Tag: Matthew Wolff

Foursome for TaylorMade charity skins event eyeing PGA Tour’s restart

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy said on Thursday: “Right now, I’m planning to play the first three events and then see where we go from there.”

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is going to play a lot of golf after Sunday’s TaylorMade Driving Relief charity event at Seminole Golf Club in Florida.

During media availability ahead of the event, McIlroy said he hasn’t worked on his game “in earnest” during the COVID-19 shutdown but will do so starting next week when he turns his attention to the possible restart of the PGA Tour season.

If the Tour resumes play in June, McIlroy will be ready – and busy.

“I just want to get back out and play. Right now, I’m planning to play the first three events and then see where we go from there,” McIlroy said.

That blueprint means starts in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 11, the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the following week, and then a trip up to Cromwell, Connecticut, for the Travelers Championship.

“It will be nice to get back out and play,” the reigning FedExCup champion said. “Obviously we’re going to have to take as many precautions as possible to be able to put Tour events on again, but I think the PGA Tour has got a very robust plan in place, and if they can execute it the right way, I see no reason why we can’t start June 11. If we do, I’ll be ready to go in Fort Worth.”

The PGA Tour sent a 37-page comprehensive memo to players Tuesday detailing safety and health rules and guidelines for the return, including layered testing protocols and social distancing standards.

“If you take the necessary precautions, wearing a face covering, washing your hands frequently, sanitizing your hands frequently, practicing social distancing, I really do think it’s possible,” McIlroy said of the restart. “I think if everyone follows the guidelines and does the right thing, I see no reason why you wouldn’t be comfortable with the logistics of getting to an event and from. The Tour is going to put on a charter (flight) and there’s going to be a lot of testing and make sure that no one is getting on these planes or into these hotels or onto the golf courses that have tested positive for COVID-19 or showing signs that they may be positive. They are going to have to self-isolate and take all those precautions.

“I feel comfortable getting back out there and playing and traveling.”

McIlroy will team with world No. 5 Dustin Johnson and face the duo of No. 17 Rickie Fowler and No. 110 Matthew Wolff in the charity event at Seminole. The teams will compete in a skins game with all money going to charity – McIlroy and Johnson will be playing for the American Nurses Foundation, Fowler and Wolff for the CDC Foundation. UnitedHealth Group pledged $3 million in charity skins. Farmers Insurance will give $1 million for birdies, eagles, albatrosses and holes-in-one to benefit Off Their Plate, which helps coronavirus health care workers.

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The foursome also will hook up again in Texas as Johnson, Fowler and Wolff said during a conference call Thursday that they plan on playing the Charles Schwab Challenge, as well.

“I feel like hearing how a lot of the board meetings and PAC meetings have gone the Tour is obviously taking it very seriously and is going to use all the measures needed to make sure that they’re confident going forward and when we do go to Colonial it’ll be the safest environment possible,” Fowler said.

The recommended safety measures to combat the coronavirus inside the ropes provide unique challenges. Players and caddies six feet apart, hand sanitizers and wipes on every hole, the player pulling the club out of the bag and putting the club back into the bag. And no spectators.

“I think everything is going to be weird, just because it’s going to be so different for us from what we’re used to,” Johnson said. “I haven’t really thought about what the weirdest thing will be, but it’s all just going to be different.

“Obviously we’ll get used to it pretty quickly.”

Social distancing will take some time to get used to.

“When (player and caddie are) in the fairway or on the tee at a par 3 and looking at the yardage book and talking about the shot and what’s going on, you’ve got to make sure that you’re doing it separately and talking at a safe distance,” Fowler said. “You wouldn’t be able to whisper to each other. We might have to speak up a little bit more than normal to talk from more than a few feet away. Maybe I’ll keep a club in my hand and hold my caddie at an arm’s length or something.

“It’ll be interesting. We’ll kind of have to take it as it goes and learn, because it is all very different.”

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Driving Relief: PGA Tour best bets for McIlroy/Johnson vs. Fowler/Wolff

Assessing PGA Tour props bets for the Driving Relief skins match between McIlroy-Johnson and Fowler-Wolff.

