Analyzing the golf betting odds to win the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
[jwplayer GSXT56dF]
Detroit Golf Club hosts this week’s Rocket Mortgage Challenge, beginning Thursday in Detroit. Webb Simpson highlights the field as the third-ranked player in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. He’s joined by sixth-ranked Bryson DeChambeau as heavy betting favorites this week. Below, we look at the best bets and long shots to target in our 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic betting picks.
Dustin Johnson, now ranked 10th in the world following his Travelers Championship victory, is among the best in the world taking the week off.
Detroit Golf Club measures 7,334 yards and plays to a par of 72.
Jun 19, 2020; Hilton Head, S.C.; Hideki Matsuyama and his caddie during the second round of the RBC Heritage. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)
Matsuyama is playing for the second time since the PGA Tour resumed the 2019-20 schedule. He missed the cut at the RBC Heritage, but finished T-13 here last year in the first running of the Rocket Mortgage Classic as one of the top names in the field. He hasn’t won anywhere in the world since the 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, but has excelled in strong fields over his career with five PGA Tour wins, including two in WGC events.
Matsuyama is third in the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and ninth in both SG: Approach and Bogey Avoidance.
Looking to place a bet on the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
J.T. Poston (+4000)
Poston’s strength among the key stats for this week is in Sand Saves Gained. Detroit Golf Club features 87 bunkers as the primary hazard. He tied for 11th last year while gaining an average of 1.32 strokes per round on the field, according to Data Golf. He tied for 10th at the Charles Schwab Challenge and eighth at the RBC Heritage before missing the cut last week. This is the weakest field of the four events in the Tour’s return.
Jun 11, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Adam Hadwin and his caddie during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)
Adam Hadwin (+6000)
Hadwin took last week off following a T-43 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T-41 at the RBC Heritage. He ranks fifth in this field in Sand Saves Gained and 19th in the Golfweek world rankings as the sixth-best golfer in attendance, but he’s 18th by the odds to win.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
Harold Varner III (+6600)
Varner once again flashed his potential by starting the Charles Schwab Challenge with opening rounds of 63-66, before finishing T-19. He finished 32nd in last week’s scoring fest at 10-under par, while shooting in the 60s all four rounds. He ranks sixth in the field in SG: Approach and fifth in SG: Tee-to-Green. He’ll need to go low with last year’s winner, Nate Lashley, finishing 25-under par.
2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Betting Picks – Long shots
Jun 13, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Matthew Wolff from the ninth tee at the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)
Matthew Wolff (+12500)
Wolff ranks 96th in the Golfweek rankings coming into the event. The one-time PGA Tour winner has missed the cut in back-to-back weeks, doing so on the cutline last week in Connecticut. He’s not a strong statistical fit and missed the cut last year, but his odds are grossly inflated for a PGA Tour champion in a softened field.
Cameron Tringale (+17500)
Tringale trails only Simpson (+1100), DeChambeau (+650) and Doc Redman (+4500) in my stat model at Fantasy National. Tringale is 10th in the field in Bogey Avoidance and finished T-5 here last year, while ranking third with 2.02 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green per round.
Get some action on the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.
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 picks for the 2020 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.
[jwplayer UTff6kvi]
The 2020 Travelers Championship is set to tee off Thursday at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. The third event on the PGA Tour’s revamped 2020 schedule is the first to be played on its regularly scheduled dates and features another star-studded field. Below, we look at the top-30 fantasy golf power rankings for the 2020 Travelers Championship.
Thirteen of the top 15 players in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings will be in attendance, including reigning RBC Heritage champ Webb Simpson. Daniel Berger, who has risen all the way to No. 5 in the Golfweek rankings, withdrew from the event Sunday night.
TPC River Highlands is a par-70 measuring just 6,841 yards and featuring Bentgrass greens.
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.
30. Ryan Moore
Moore has never won here, but has gained an average of 1.75 strokes per round on the field across 44 career rounds at TPC River Highlands, according to Data Golf.
29. Matthew Fitzpatrick
A regular contender on the European Tour, Fitzpatrick is still looking for his first win on the PGA Tour after a T-14 result last week at a favorite course of his.
28. Corey Conners
Conners again lost strokes putting last week and still managed a T-21 finish. His ball-striking should shine through at this short venue.
27. Joel Dahmen
Dahmen has quietly climbed into 31st in the Golfweek rankings with a top-50 finish in each of the last three events. He was in contention last week until a Sunday 75 dropped him to T-48.
26. Ian Poulter
The veteran Poulter has taken up residency on the PGA Tour with the European Tour still on pause. He tied for 14th last week after grabbing a share of the first-round lead.
(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)
25. Jason Day
Still one of the best Bentgrass putters on Tour, Day has a good history here with a T-8 in 2019 and T-12 in 2018.
24. Scottie Scheffler
Potentially a sneaky play after last week’s Tuesday morning withdrawal. Scheffler scores well on par 4s from 400-450 yards and gains scoring opportunities on these shorter courses.
23. Patrick Reed
Missed the cut last week at a short, but tight course following a T-7 finish at Colonial Country Club. Reed is a much better putter on Bentgrass than last week’s Bermuda greens.
22. Jordan Spieth
The rollercoaster continues, but there’s denying Spieth is a strong choice in any fantasy format that rewards birdies more strongly than it punishes bogeys.
Looking to place a bet on the 2020 Travelers Championship? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
21. Sergio Garcia
A T-5 finish last week was his best result since a T-4 at the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship. Led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and ranked second in SG: Approach last week.
20. Sungjae Im
A rare missed cut was entirely the fault of losing 2.20 strokes per round putting on the Bermuda greens at Harbour Town Golf Links. He ranks 41st in this week’s field on Bentgrass greens, according to Fantasy National.
