up the short course.
11. Chez Reavie
The best in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and third in Eagles Gained and Good Drives Gained. Also tied for third a year ago.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
10. Brandt Snedeker
A runner-up in 2016, Sneds was T-16 last year. Hasn’t missed a cut in eight events since The Open.
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
9. Kevin Kisner
Will be able to score well with seven of the 12 par 4s coming in below 450 yards.
8. Charles Howell III
Two T-8 showings in his last three appearances here. He can take advantage of easy scoring opportunities.
7. Collin Morikawa
Will be playing in front of plenty of friends and family who call Maui home again this week. It helped him finish T-7 in his debut at the TOC last week.
6. Sungjae Im
Im hasn’t played competitively since a T-11 at the HSBC Champions. He was T-16 in his tournament debut last year.
5. Patrick Reed
Gained a ridiculous 2.33 strokes per round putting last week. His approach game was poor and it’ll need to be on point this week.
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
4. Matt Kuchar
The defending champ tied for 14th last week. He’s a wiz on the par 4s.
3. Marc Leishman
Leish comes off a T-10 showing at the Australian Open. He’s another member of the tie for third last year.
2. Webb Simpson
Simpson leads my stat model at Fantasy National with best-in-show ranks in SG: Approach and SG: Par 4s. He didn’t play last year, but was T-4 in 2018 and T-13 in each of his three previous trips.
1. Justin Thomas
Three wins since mid-August all against stiffer competition than he’ll face this week. He’s well worth the price of admission.
Analyzing the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
This week’s Sony Open in Hawaii sees the PGA Tour’s first full-field event since the RSM Classic in late November. The 7,044-yard, par-70 Waialae Country Club hosts the tournament yet again in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The key stats for this week are:
Strokes Gained: Approach
Bogey Avoidance
Good Drives Gained
Eagles Gained
Strokes Gained: Par 4s
My model at Fantasy National is set to the most recent 36 rounds for each golfer in the field played on par-70 courses under 7,200 yards in length and featuring Bermuda grass greens.
Simpson leads my stat model and is the best in the field in both SG: Approach and SG: Par 4s. He’s third in the field with an Official World Golf Ranking of No. 12, and he shares the second-best odds with Patrick Reed. The five-time PGA Tour champ didn’t play here last year, but he was T-4 in 2018 and T-13 each of the three previous three years.
Marc Leishman (+4500)
Leishman tied for third here a year ago, and he hasn’t finished worse than T-47 in any of his last five tries. He ranks seventh in the field by the OWGR measure, but he’s 13th by the odds at BetMGM. He’s a good value pick following last year’s top finish and a solo third at the Safeway Open in September early in his 2019-20 campaign.
Sony Open – Tier 2
(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
J.T. Poston (+5000)
Poston is coming off a T-11 finish in the 30-man field at last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions. He has missed just one cut in nine events since vaulting into the top 100 of the OWGR with his first career win at last season’s Wyndham Championship. He leads the field in Bogey Avoidance, and he ranks seventh in Good Drives Gained and fourth in SG: Par 4s.
Sabbatini is one of many in the field returning to competitive play for the first time since the RSM Classic. He’s coming off a 2019 calendar year in which he had six top 10s against just four missed cuts for his most successful season since his last PGA Tour win in 2011 at The Honda Classic. This is a similarly short venue, and he’s made the cut in four of his last five appearances with a T-6 result in 2015.
Sony Open – Longshots
(Photo Credit: John David Mercer – USA TODAY Sports)
Luke List (+15000)
List didn’t play this event last year following a missed cut in 2018, but he did finish T-13 in 2017. He enters the week ranked 145th in the world following three missed cuts to start his 2019-20 season, but he did have two runners-up last year. He also finished second at the 2018 Honda Classic amid a stronger field.
Mackenzie Hughes (+25000)
Hughes isn’t much of a course fit (49th in Eagles Gained and 57th in SG: Approach), but this number is far too high for a former PGA Tour champ. A $1 sprinkle at these odds returns a profit of $250.
Get some action on this 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.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Previewing the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions and looking at the best fantasy golf selections for Plantation Course at Kapalua.
The Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui, Hawaii kicks off the 2020 PGA Tour year with a field of 34 winners from 2019 in attendance. Those set to tee off Thursday include five of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The event returns to the Plantation Course at Kapalua, with the venue having undergone significant renovations since last year’s tournament. It now measures 7,518 yards and plays as a par 73.
Fantasy Golf Rankings: Top 30
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
30. Adam Long
Long missed five consecutive cuts after getting career win No. 1 at the Desert Classic. He was T-2 at the Mayakoba Classic, but he followed it up with a T-35 at The RSM Classic.
29. Sung Kang
Kang claimed his first PGA Tour since 2013 at the AT&T Byron Nelson, but he missed the cut in six of his remaining 16 worldwide events on the year.
28. Max Homa
Homa takes a break from roasting his followers on Twitter this week to compete in the Tournament of Champions. His lone top-20 result since winning the Wells Fargo Championship was a T-5 at the Japan Tour’s Dunlop Phoenix.