The PGA Tour is nearing its June 11 return with the Charles Schwab Challenge, but first, Rory McIlroy teams up with Dustin Johnson Sunday, May 17 to take on Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in TaylorMade: Driving Relief. Below, we look at the PGA Tour betting odds for the outright winner and the top prop bets available at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Also see: How to Watch Driving Relief

The high-profile skins match being held at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla. will help raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts. Driving Relief offers golf bettors an appetizer to the May 24 match between Tiger Woods-Peyton Manning and Phil Mickelson-Tom Brady at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla.

Looking to place a bet on the PGA Tour? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!

Driving Relief: Outright odds and best bet

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, May 14 at 3 p.m. ET.

McIlroy/Johnson: -223 | Fowler/Wolff: +165

The outright odds to win the two-on-two match haven’t moved since opening a week ago. McIlroy and Johnson, the two higher-ranked golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings, remain heavy favorites.

There isn’t a whole lot of value with the favorites as a $10 bet on McIlroy and Johnson to win the match will return a profit of just $4.48. The same bet on the underdogs would fetch a profit of $16.50, but it’s not enticing enough to warrant a wager.

Play it safe and back MCILROY/JOHNSON (-223) to win outright. Fill out your betting card with some of the best prop bets for a more profitable Sunday afternoon.

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Driving Relief: Best prop bets and picks

Who will lead after 9 holes? Tie (+400)

Under the skins format, multiple holes can be won on a single stroke or putt should any number of preceding holes be halved (tied). Holes 1-6 will each be worth $50,000 with holes 7-15 worth $100,000, hole 17 worth $200,000 and hole 18 worth $500,000.

Chase the value of a 4-to-1 payout and look for the winnings to be split after the opening 9 holes. There’s a total of $600,000 up for grabs on the outbound nine with $1.3 million available on the back. The match won’t truly start until the turn.

Who will win the first hole? McIlroy/Johnson (+240)

The first hole at Seminole Golf Club is a 370-yard par 4. McIlroy and Johnson are the two longest hitters of the four involved in the match. Look for them to leave themselves short pitches into the green and for at least one to make an opening birdie.

McIlroy/Johnson to make an eagle: Yes (+280)

Driving Relief will be played under a Four-Ball (Best-Ball) format whereby the team’s score on the hole will be the lower of the two participants. As such, expect all four golfers to take their fair share of risks.

As noted above, McIlroy and Johnson are two of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour and can reach nearly all par 5s in two strokes. At nearly a 3-to-1 return for both golfers, place a bet on each of them. You’ll need to hit on only one to negate losses.

Each eagle is worth an additional $50,000 for charity, so the golfers will be well motivated.

Get some action on the PGA Tour 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, 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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Rory McIlroy-Dustin Johnson vs. Rickie Fowler-Matthew Wolff: How to watch, streaming info

Everything you need to know for TaylorMade Driving Relief featuring Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler.

All eyes will be on the famed Seminole Golf Club this weekend for competitive golf’s long-awaited return.

Current and former world No. 1s Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson will take on fan favorite Rickie Fowler and PGA Tour rising star Matthew Wolff in TaylorMade Driving Relief, a made-for-TV, $3 million charity skins match on Sunday, May 17, to support COVID-19 relief.

The event is supported by UnitedHeath Group, which has pledged a total of $3 million to the American Nurses Foundation and CDC Foundation. Farmers Insurance also has pledged a $1 million “birdies-and-eagles pool.”

Fans at home can get in on the action by contributing to the fundraising efforts from home via online donations and Text-To-Give options powered by GoFundMe. Simply text ‘DRIVINGRELIEF’ to 41-411. Standard text rates apply.

Here’s everything you need to know for TaylorMade Driving Relief:

ODDS/BEST BETS: Get in on the TaylorMade Driving Relief action

When and where

Sunday, May 17 at Seminole Golf Club (36-36=72/7265 yards) in Juno Beach, Florida. Said McIlroy of the famed Donald Ross layout: “one of the most revered golf courses in the world.”

No fans or spectators will be permitted on site.