19. Joaquin Niemann
A first-time winner at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in the first event of the 2019-20 season, Niemann resurfaced with last week’s T-5 result in a considerably stronger field. He excelled from tee to green and on approach.
18. Jon Rahm
Still ranked second in the Golfweek rankings, Rahm is one of the few players from among the world’s elite without a top-20 finish in two events back from the midseason pause.
17. Xander Schauffele
Lost strokes in all key areas except for SG: Off the Tee last week after narrowly missing out on a playoff at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Missed the cut in 2018 after a T-14 in 2017.
(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)
16. Viktor Hovland
His first victory at the Puerto Rico Open in February was on a much longer course, but he’s an expert ball-striker who can create scoring opportunities.
15. Tony Finau
A disappointing restart to the season with a T-23 and T-33 finish. Missed the cut last year, but tied for 17th in 2017.
14. Dustin Johnson
Johnson gained an impressive 1.35 strokes off the tee and 0.79 strokes on approach last week. The T-17 finish was his best result since a T-10 at The Genesis Invitational.
13. Gary Woodland
Stumbled to a T-62 last week following a ninth-place finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Playing here for the first time since 2016.
12. Collin Morikawa
Last year’s T-36 finish in his debut last season now pales in comparison to what he has accomplished since. Still hasn’t missed a cut as a professional.
11. Patrick Cantlay
Back-to-back T-15 finishes here in the last two years. Returns to play for the first time after sitting out the last two events following the midseason suspension.
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. Justin Rose
Another veteran with good history here, but no appearances since a 13th-place showing in 2013. Back-to-back top 15s out of the break.
9. Bubba Watson
A three-time champion here looks to tie Billy Casper’s 47-year-old record four titles. Has been quietly playing well and salvaged a T-52 finish with a Sunday 65 last week.
8. Bryson DeChambeau
All that added power may be for naught at such a short venue. Struggles on Bentgrass greens compared to Bermuda or Poa Annua, as well.
7. Rory McIlroy
Has excelled on shorter courses in his career, including a victory at 22-under par at last year’s RBC Canadian Open. Has gained 1.84 strokes per round in two appearances here.
6. Marc Leishman
A champion in 2012, Leishman has averaged 1.13 strokes gained per round on the field at TPC River Highlands. Leads this field in SG: Ball Striking and Par Efficiency: 400-450 Yards on courses shorter than 7,200 yards and featuring Bentgrass greens.
(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)
5. Webb Simpson
Now a two-time winner in 2020, Simpson rebounded nicely from a missed cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge to win last week. He’s been largely unimpressive here and last missed the cut in 2018.
4. Abraham Ancer
Came oh-so-close to his first career PGA Tour win last week in Hilton Head, S.C. Led the field with 2.96 SG: Approach and ranked second in SG: T2G.
3. Justin Thomas
Two top 10s since returning to play, but has struggled at this venue since tying for third in 2016.
2. Brooks Koepka
Flashed his old form in a seventh-place finish last week, while gaining 1.73 strokes per round off the tee. Also gained 0.94 strokes putting on the Bermuda greens, including some clutch long attempts on Sunday.
1. Paul Casey
The would-be course history darling if it weren’t for Watson. Casey has finished either T-5 or as a runner-up in four of his five appearances here. Leads the field in Opportunities Gained in what should be another shootout in the Tour’s return to play.
Get some action on the 2020 Travelers Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.
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 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club.
The 2019-20 PGA Tour season resumes Thursday, June 11, with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Previously an invitational event, the 2020 field is expanded to 144 golfers, including many of those ranked at the top of the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Below, we look at the top fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge.
Colonial Country Club features Bentgrass greens and measures 7,209 yards with a par of 70. The scores of the last five tournament winners have ranged from 10-under par to minus-20.
Charles Schwab Challenge: Fantasy Golf Top 30
Mar 12, 2020; Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Rory McIlroy lines up a putt on the 10th hole during the first round of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. (Photo Credit: Adam Hagy – USA TODAY Sports)
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club.
30. Brandt Snedeker
Snedeker has a strong history at Colonial, having gained an average of 1.06 strokes per round on the field across 36 career rounds. He made the cut in each of his last five trips to Fort Worth, picking up a T-2 in 2015 and a T-19 last year.
29. Adam Hadwin
Hadwin is an excellent putter on Bentgrass greens. He tied for fifth at Colonial in 2015 and followed it with three more made cuts before skipping last year’s event.
28. Harris English
Another strong putter (sensing a theme?), English was the runner-up in 2016. He ranks fifth in the field among those with a minimum of 10 rounds played with 1.58 true strokes gained per round at Colonial, according to Data Golf.
27. Shane Lowry
Lowry makes his debut at Colonial coming off his 2019 Open Championship victory. The 24th-ranked golfer in the Golfweek rankings tied for 21st at The Honda Classic in a rare non-major appearance in North America before the season was suspended.
May 26, 2019; Fort Worth, Texas; Kevin Na kneels with trophy after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. (Photo Credit: Ray Carlin – USA TODAY Sports)
26. Kevin Na
The 2019 Charles Schwab Challenge champion has finished inside the top 10 in three of his last four visits to Fort Worth. He’s a steady performer on and around the greens.
25. Matt Kuchar
Kuchar had a couple of strong finishes early this year. He won the SMBC Singapore Open on the Asian and Japanese Tours, and he was a co-runner-up at The Genesis Invitational. He’s well-experienced at Colonial with 42 career rounds and an average of 1.48 strokes gained per round.
24. Marc Leishman
Leishman won the Farmers Insurance Open and finished second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational before his season was put on hold. He’s not a particularly strong putter on Bentgrass surfaces, but the rest of his short-game play has been in excellent form.