27. J.B. Holmes
Holmes may be better known now for his “feud” with World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, than for his 2019 win at the Genesis Open. He finished the 2019 Tour year with no other top 10s and 10 missed cuts. He most recently withdrew from the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges.
26. Tyler Duncan
Photo Credit: Ray Carlin – USA TODAY Sports
Duncan’s victory is the most recent among those in attendance, having claimed his first career win at The RSM Classic. The win vaulted him from No. 387 in the world to 170th, and he’s now 164th. He positions his tee shots well and has a good approach game.
25. Nate Lashley
Lashley got his first PGA Tour win at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He missed eight cuts in 2019 and withdrew from the no-cut Zozo Championship in Japan, but he enters the week seventh in the field in Bogey Avoidance over everyone’s last 36 rounds on courses with Bermuda greens.
24. Dylan Frittelli
The reigning John Deere Classic champ started his 2019-20 season with top 10s at the Sanderson Farms Championship and Safeway Open before missing the cut at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
23. Lanto Griffin
Griffin has gained 1.015 strokes per round putting to start the season and took down the Houston Open in just his fifth PGA Tour event of 2019. He’s coming off a missed cut at The RSM Classic.
22. Ryan Palmer
Palmer gets entry into this event as the playing partner to Jon Rahm at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in late April. He placed in the top 10 in four solo events, most recently tying for 10th at the Zozo.
21. Keith Mitchell
Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports
Mitchell won’t get the full advantage of his distance at this venue with all in attendance able to reap the rewards of the wide, rolling fairways. His victory came at the competitive Honda Classic, showing he can contend in elite fields.
20. J.T. Poston
Poston moved from 158th to 77th in the OWGR with his win at the Wyndham Championship immediately prior to the start of the FedExCup playoffs. He rarely finds trouble or plays himself out of contention.
19. Cameron Champ
Champ picked up a win at the Safeway Open to qualify for his second straight Tournament of Champions. He tied for 19th a year ago, but that’s unrelated to his ranking, here.
18. Matthew Wolff
Wolff won the 3M Open in his rookie season. It came just one week after the only missed cut of his debut campaign at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
17. Kevin Na
Na won twice on the PGA Tour in 2019, taking down the Charles Schwab Challenge and Shriners. His lack of distance will be a weakness at this venue.
16. Chez Reavie
Reavie stepped into the winner’s circle for the first time since 2008 with a victory at the Travelers Championship. He positions himself well off the tee.
15. Sebastian Munoz
Another first-time PGA Tour winner in 2019, Munoz claimed victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He missed the cut in two of five events since, but he was solo third at The RSM Classic.
14. Joaquin Niemann
Niemann had four top-10 showings in the 2018-19 season before starting the 2019-20 campaign with victory at The Greenbrier. He’s one of the top pin-seekers from distance in the field.
13. Brendon Todd
Photo Credit: Ray Carlin – USA TODAY Sports
Todd enters the week in better form than anyone in the field after consecutive wins at the Bermuda Championship and Mayakoba Classic and a solo fourth at The RSM Classic. He’ll face a tougher test at a longer venue amid a stronger field.
12. Corey Conners
Conners came up with a clutch victory at the Valero Texas Open to gain entry to the Masters. His putting struggles won’t be as apparent at a longer venue where his distance and ball-striking will shine.
11. Kevin Kisner
Kisner broke through with a win at the WGC-Match Play, but was held out of the top 10 until back-to-back T-9s at the BMW Championship and Tour Championship in the FEC playoffs.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
10. Collin Morikawa
A finalist for 2019 Rookie of the Year, Morikawa’s first of what seems likely to be many career wins came at the Barracuda Championship. There aren’t any flaws in his game.
9. Paul Casey
Casey avoids trouble and can score low. He tied for 16th a year ago.
8. Rickie Fowler
Fowler finished fifth in 2016 and tied for fourth in 2018. He returns after year off following his win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
7. Patrick Reed
Photo Credit: Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports
It’s unknown at the time of publishing whether Reed made the flight to Maui with his trusted shovel. His accuracy off the tee and on approach hasn’t been in top form of late, and he’ll again need to overcome the ire of spectators.
6. Gary Woodland
Woodland was the runner-up here a year ago and makes his second straight appearance following his US Open win.
5. Xander Schauffele
The defending champ has won a total four PGA Tour events over the last three years, but this was his only win in 2019. He had three runner-up results.
4. Patrick Cantlay
Entering the week at No. 9 in the OWGR, Cantlay won the Memorial Tournament and had seven other top 10s last year. He’s had two runner-up finishes since mid-August.
3. Jon Rahm
The top golfer from the OWGR at No. 3 in the world, Rahm was the runner-up here in 2018 and finished T-8 in 2019.
2. Dustin Johnson
Johnson hasn’t finished worse than T-6 in his last three appearances here, including a win in 2018. He has a total of 12 worldwide wins since the start of 2016.
1. Justin Thomas
Thomas is the 2017 champion of Kapalua and he finished third a year ago. The free distance added by the venue plays to his advantage and lets his ball-striking and putting carry the weight.