How to watch, listen

TV: 2-6 p.m. ET (NBC, Golf Channel, NBCSN, Sky Sports)

Streaming: Available via PGA TOUR LIVE (NBC Sports Gold and Amazon Prime Video), GOLFPASS, GolfChannel.com and GOLFTV. Pre-match coverage, as well as the first two holes, will stream on Twitter.

Radio: PGA TOUR Radio will provide live play-by-play coverage on SiriusXM and streaming on PGA Tour Digital platforms.

Format

It’s pretty simple: 18-hole, two-person team Four-ball skins match with carry overs. Each player plays his own ball, with the lowest score winning. Most money at the end wins.

From the press release:

Each team starts with $500,000. The sum of the remaining $2 million will be claimed during the skins match. Holes 1-6 are worth $50,000; Holes 7-16 are worth $100,000; the 17th hole is worth $200,000; and the 18th hole is worth $500,000. In the event the 18th hole is tied, players will play the 17th hole from approximately 125 yards. If that hole is tied the skin will be decided by a closest-to-the-hole competition from the same shortened distance at the 17th hole. If regulation play ends after 5:45 p.m. ET, only the closest-to-the-hole competition will take place.

Additional funds will be awarded during the competition through Birdies and Eagles sponsored by Farmers Insurance. If one team makes multiple under-par scores on a hole, that team would receive an additional $25,000 for each birdie and $50,000 for each eagle.

What they’re saying

“It’s been difficult to witness what so many are enduring over the last several weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. … I hope we can provide some respite and entertainment for those tuning in across the globe.” – Rory McIlroy.

“I’m really excited to team up with Rory and to get back out on the golf course. Seminole is a great venue and it will be cool to show it to the world through this event. I’m sure Rickie and Matthew will be ready for us, but hopefully Rory and I can take them and help generate a lot of money and support for charities and those affected most by COVID-19.” – Dustin Johnson.

“When I heard about this event, I couldn’t get involved fast enough. It’s special to be able to have an impact and raise charitable contributions through our sport and to do it with Matthew as a partner. I know how much I have missed sports and golf, especially, so to be one of the first events returning to television is very exciting and I’m proud to have Farmers, one of my sponsors, be a partner of this event as well. Playing aggressive has never been a problem for Matthew and me so we should have no issue testing the birdies-and-eagles bonus pool that has been backed by Farmers Insurance $1 million pledge.” – Rickie Fowler.

“I’m fired up to play alongside Rickie and raise money to benefit COVID-19 relief efforts. Rory and DJ have welcomed me to team TaylorMade with open arms and become great friends so I can’t wait for a fun competition against us Cowboys. Rickie and I are ready to bring our best and more importantly
help the frontline heroes getting us through this extremely difficult time. Special thanks to the PGA Tour, NBC, TaylorMade and all our partners for the opportunity. See you at Seminole!” – Matthew Wolff.

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Seminole’s great TV reveal: This is one of the world’s best courses

Perfect simplicity makes Seminole Golf Club a great course for match with Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff

Seminole Golf Club is a world Top-3 course.

“Top-3 what?” we hear you asking.

Well, Seminole joins St. Andrews and the National Golf Links of America as one of the three most misunderstood courses in the world.

To Seminole’s true believers, anyone who doesn’t “get it” is somehow willfully ignorant of the course’s obvious charms. To those who have been but left unimpressed, defenders of this haven of Florida golf are yet another in a Kool-Aid drinking band of elitists. Or worse.

As a consequence, Seminole, the National and the Old Course stand apart as the most commonly overrated – and underrated – golf courses in the world.

Fortunately, we can all enter the debate May 17 when the curtain is lifted on this most private of golf clubs, bringing Seminole to television for the first time with the TaylorMade Driving Relief charitable match between Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff.

From our point of view, Seminole – in Juno Beach, Florida, and site of the 2021 Walker Cup – should not be considered among the most admirable courses in golf simply because of its mystique or exclusivity. The whispers of greatness that follow such reputations often obscure their true merits.

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Seminole is admirable and worthy of study because Donald Ross, helped by several other architects since 1929, offers for us today a course in the swamps of Florida very much like St. Andrews and the National in that: 1) it is remarkably easy for a group of average golfers to get around quickly, while 2) being remarkably difficult for an expert in that same group to get the ball into the hole quickly.