23. Joaquin Niemann
Niemann opened the 2019-20 season with a victory at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. He was ice cold to begin the 2020 portion of the schedule, missing the cut at The Genesis Invitational, The Honda Classic and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He still ranks third in my stat model at Fantasy National, which looks at everyone’s most recent 50 rounds played on courses with Bentgrass greens.
22. Lucas Glover
Glover ranks 10th by the same stat model, leaning on a strength of Par 4 Efficiency on holes measuring between 400 and 450 yards. He missed the cut in his last two appearances here, but his 38 career rounds rank among the most of anyone in the field.
21. Scottie Scheffler
The reigning Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year finished T-15 at the API prior to the Tour’s season being suspended. He’ll debut at Colonial having shot up to 28th in the Golfweek rankings.
Looking to place a bet on the Charles Schwab Challenge? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
20. Byeong Hun An
An bucks the trend of backing putters, but he was in otherwise excellent form earlier this year, highlighted by a T-4 finish at The Honda Classic. He ranks among the best in the field in Strokes Gained: Scrambling, and he has a good approach game.
19. Daniel Berger
Berger was showing flashes of his former self earlier this year. He finished T-4 at The Honda Classic and T-5 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Putting is a weakness, but his ball-striking is back in top form.
Mar 12, 2020; Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Rickie Fowler watches his tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. (Photo Credit: Adam Hagy – USA TODAY Sports)
18. Rickie Fowler
Golf fans were able to see Fowler at the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match where he was the best in a foursome consisting of Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Matthew Wolff. Fowler tied for 14th here in 2018, but he missed the cut last year.
17. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele has a surprisingly poor history at Colonial. He missed the cut each of the last two years following a T-48 finish in 2017. He’s a reliable putter who can get hot, and he is a low scorer.
16. Collin Morikawa
Morikawa still hasn’t missed a cut as a professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He tied for ninth in a strong field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
15. Patrick Reed
Reed is an excellent putter and does extremely well on our selected par-4 distance of 400-450 yards. He tied for 15th here in 2016 before taking the last three years off.
14. Sungjae Im
Im, who picked up his first PGA Tour win at The Honda Classic earlier this year, missed the cut here in 2019, but he missed the cut in just two of 26 worldwide events since. He has an excellent short game and can create scoring opportunities.
February 6, 2020; Pebble Beach, Calif.; Kevin Kisner lines up a putt on the second hole during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)
13. Kevin Kisner
Kisner finished T-5 in 2015 and T-10 in 2016 before winning the plaid jacket in 2017. He has since finished T-52 and missed the cut in 2019. He is third in the field in SG: Putting on Bentgrass greens across everyone’s last 100 rounds on the surface.
12. Gary Woodland
Woodland was rounding into form immediately before the break, finishing T-12 at the WGC-Mexico Championship and T-8 at The Honda Classic. A weaker putter, he’ll rely on excellent ball striking and scoring.
11. Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau ranks fourth in my overall stat model. He missed the cut in three of four appearances here, but he finished inside the top five in each of his last three events in 2020.
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. Tony Finau
The 2019 runner-up has gained an average of 1.57 strokes per round across his 16 career rounds at Colonial. He’s an expert ball-striker and low scorer.
9. Jordan Spieth
Throw out any ill-feelings you may have toward Spieth due to his struggles over the past three seasons. The 2016 champion of Colonial tied for second in both 2015 and 2017 and tied for eighth last year. He leads the field with 2.52 strokes gained at this venue, and his putter has remained consistently elite amid his struggles from tee-to-green.
8. Jason Day
Day is the only member of the field better with the putter than Spieth over everyone’s last 100 rounds on Bentgrass. Persistent injury issues have kept him out of the winner’s circle since 2018, but he’ll be well-rested after last withdrawing from the API.
7. Dustin Johnson
Johnson was a disaster at the TaylorMade event, but it’s quite possible the charity event didn’t have his full interest. He ranks seventh in the stat model and is the second-best ball-striker over everyone’s last 50 rounds.
6. Webb Simpson
The No. 1 golfer in the Golfweek rankings skipped last year’s event following a missed cut in 2018. He was fifth in 2017 and tied for third in 2016. Putting isn’t a strength, but he excels as an escape artist, which could have him better prepared than most to shake off the rust.
Aug 25, 2019; Atlanta; Brooks Koepka lines up a putt during the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. (Photo Credit: Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports)
5. Brooks Koepka
Koepka has now had plenty of time to rest and fully heal the knee injury which was plaguing his play early in the calendar year. He was the runner-up in 2018, his only career appearance at Colonial, and he gained 4.01 strokes on the field.
4. Rory McIlroy
McIlroy was in good, not great, form at the TaylorMade event. His closest-to-the-pin shot in the playoff proved to be the winner. He’s fifth in the stat model and will be looking for his first win of 2020 after four top-five finishes.
3. Jon Rahm
Rahm ranks fourth in the Golfweek rankings and his early 2020 form may have been trailing only McIloy. He collected two wins on the European Tour to end his 2019 campaign. He then finished second at the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for third in Mexico.
2. Justin Thomas
Thomas is another of the top-ranked golfers making his debut at Colonial in the restructured 2020 season. He bests the stat model, ranking first in Ball Striking and Birdies or Better Gained.
1. Justin Rose
Chalk Rose up as someone likely to have enjoyed the break from competitive golf. He had missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, The Honda Classic and the API before play was suspended. He won here in 2018 and ranks second in the stat model coming in.
Get some action on the Charles Schwab Challenge 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 golf betting odds to win the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
The PGA Tour is back! The Charles Schwab Challenge will be the first tournament held since the cancelation of The Players Championship in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An expanded and star-studded field will be in attendance at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Below, we look at BetMGM‘s PGA Tour betting odds to win and make our Charles Schwab Challenge picks and best bets.