That is the holy grail in golf design, and Seminole achieves it. Few others do, though many more should.

Seminole is also a place that honors its name as a club. Like many of the celebrated clubs in American golf, if you’re not a member there’s a good chance you many not feel as comfortable as you think you should when crossing a threshold so many speak of in hushed tones. But for those members who call it home, there may be no greater comfort in their golfing lives.

Is that not the purpose of a club?

When it comes to Seminole, endorsements or reservations fall into two separate camps: golf and culture. Often we confuse the two.

If the cultural choices made by generations of club leaders float your boat, all the better. If, on the other hand, those choices make you feel uneasy, you have our sympathies. But those are social choices, not golf choices.

We are here to talk about what makes playing golf at Seminole worthy of admiration. Though the names on the locker room honor boards are indeed impressive.

Some of our happiest rounds at Seminole happened on crisp winter mornings, playing in a 2-ball with a former club champion as our opponent. We shared one inscrutable caddie. Two hours and 45 minutes later, at the peak of the Florida golf season, we finished our matches and never felt rushed. We think the other may have won. We have no idea what either of us shot. It was great fun.

If you’ve ever played golf in the homeland of Scotland, England or Ireland, this is a familiar experience. If you’ve only played in America, it may feel foreign. This is not the time to suggest which is right.

Seminole’s routing is vaunted, and rightly so. Many Golfweek course raters, not to mention readers, ask: What is “routing,” and why is it such a big deal?

In a broad sense, routing is about how an architect lays out the holes on a particular landscape to take advantage of the natural features. In a narrow sense, routing is about remembering how nice it felt to walk from a green to the next tee without thinking about it.

There are three well-documented natural elements in play at Seminole on an otherwise unremarkable site: two parallel ridges running north-south, separated by a low swamp.

The two defining ridges at Seminole Golf Club are marked with the yellow lines. (Map by Google Earth)

The ridge to the east touches the Atlantic Ocean. The ridge to the west touches Florida A1A. In between there’s a swamp. Pretty simple.

What similar natural features does your home course have? Can you see them? Or are they hidden, waiting to be revealed?

Many courses have impeccably maintained turf, artistic bunkers and greens that take a lifetime to learn. Seminole has all this, too, but it is the two ridges that make the secret sauce.

The eastern oceanside ridge contains the following: Four greens. Three tees. Not bad.

The western A1A ridge goes further: Seven greens. Eight tees. And two of the best par-4 holes in golf, Nos. 4 and 6. Even better.

Folks, that’s 15 of the 18 holes that touch either of the two ridges, with a big swamp in between, constantly changing the angle of direction. That’s routing.

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The phrase “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” has been attributed to many authors. At Seminole it applies.

The focus is on golf and nothing but golf, though some cultural choices may lead one to think otherwise. On this compact (and increasingly valuable) sliver of land next to the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach County, every square inch is devoted to golf.

Yes, the clubhouse is a design marvel by Addison Mizner. Yes, there is a swimming pool, though nobody has ever been seen enjoying it.

Everything a golfer may want or need in a golf club is on offer at Seminole. Yet many of the amenities we American golfers have become convinced are necessities seem to be lacking. This can be disconcerting or comforting, depending on your education in golf.

At Seminole, if your partner is in for par and you have a bogey putt that doesn’t matter, you know instinctively to pick up. It’s not about your score, it’s about our game.

“Play well, play fast. Play poorly, play faster.” That’s the humorous but knowing message sold on t-shirts and signs in the pro shop.

Yet Seminole requires patience, even if it seems like an inconvenience at times. Wait for the valet to take your car after crunching the crushed stone in the parking lot. Wait for your member to accompany you to the practice tee, let alone the first tee. Wait to hear from your caddie before you read the line on the greens.

Fast play, yes, but good things come to those who wait, they say. Not one of us is above the game’s mysteries, especially at Seminole.

We can’t wait to watch, and enjoy, one of the world’s Top-3 most misunderstood golf courses on May 17. We hope you do, too.