The first event to be held without fans permitted on the course will see four of the top five golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world ranking, including No. 1 Webb Simpson, try to hold off the competition in a more level field.
The key stats for the 7,209-yard, par-70 Colonial Country Club:
Strokes Gained: Ball Striking
Strokes Gained: Short Game
Birdies or Better Gained
Strokes Gained: Scrambling
Par 4 Efficiency: 400-450 Yards
Proximity from 125-150 Yards
My model at Fantasy National looks at the most recent 50 rounds for each golfer in the field on courses with Bentgrass greens. We’ll also weigh long-term putting performance more heavily this week than usual as a result of the extended midseason interruption.
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Picks – Tier 1
Feb 23, 2020; Mexico City, MEX; Jon Rahm reacts after missing a putt on the 15th green during the final round of the WGC – Mexico Championship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec. (Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
Rahm, ranked fourth in the Golfweek world rankings, was in proper form as one of the best golfers in the world prior to the break. He has finishes of second, T-3, T-9 and 10th in five events in 2020.
He ranks 12th overall by my stat model over his last 50 rounds on Bentgrass greens. He’s seventh in the field in Ball Striking and fourth in Birdies or Better Gained. He missed the cut at Colonial last year, but he was T-5 in 2018 and T-2 in 2017. He offers adequate value when compared to Rory McIlroy(+700) as the tournament favorite.
Looking to place a bet on the Charles Schwab Challenge? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
Justin Rose (+5000)
Rose won this event in 2018 when it was known as the Fort Worth Invitational. His finish at 20-under par is the second-best winning score ever at Colonial.
The 22-time winner around the globe ranks second in the stat model. He was in poor form early this year, having missed the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Honda Classic and the Farmers Insurance Open. He’s well worth backing at an inflated price following the Tour’s hiatus.
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Picks – Tier 2
Mar 5, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Jason day hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)
Jason Day (+6600)
As noted above, these first few weeks of tournament play will be a good time to trust putters. No one has been better than Day over their last 100 rounds on Bentgrass greens. He hasn’t won since doing so twice in 2018, but the extended break has helped him to rest his lingering injuries.
Kevin Kisner (+9000)
Kisner ranks third in the field in SG: Putting on Bentgrass greens. The 2017 champion of Colonial followed it up with a T-52 in 2018 and a missed cut last year, but he was T-10 in 2016 and T-5 in 2015. He has gained an average of 1.53 strokes per round in Fort Worth over 20 career rounds, according to Data Golf.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Picks – Long shots
Mar 8, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Danny Lee looks over his putt on the eighth green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)
Danny Lee (+12500)
Lee has just one PGA Tour win, but he’s a strong long-shot bet without fan pressure. He has been a steady performer at Colonial CC, making the cut in each of his last five visits with a sixth-place finish in 2017 and a T-10 in 2015. He has gained an average of 1.31 strokes per round across 28 rounds at this venue.
Emiliano Grillo (+15000)
Grillo made the cut in each of his last four trips to Fort Worth, finishing third in 2018 and T-19 last year. His 1.57 strokes gained per round at Colonial rank sixth in the field among those with a minimum of 10 rounds played. The break and the fan-less competition could serve him well as he looks for his first PGA Tour win since the 2015 Frys.com Open.
Get some action on the Charles Schwab Challenge 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 golf betting odds to win the 2020 PGA Championship, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
The PGA Tour will attempt to resume play in mid-June under a revised schedule for the 2020 season. The 2020 PGA Championship is set to take place from Aug. 6-9 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. Below, we break down the PGA Championship betting odds, with predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets.
TPC Harding Park will host a major tournament for the first time. The last PGA Tour event played there was the 2015 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Match Play, won by Rory McIlroy, who currently ranks No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. The course measures 7,169 yards and plays to a par of 72.
2020 PGA Championship Betting Picks – Tier 1
Aug 25, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Brooks Koepka lines up his putt on the fifth green during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club. (Photo Credit: Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports)
Koepka has slipped to No. 9 in Golfweek’s world rankings. He was off to a poor start to 2020 with a missed cut at The Honda Classic, a T-43 at The Genesis Invitational and T-47 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational before play was put on pause.
The four-time major winner, and back-to-back winner of the PGA Championship, finished inside the top five in all four majors in 2019. He’s only the No. 4 betting favorite.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Koepka to win the 2020 PGA Championship will return a profit of $140.
Looking to place a bet on the 2020 PGA Championship? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
Sungjae Im (+4000)
Contrary to Koepka, Im was playing the best golf of his career prior to the break. He earned his first PGA Tour victory at The Honda Classic and finished third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He has missed the cut in three of four career major appearances, including the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year, but he’s just 22 years old. These odds are much higher than what he was getting early this season.
2020 PGA Championship Betting Picks – Tier 2
Jan 26, 2020; San Diego, California, USA; Marc Leishman kisses the winner’s trophy following the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course – South Co. (Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
Marc Leishman (+5000)
Leishman earned a win at the Farmers Insurance Open early this year and finished as the runner-up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He has never won a major, but he has five top-10 finishes in 33 events. He also made it to the Round of 16 at the 2015 match play at TPC Harding Park.
Francesco Molinari (+8000)
Few in golf needed a break as badly as Molinari. The former Open champion missed the cut in three straight events to begin his 2020 campaign, and he finished just T-53 at the WGC-Mexico Championship. Majors are a different story, and recent champs should always be backed at these odds.
He tied for second at the 2017 PGA Championship and tied for sixth in 2018 before finishing T-48 in 2019.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
2020 PGA Championship Betting Picks – Long shots
Feb 21, 2020; Mexico City, MEX; Bernd Wiesberger plays his shot from the eighth tee during the second round of the WGC – Mexico Championship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec. (Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
Bernd Wiesberger (+10000)
The little-known Austrian won three times on the European Tour last year. He didn’t participate in either of the last two PGA Championships, but he is a bargain at these odds based on his success in Europe as he seeks his first PGA Tour win.
Joaquin Niemann (+15000)
Niemann claimed his first professional victory at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier to open the 2019-20 PGA Tour season before missing the cut in five of his next 11 events before the break. The 21-year-old has made the cut in just one of three majors in his career, but he’s a value as a winner with only 10 golfers holding longer odds.
Get some action on the 2020 PGA Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.
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 outright odds to win the 2020 Players Championship, and looking at some sleepers and long shots worth backing.
The 2020 Players Championship will see a field of 144 of the world’s highest-ranked golfers compete for a share of a $15 million prize purse beginning Thursday at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Here at SportsbookWire, we’ve been covering the various betting angles around The Players Championship all week, and below we’ll look at three more longshots from varying price ranges worthy of a dart throw in hopes of a big payday.
2020 Players Championship: Sleepers and long shots
Poulter’s 58 career rounds played at TPC Sawgrass rank fifth in this week’s field. He ranks fourth in that group and 17th among everyone with at least 10 rounds played with an average of 1.33 strokes gained per round, according to Data Golf.
He enters the week ranked 67th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and is coming off finishes of T-27 at The Honda Classic and T-32 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He was a co-runner-up in 2017, and he hasn’t missed the cut since 2013 while playing every year.
Looking to place a bet on The Players Championship? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
Bernd Wiesberger (+15000)
A star on the European Tour, Wiesberger won three times in 2019, most recently at the Italian Open in mid-October. He didn’t play here either of the last two years, but he tied for 12th in 2017 and 49th in 2016. He has gained 1.22 strokes per round across 10 career rounds at TPC Sawgrass.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
Mackenzie Hughes (+25000)
Hughes didn’t play here last year, but he went 2-for-2 in 2017 and 2018 with finishes of T-16 and T-57, respectively. He nearly picked up his second career win at The Honda Classic two weeks ago, finishing second to Sungjae Im.
His odds haven’t been adjusted for the recent top finish, and there’s value to be had while using a little recency bias and trusting the current form. Only 39 members of the field have longer odds.
Get some action on The Players Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Looking at Rory McIlroy’s chances of success at the 2020 Players Championship, including PGA Tour betting options within the tournament.
Rory McIlroy looks to defend his title at the 2020 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass as the No. 1 golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. McIlroy is the No. 1 betting favorite among the 144-man field at BetMGM this week. Below, we look at McIlroy’s outright and prop betting odds and look for the best value plays for the world’s top golfer at The Players Championship.
Rory McIlroy’s history at TPC Sawgrass
McIlroy ranks 11th in this week’s field in average strokes gained per round at TPC Sawgrass among those with at least 10 rounds played, according to Data Golf. He has gained 1.68 strokes per round across 32 career rounds on the Stadium Course. Last year, he led the field with 3.32 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green per round while ranking third in SG: Off the Tee.
Last year’s victory followed a missed cut at the 2018 Players Championship. He previously finished T-8 in 2015, T-12 in 2016 and T-35 in 2017. His finishing score of 16-under par last year matched the second-lowest four-round score of the last decade.
Rory McIlroy’s key stats for The Players Championship
Based on historical tournament data from Fantasy National, my key stats for the week are:
Strokes Gained: Ball Striking
Strokes Gained: Around the Green
Opportunities Gained
Greens in Regulation Gained
Proximity from 125-150 Yards
McIlroy leads my stat model, which measures the last 36 rounds for each golfer in the field on courses shorter than 7,200 yards. While he’s one of the longest hitters on Tour, much of his career success has come on these shorter tracks.
He’s second in the field in SG: Ball Striking, third in Opportunities Gained and fourth in SG: Around the Green. Each of the last 11 champions at TPC Sawgrass finished 10-under par or below, and nine of his 16 PGA Tour rounds in 2020 have been scored in the 60s.
Rory has been struggling with his putter of late, preventing him from reaching the winner’s circle, but he gained a total of just 0.7 strokes putting last year and needs to be little more than average with the flat stick at this venue. He putts best on the Bermuda greens featured here.
As noted above, McIlroy is the No. 1 favorite to win the 2020 Players Championship at +700. He enters this week with seven consecutive top-five finishes with his first win of the 2019-20 PGA Tour season coming at the WGC-HSBC Champions in November. He has racked up three straight fifth-place results, nearly mirroring his form entering last year’s tournament:
EVENT
2019
2020
Farmers Insurance Open
T-5
T-3
Genesis Open/Invitational
T-4
T-5
WGC-Mexico Championship
2
5
Arnold Palmer Invitational
T-6
T-5
The Players
1
?
Rory is a very chalky golf bet as the No. 1 favorite in the field and the only player priced lower than +1200, but he has enjoyed a similar build-up as last year, and he already has his first win of the season under his belt. He’s worth a multi-unit wager in his quest to repeat.
Best Props on Rory McIlroy to win The Players Championship
Even money for a top-10 result is an easy choice, as the odds for a top-5 finish are just +190. McIlroy hasn’t finished outside the top-10 in a PGA Tour event since his T-19 showing at last year’s BMW PGA Championship one week prior to his victory at the Tour Championship.
Lowest Score Over 72 Holes – Group A (+160)
PASS on this prop bet. If Rory is not going to win this week, it’s likely the winner will come from this group including Jon Rahm (+300), Justin Thomas (+400), Tommy Fleetwood (+700) and Bryson DeChambeau (+600). Take his more profitable outright odds, instead.