Driving Relief: McIlroy-Johnson vs. Fowler-Wolff odds and bets

Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson will face Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff at Seminole Golf Club, for the Driving Relief skins match.

The PGA Tour will return, at least briefly Sunday, May 17 for the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match with Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson taking on Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff. The four golfers will compete in their teams of two at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida, in a charity match raising money and awareness for COVID-19 relief efforts.

Skins are a form of match play whereby the teams will be competing to win each hole and the prize money associated with it. If a hole is halved (tied) the prize money will carry over to the next hole. Multiple holes can be won or lost on a single stroke.

Looking to place a bet on the PGA Tour? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!

Driving Relief: Odds and best bet

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list.

Lines last updated Friday, May 8 at 2:45 p.m. ET.

McIlroy/Johnson: -223 vs. Fowler/Wolff: +165

On paper, the teams are incredibly lopsided. McIlroy and Johnson combine for 38 career PGA Tour victories and five majors. Fowler and Wolff combine for just six PGA Tour wins, with Wolff’s first and only win to date coming at last year’s 3M Open.

FORWARD PRESS PODCAST: Relief efforts, questionable aces amid COVID-19

McIlroy sits second in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings with Johnson ranked 10th. Fowler is 31st and Wolff is 87th.

The skins format helps level the playing field as a single good or bad hole can drastically flip the match. Even still, the odds aren’t quite enticing enough for Fowler and Wolff with a $10 bet returning a profit of $16.50. It’s better to back McIlroy and Johnson as favorites, with the same bet fetching a return of $4.50.

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SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.

Driving Relief: How to watch

When is it? Sunday, May 17. Coverage will air from 2-6 p.m. ET.

Where is it? Seminole Golf Club, Juno Beach, Fla.

Television broadcast: NBC. GOLF Channel, NBCSN, Sky Sports

Digital streaming: PGA Tour Live, GOLFPASS, GolfChannel.com, GOLFTV

Pre-match coverage: Twitter

Get some action on the PGA Tour 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.

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How to Watch Driving Relief: McIlroy-Johnson vs. Fowler-Wolff odds and bets

Betting odds and picks for the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match featuring Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson vs. Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff.

The PGA Tour will return, at least briefly, Sunday, May 17 for the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match with Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson taking on Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff. The four golfers will compete in their teams of two at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla. in a charity match raising money and awareness for COVID-19 relief efforts.

Also see: How to watch Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson Part II and what you need to know

Skins are a form of match play whereby the teams will be competing to win each hole and the prize money associated with it. If a hole is halved (tied) the prize money will carry over to the next hole. Multiple holes can be won or lost on a single stroke.

Looking to place a bet on the PGA Tour? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!

Driving Relief: Odds and best bet

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, May 8 at 2:45 p.m. ET.

McIlroy/Johnson: -223 vs. Fowler/Wolff: +165

On paper, the teams are incredibly lopsided. McIlroy and Johnson combine for 38 career PGA Tour victories and five majors. Fowler and Wolff combine for just six PGA Tour wins, with Wolff’s first and only win to date coming at last year’s 3M Open.

McIlroy sits second in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings with Johnson ranked 10th. Fowler is 31st and Wolff is 87th.

The skins format helps level the playing field as a single good or bad hole can drastically flip the match. Even still, the odds aren’t quite enticing enough for Fowler and Wolff with a $10 bet returning a profit of $16.50. It’s better to back McIlroy and Johnson as favorites, with the same bet fetching a return of $4.50.

SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.

Driving Relief: How to watch

When is it? Sunday, May 17. Coverage will air from 2-6 p.m. ET.

Where is it? Seminole Golf Club, Juno Beach, Fla.

Television broadcast: NBC. GOLF Channel, NBCSN, Sky Sports

Digital streaming: PGA Tour Live, GOLFPASS, GolfChannel.com, GOLFTV

Pre-match coverage: Twitter

Get some action on the PGA Tour 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, 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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Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Matthew Wolff to play charity skins match for coronavirus relief

Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Matthew Wolff are all set to play a charity skins match for coronavirus relief.