Top European Player (+225)
While Rory faces tough competition from Rahm (+350) and Fleetwood (+700) in this group, it does weed out the strong American contingent playing this week. It’s a good hedge against the outright bet.
Get some action on The Players Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.
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 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Can world No. 1 Rory McIlroy defend his title?
TPC Sawgrass welcomes the world’s best golfers for the 2020 Players Championship. The 144-man field is annually the strongest of the PGA Tour season, and Tiger Woods is one of just four golfers from the top 50 of the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings not in attendance this week. Here, we look at the top 30 fantasy golf options for The Players Championship.
TPC Sawgrass measures 7,189 yards and plays to a par of 72. Each of the last 11 winners finished 10-under par or better.
The Players Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 30
Mar 17, 2019; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Rory McIlroy lines up his putt on the 18th green during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. (Photo Credit: John David Mercer – USA TODAY Sports)
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
30. Viktor Hovland
The Puerto Rico Open winner has struggled since what was expected to be an ice-breaking victory in the alternate event. He missed the cut at the difficult Honda Classic and tied for 42nd last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Poulter ranks fifth in this field with 58 career rounds played at TPC Sawgrass, according to Data Golf. He has gained an average of 1.33 strokes per round in that time. He was a co-runner-up in 2017 but finished just T-56 last year.
28. Tyrrell Hatton
Hatton picked up his first career PGA Tour win last week while surviving difficult conditions at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, but he missed the cut at Sawgrass each of the last two years.
27. Shane Lowry
The reigning Open champion missed the cut here three of the past five years but will enter as a major champ for the first time. He’s among the best in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green.
26. Marc Leishman
The winner of the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open popped back up on the leaderboard last week and finished as the lone runner-up to Hatton. His putter is the only thing that can hold him back, and when it’s been on, he’s been a top finisher.
Mar 6, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)
25. Scottie Scheffler
The PGA Tour rookie debuts at TPC Sawgrass ranked No. 27 in the Golfweek rankings. He tied for 15th last week amid a horrible putting performance while his tee-to-green and approach games were nearly perfect.
24. Abraham Ancer
Ancer’s top finish of 2020 thus far was a runner-up result at The American Express, but he also tied for sixth in a strong field at the European Tour’s Saudi International. He ranks near the top of the field in Proximity from 125-150 Yards, a key distance for second shots at TPC Sawgrass.
23. Collin Morikawa
Morikawa had a disappointing weekend at Bay Hill, but he still finished inside the top 10 for the first time in a full-field event in 2020. He’s now up to 21 consecutively made cuts for the longest active streak on the PGA Tour.
22. Matt Kuchar
Kuch, the 2020 Players champ more recently tied for third in 2016. He hasn’t finished higher than T-17 in the three years since, but he has 50 career rounds played here to rank among the most experienced in the field.
21. Henrik Stenson
Stenson missed the cut last year and in 2016, but he has finishes of T-17 in 2015, T-16 in 2017 and T-23 in 2018. He ranks second in my stat model at Fantasy National in Greens in Regulation Gained over the last 36 rounds played by everyone in the field on courses shorter than 7,200 yards.
Looking to place a bet on this tournament? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
20. Justin Rose
Rose missed the cut at Bay Hill and PGA National in each of his last two events to slip to No. 28 in the Golfweek rankings. He struggled with the flat stick last week and would have at least made it to the weekend with an average putting performance.
19. Tony Finau
Finau missed the cut back-to-back in 2016 and 2017, but he has responded with a T-57 finish in 2018 and a T-22 result in 2019. He missed the cut last week at Bay Hill, but he hasn’t missed the cut in back-to-back weeks since missing three straight from last year’s Memorial Tournament through the Travelers Championship.
18. Gary Woodland
Woodland has strung together consecutive strong results. He tied for 12th at the WGC-Mexico Championship before a T-8 result at the Honda Classic. The US Open winner tied for 30th here last year.
17. Jason Day
Day would be higher in these rankings if not for the back injury which forced his withdrawal at Bay Hill last week. The Aussie won in 2016 and has a T-8 and T-5 finish the last two years. He remains among the best in any field in SG: Around the Green.
16. Sungjae Im
Yet another recent first-time winner in this year’s field, Im missed the cut in his TPC Sawgrass debut last year. His best putting performances have come on Bermuda greens over his career, and he has been extremely strong off the tee the last two weeks.
Mar 7, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the second hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)
15. Rickie Fowler
Fowler bounced back from a missed cut at PGA National to finish T-18 last week. He won here in 2015, but he missed the cut two of the last four years.
14. Brooks Koepka
Betting Koepka right now means banking solely on pedigree, which is never a bad idea. His best finish in the last five years was a T-11 in 2018, and he finished just T-56 last year. He hasn’t finished inside the top 10 in any global event since the Tour Championship, but he is Brooks Koepka.
13. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele debuted with a T-2 in 2018 but missed the cut last year. He has made the cut in four of five events to open 2020, but he has a top finish of just T-14 in Mexico.
12. Paul Casey
Casey is one of the top statistical fits by my stat model, but the veteran Englishman has struggled at TPC Sawgrass over his career. He has gained just 0.39 strokes per round across 29 rounds, and he missed the cut last year.
11. Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay returns from an injury absence to play for the first time since a T-17 result at the Genesis Invitational. He missed the cut last year following T-22 and T-23 finishes in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
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. Patrick Reed
Reed has had a pedestrian run at TPC Sawgrass. While he has made the cut four of the last five years, his top finish was a T-22 in 2017. He’s the most recent winner of a WGC event in a comparable strength of field.
9. Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau has strung together three straight top-five finishes in 2020. He’s played here each of the last two years with a T-37 in 2018 and a T-20 last year.