Live golf is coming to a TV screen near you sooner than you think.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, former U.S. Open winner Dustin Johnson, fan favorite Rickie Fowler and up-and-comer Matthew Wolff are scheduled to play in a televised $3 million charity skins match on Sunday, May 17, to support COVID-19 relief efforts.

“I’m pretty excited to do a small part to raise some money and raise some awareness in these challenging times,” said Rory McIlroy, who announced the exhibition on “The Today Show,” and confirmed that he will partner with Johnson against Team Fowler-Wolff, a pair of Oklahoma State products.

“TaylorMade Driving Relief,” which features four of the company’s biggest ambassadors, will be televised by NBC Sports and Sky Sports from 2-6 p.m. ET. Almost as big as the players themselves is the course: famed Seminole Golf Club, a Donald Ross layout in Juno Beach, Florida, which McIlroy tabbed “one of the most revered golf courses in the world.”

The event is supported by UnitedHeath Group, which has pledged a total of $3 million to the American Nurses Foundation and CDC Foundation, which are helping to lead COVID-19 relief efforts.

“I think golf can return to doing things like this,” McIlroy said. “We can keep ourselves socially distant, keep ourselves in different carts, and stay obviously more than 6 feet away from one another and that’s really important too, so, taking all the necessary precautions to put this match on.”

The PGA Tour has been on hiatus due to the global pandemic since the Players Championship was canceled after the first round on March 12. The PGA Tour is scheduled to resume at the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 8. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson also have announced plans for a televised charity golf event with football legends Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. A date for that match has yet to be confirmed.

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Hovland, Morikawa, Wolff paired together at the Players and headed for stardom

Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff, who are paired together in the opening rounds of the Players, are headed for stardom.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Matt Wolff are “first-timers” in name only at the Players Championship this week. They have already established themselves as PGA Tour winners since turning pro in June and appear stamped for stardom.

Hovland still remembers the conversations that he and Wolff had last year as students at Oklahoma State about their classes and their homework load; now they’re playing together along with Morikawa, who played at the University of Cal-Berkeley, in a threesome for the first two rounds.

“It’s kind of taken a 180,” Hovland said.

“The fact that those three guys have won already is unbelievable,” said Justin Thomas, who didn’t take kindly to being told he’s no longer among the young guns and now qualifies as a savvy veteran at age 26. “They probably don’t even realize how impressive it is. But they also understand how talented they are, and we do, too, and they’re going to be out here for a long time.”

Wolff, 20, won the 2019 NCAA individual title before turning pro and was the first of the three to win, claiming the 3M Open in his fourth start as a professional when he sank an eagle putt on the 72nd hole to edge Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau.

Wolff sported spectacles to his press conference, which led one reporter to wonder if he was wearing them to look smart. Wolff smiled and said that he’s near-sighted and not a fan of contacts. He doesn’t wear any eyewear when he plays, which explains why he sometimes can’t see his prolific blasts off the tee.

When asked how often his tee shots soar out of sight, Wolff paused and said, “Probably a couple of times a round. For someone with good eyes, I never hit it out of sight. I’m not a freak.”

But freakishly talented he is, and none too shy to tout his other-worldly abilities with a club in his hand.

“I want to be the No. 1 player in the world whether that’s now or in 10 years,” he said.

Though he concedes that Cameron Champ hits it farther than him, Wolff was hard-pressed to pick another player’s skillset that he would trade for his own.

“I think that when I’m on, I’m the best player in the world or have the chance to be,” he said. “When it all clicks, I wouldn’t take anyone else’s game.”

Hovland, 22, is fast becoming one of the most accurate drivers of the golf ball on Tour. He was the last of the three to win, hoisting a trophy in his 12th start as a pro at the Puerto Rico Open last month. But his success earning low-amateur honors at both the Masters and U.S. Open in 2019 inspired his fellow young guns that they were capable of doing great things.

“Viktor beat up on us and we beat up on him,” Wolff said. “We know we’re just as good as him on any given day. When you see him low am, tie for 12th at the U.S. Open, it’s like if he can do it, we can too.”

But even Hovland expressed surprise that he and Wolff and Morikawa found the winner’s circle so quickly.

“I knew we were all capable of it,” Hovland said. “A lot of things have to go your way, so I’m surprised to see all three of us win.”