8. Webb Simpson
The 2018 champ has 15 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour since, including his 2020 win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
7. Adam Scott
Scott won here in 2004. He already claimed victory at the Genesis Invitational to start his 2020 campaign, after closing out his 2019 season with a win in the Australian PGA Championship.
6. Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama does well in the stadium setting of TPC Sawgrass and TPC Scottsdale. He has a T-7 and T-8 finish in the last four years.
Mar 5, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Tommy Fleetwood hits his drive on the 15th hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)
5. Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood has gained more strokes per round at TPC Sawgrass than anyone else in the field with at least 10 rounds played at 2.34 strokes per round. He tied for fifth last year after a T-7 in 2018 and needs his breakthrough win.
4. Jon Rahm
Rahm tied for 12th last year for his best result in three trips to TPC Sawgrass. He took the last two weeks off for rest following a T-3 in Mexico and T-17 at the Genesis Invitational.
3. Dustin Johnson
Johnson picked up his best result in The Players Championship last year with a T-5. He has been largely unimpressive early in 2020, but he remains an elite scorer on these shorter courses.
2. Justin Thomas
Since finishing T-3 in 2016, Thomas has finished T-75, T-11 and T-35 the last three years. His putter has been shaky early in the year, though he’s a contender anytime it doesn’t cost him strokes.
1. Rory McIlroy
The defending champ has seven straight top-five results in global events and five straight fifth-place finishes on the PGA Tour. His putter cost him again last week; however, he gained 0.7 strokes on these greens last year and he only needs to be average with the flat stick.
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 golf betting odds to win the 2020 Players Championship, with PGA Tour betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.
The top names in golf are in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., this week for the 2020 Players Championship. Below, we break down the 2020 Players Championship outright odds to win, with betting picks, tips and best bets.
Tiger Woods is one of just four players from the top 50 of the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings not part of the 144-man field. He’ll finalize his preparations for his Masters defense next month, while world No. 1 Rory McIlroy attempts to hold off the strongest field in golf for the second straight year at TPC Sawgrass.
The key stats for the 7,189-yard, par-72 TPC Sawgrass:
Strokes Gained: Ball Striking
Strokes Gained: Around the Green
Opportunities Gained
Greens in Regulation Gained
Proximity from 120-150 Yards
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.
The Players Championship Betting Picks – Tier 1
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
One of many former world No. 1’s in the field, Johnson enters the week ranked ninth by the Golfweek rankings, but he shares the sixth-best odds at BetMGM. He tied for fifth last year, following a T-17 in 2018 and a T-12 in 2017.
Johnson leads the field in Opportunities Gained while ranking fourth in SG: Ball Striking and eighth in Greens in Regulation Gained. He won at least twice internationally in each of the last four years and won’t often carry these lofty odds.
Looking to place a bet on this tournament? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
Adam Scott (+3300)
Scott hasn’t finished worse than T-12 in any of the last four years at TPC Sawgrass. His 1.95 strokes gained per round across 66 career rounds on the Stadium Course ranks third in the field, according to Data Golf. He has two worldwide wins since late December after not winning since 2016.
The Players Championship Betting Picks – Tier 2
(Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)
Jason Day (+6000)
Day withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week due to a back injury, but he remains in the field for an event he has won and dominated in recent years. The 2016 Players champ tied for fifth in 2018 and tied for eighth last year.
He’s one of the best in the field/world around the greens and his odds are inflated solely by last week’s injury. If he’s healthy, he’s an incredible bargain.
Scottie Scheffler (+9000)
Scheffler has climbed all the way to No. 27 early in his rookie season on the PGA Tour. He finished T-15 in a strong field at the API last week and has shown he can be a regular contender. He ranks 18th in the field in Opportunities Gained and has the ability to score low on these shorter courses.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
The Players Championship Betting Picks – Longshots
(Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
Corey Conners (+15000)
Conners tied for 41st last year ahead of his breakout win at the Valero Texas Open. He missed the cut in three of his last four events and each of his past two, but he’s an expert ball striker and low scorer. He gained 7.8 strokes tee-to-green and 4.4 strokes on approach here last year and just needs a decent putting week.
Jim Furyk (+15000)
Furyk will be eligible for the PGA Tour Champions circuit in May, but will give it another go at TPC Sawgrass following his runner-up finish last year. It was his second second-place result since 2014, losing both times by just a single stroke. He entered in better form last year, but he’s well-versed on a course designed by Pete Dye to level the playing field.
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 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla., hosts a field of 121 golfers for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. Rory McIlroy, the 2018 champion, highlights those in attendance as the No. 1 golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Below, we look at the top fantasy golf options for the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Bay Hill measures 7,454 yards and plays to a par of 72. Each of the last eight winners finished 11-under par or better.
Arnold Palmer Invitational: Fantasy Golf Top 30
Mar 1, 2020; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA; Tommy Fleetwood lines up his drive on the ninth hole during the final round of the 2020 Honda Classic golf tournament at PGA National (Champion). (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
30. Vijay Singh
Vijay ranks second to Davis Love III in this week’s field with 94 career rounds played at Bay Hill and he has gained an average of 1.79 strokes per round to lead all golfers with a minimum of 70 rounds played, according to Data Golf. He missed the cut each of the last four years, but he was a three-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions circuit in 2018.
29. Brendan Steele
Steele is coming off a fourth-place finish at the Honda Classic at PGA National. He had a dominant tee-to-green game at the more difficult course. He tied for 17th here last year.
28. Sebastian Munoz
Munoz leads this field in opportunities gained over everyone’s last 36 rounds. He’s also fifth in the field in scoring on long par 3s ranging from 200-225 yards which are featured at Bay Hill.
27. Joaquin Niemann
Niemann is coming off missed cuts at the Genesis Invitational and the Honda Classic. He’s now six months removed from his first career win at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in September. He’s still giving himself scoring opportunities but has suffered from some awful putting performances.