Morikawa, 23, says he’s the most mature of the bunch. He won the Barracuda Championship in his eighth Tour start, and hasn’t missed a cut as a professional. His string of 21 cuts in a row ranks as the longest streak on Tour.

“He’s like a robot,” said fellow Cal grad Max Homa. “He’s pretty much the perfect golfer. He hits the ball both ways. He hits it as solid as you can hit it. He putts it well, he chips it well. He does everything well. He’s who everyone would want their kid to grow up to be.”

Mature? A robot? Is that code for Morikawa being the latest low-wattage personality barreling off the academic assembly line with a diploma in one hand and a 5-iron in the other? Homa was quick to counter those concerns.

“He’s like the perfect robot if I built the robot, not a scientist, if a dude built it,” Homa said.

And what advice would Homa bestow on the Tour’s three new sensations?

“They seem to be doing a pretty good job,” Homa said. “I can’t imagine them not being on the Tour for the next 30 years. My only advice would be to enjoy it.”

That is exactly what they plan to do on Thursday and Friday at TPC Sawgrass.

“We’re going to try and beat each other but we’re going to have a cool two rounds of golf talking crap and pretending like it’s the good-old college days,” Hovland said.

“Maybe see two of us in the final group,” Wolff said.

The way these three have taken the Tour by storm, no one would put it past them.

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Honda Classic odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

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

The PGA Tour begins its four-event Florida swing with this week’s Honda Classic. Just three of the top 10 players in the world, according to the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings are in the field this week. Many of the world’s top golfers are taking the week off ahead of next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship the following week.

The key stats for the 7,125-yard, par-70 PGA National are:

  • Strokes Gained: Ball Striking
  • SG: Approach
  • Birdies or Better Gained
  • Sand Saves Gained
  • Par 4 Efficiency: 400-450 Yards
  • Strokes Gained: Scrambling

My model at Fantasy National looks at the most recent 36 rounds for each golfer in the field on courses shorter than 7,200 yards.

Honda Classic – Tier 1

Feb 20, 2020; Mexico City, MEX; Tommy Fleetwood reacts after playing his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the WGC – Mexico Championship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec. (Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 12:30 a.m. ET.

Tommy Fleetwood (+1000)

At No. 5 in the Golfweek rankings, Fleetwood is the top golfer in attendance. He also leads my stat model for the week on his strengths in SG: Ball Striking and Par 4 Efficiency. He finished fourth here in 2018 before skipping last year’s event.

Fleetwood is one of the more precise and accurate golfers in the world, and the forced layups off the tees at PGA National will play to his advantage as golfers need to navigate their way around the course. He’s a chalky play as the tournament favorite, but it worked for us last week with Viktor Hovland at the Puerto Rico Open.

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Billy Horschel (+2800)

Horschel has finished T-9 at each of his last two events – last week’s WGC-Mexico Championship and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He tied for 16th at last year’s tournament following a missed cut in 2018. He finished T-4 and T-8 in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Like Fleetwood, he’s a great irons player.

Honda Classic – Tier 2

Jan 24, 2020; San Diego, California, USA; Matthew Wolff plays his shot from the 18th tee during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course – North Course. (Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)

Matthew Wolff (+8000)

Wolff took last week off following a missed cut at the Genesis Invitational. He had previously missed the cut at the WMPO. While he ranks just 72nd overall by the stat model, he’s 18th in Birdies or Better Gained on shorter courses.

Luke List (+9000)

List’s advantage in length is largely negated at PGA National due to the forced layups off the tee. He was the runner-up to Rickie Fowler in 2018 and he tied for 10th in 2016. He’s on a streak of three straight made cuts.

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Honda Classic – Longshots

Apr 21, 2019; Hilton Head, SC, USA; Sam Burns tees off on the second hole during the final round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament at Harbour Town Golf Links. (Photo Credit: Joshua S. Kelly – USA TODAY Sports)

Sam Burns (+10000)

Burns’ odds are attractive following a T-8 finish in 2018. He followed it up with a T-73 last year, but he’s coming off a T-23 result in a much stronger field at the Genesis Invitational. He can score low on shorter courses.

Dylan Frittelli (+15000)

Frittelli excels on par 4’s ranging from 400-450 yards. He missed the cut last year on the heels of an 11th-place finish in 2018. He hasn’t found top form since his breakthrough win at last year’s John Deere Classic, but he picked up top-10 finishes at the Sanderson Farms Championship and Safeway Open earlier in the 2019-20 season. These odds are far too high for someone with a Masters invite already secured.

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.

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Matthew Wolff, already a PGA Tour winner before turning 21, tunes out expectations

Matthew Wolff has a chance to be a special player on Tour, his friend and fellow Oklahoma State alum Rickie Fowler says.

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On New Year’s Eve, Matthew Wolff was up with the sunrise in the Aloha State eager to tackle a new day and the coming year.

And why not?

There’s a lot to look forward to in the young man’s world, starting with spending the first week of the calendar in Maui playing in the winners-only Sentry Tournament of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua.

He’s three months shy of turning 21 and already chasing the sun living out his dream of playing the game he loves for a living. Has an invite to the Masters. Just moved to Jupiter, a seaside haven on the southeast coast of Florida where a small fraternity of the best players in the world reside.

And in a year chock-full of big weeks – Tiger Woods’ title defense at the Masters, a U.S. Open in New York, the Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin – Wolff is on the cusp of becoming the next big thing.

Yes, which each arriving year, the golf world asks if there is a next big thing.

Most fail to live up to the label, but Wolff passes the eye test with an eye-popping, unorthodox swing that produces clubhead speed exceeding 130 mph at times.

And a check on his resume provides ample clues.

“He has a chance to be someone pretty special. Time will tell,” Rickie Fowler said.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: Tee times | Fantasy rankings

Wolff has already done some pretty special things. Like Fowler, Wolff was a standout at Oklahoma State – in his two years he won the Phil Mickelson Award as the nation’s best freshman and drained the putt that gave his Cowboys the national title, then won six of 12 events the following year and won the Jack Nicklaus and Fred Haskins awards as the national player of the year.

After turning pro last June, he won his third start at the 3M Classic at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, firing a course-record tying 62 in the third round and holing a 26-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole to win by one over Bryson DeChambeau and fellow rookie Collin Morikawa.

The victory put him in some heady company, as he joined Tiger Woods and Ben Crenshaw as the only players to win the NCAA individual title and a PGA Tour title in the same year. In 10 pro starts, he’s jumped more than 1,500 spots to No. 117 in the official world rankings.

Cue the expectations. But Wolff is more concerned about 3-foot downhill putts than the hype around him.

“One thing I talk to my coach (George Gankas) about is not having expectations,” Wolff said. “So many people have expectations for me, and yes, I hear them, but for me, I’m playing, and I don’t want this to sound selfish, but I’m playing for me.

“I’m doing this because I love the game, this is what I love to do, it’s what I’ve always dreamed about doing, and I don’t want anyone else to have an impact on that. So many other people have played before and have had to deal with those expectations and they haven’t dealt with it so well. They overthink to the max. It’s important to shut everything else off and believe in what you believe.”

Wolff started to believe on the range at last year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he played his first PGA Tour event as an amateur.

“I was on the range hitting next to some of the best players in the world and comparing what my ball was doing to theirs, and my ball was just as good as theirs,” Wolff said. “It gave me the confidence that I could do what everyone else was doing. It reassured my wanting to go pro, not just what I saw on the range but then making the cut. I knew I could compete out here with these guys.”

That week at TPC Scottsdale he also averaged 320 yards off the tee.

While his transition into the pro ranks has been smooth, Wolff knows he has so much more to learn. How to deal with travel, how to handle courses he’s never seen before, how to make do when his game is a bit off, how to conserve energy.

But Wolff said he has a great team he trusts around him and fellow pros he can turn to, including Fowler.

“He doesn’t need a whole lot of help, but there is going to be a lot more on his plate as time goes by and time management becomes a big part of what we do out here,” Fowler said. “We’ve seen what he can do, and he just started. He’s going to have a great time out here. I’ll do my best to hold him off the rest of my career.”

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