26. Abraham Ancer
Ancer missed the cut here in his debut last year. He enters the week ranked 37th in the Golfweek rankings, and he had a strong 12th-place finish at the WGC-Mexico Championship two weeks ago. He can compete in these elevated status fields.
25. Billy Horschel
Horschel has made the cut here each of the last seven years, albeit with a top finish of T-13 in 2017. He’s a good putter on Bermuda greens and tee-to-green play has been a strength in his last three events.
Feb 23, 2020; Mexico City, MEX; Rafa Cabrera Bello plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the WGC – Mexico Championship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec. (Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
24. Rafa Cabrera Bello
Bello tied for third last year in his Bay Hill debut. He tied for 17th in a strong field at the Genesis Invitational and tied for 16th in Mexico.
23. Bubba Watson
Watson has made the cut here each of the last three years but without a considerable amount of success. His best finish in that time was a T-17 showing last year. He opened 2020 with two top 10s but has slipped in his last two outings.
22. Tyrrell Hatton
Hatton tied for fourth in 2017 but has had more middling finishes the last two years. He tied for sixth in Mexico and will play his first event in the USA of 2020.
21. Francesco Molinari
The defending champ is one of my favorite betting picks this week at inflated odds of +9000. He has been horribly out of form with three straight missed cuts leading into a T-53 result in Mexico, but the former Open champion can turn it around at any time and he has the course history.
Looking to place a bet on this tournament? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!
20. Matthew Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick was the lone runner-up here a year ago following a missed cut in 2018. He’s one of the top putters on Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting on Bermuda grass, and he has been dominant from tee-to-green since this time last year.
19. Viktor Hovland
The Puerto Rico Open champ missed the cut last week, but he’s statistically a much better fit to Bay Hill than PGA National. He shares the field lead in Opportunities Gained and ranks sixth in the class in SG: Tee-to-Green.
Mar 1, 2020; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA; Lee Westwood hits his drive on the first hole during the final round of the 2020 Honda Classic golf tournament at PGA National (Champion). (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)
18. Lee Westwood
Westwood gave it a go at PGA National last week and gained 7.0 strokes putting. He has gained an average of 0.87 total strokes per round at Bay Hill for his career, but he hasn’t played here any of the last five years.
17. Justin Rose
Rose finished as the runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2013 for his best career finish at Bay Hill. He tied for ninth in 2016 and finished alone in third in 2018 before a T-63 result last year. He can score, and he’s good from the sand.
16. Marc Leishman
The 2017 champ of Bay Hill picked up his first win of 2020 at the Farmers Insurance Open. He struggled at the Genesis Invitational and the WGC event, but he’s a much better putter on Bermuda grass and could return to form.
15. Tony Finau
Finau skipped this event each of the last two years, but he’s a good fit with a strong tee-to-green game. He has been off since a 51st-place result at the Genesis, but he has two top 10s already this season at the Farmers and Waste Management Phoenix Open.
14. Henrik Stenson
Stenson is one of four golfers in this field averaging at least 2.15 strokes gained per round at Bay Hill for their career. He has plenty of experience here, with 42 career rounds under his belt near his North American home. He has three top-five results in the last five years.
13. Rickie Fowler
Fowler was one of the many notable names to miss the cut last week at PGA National. It was his second MC in his last three events, now matching his number of top-10 showings in 2020.
February 13, 2020; Pacific Palisades, California, USA; Jason Day hits from the fourth hole tee box during the first round of the The Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. (Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports)
12. Jason Day
Day continues to play sporadically. He’s coming off a missed cut at the Genesis on the heels of a fourth-place result at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The 2016 champion was forced to withdraw last year.
11. Collin Morikawa
Morikawa remains the safest bet on Tour to make the cut, always propping up his fantasy value. He’s fifth in this field in SG: Tee-to-Green, and he enters the week seventh in the Golfweek world rankings.
10. Sungjae Im
Last week’s winner captured his first PGA Tour title while gaining just a single stroke on the greens. He led the field with 3.07 strokes gained per round tee-to-green and can rely on that strength once again at Bay Hill.
SUBSCRIBE to Golfweek and get the most comprehensive coverage of golf’s greatest athletes. Click here or call 1-800-996-4653 to subscribe.
9. Byeong Hun An
An tied for fourth last week to continue what has been a strong season to date. He remains in search of his first PGA Tour win, but he has made the cut in four straight events, all in strong fields. Like Im, his tee-to-green game has been doing the heavy lifting, and he’s one of the best on Tour around the greens, except for putting.
8. Patrick Reed
The WGC-Mexico champ tied for seventh at Bay Hill in 2018 before a T-50 result last year. Putting was his main reason for success in Mexico, and he’s much worse on Bermuda grass than Poa Annua.
7. Brooks Koepka
Having slipped to No. 17 in the Golfweek rankings, it’s tough to remember Koepka being in as poor of form as he’s been in since finishing fourth at the Tour Championship. He has two missed cuts and a withdrawal in his last six events, and he has poor course history here. Still, he can turn it on whenever he wants.
6. Adam Scott
The Genesis Invitational champ followed it up with a 26th-place result in Mexico before taking last week off. His best showing here in the last five years was a T-12 in 2016, but he’ll look to follow the prior success of fellow Aussies Leishman and Day.
Feb 23, 2020; Mexico City, MEX; Bryson DeChambeau walks to the 17th green during the final round of the WGC – Mexico Championship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec. (Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez – USA TODAY Sports)
5. Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau was the runner-up in Mexico following a T-5 showing at the Genesis. Tee-to-Green has been the best part of his game, but he’s also a great sand player and can escape the trouble of Bay Hill.
4. Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama ranks second in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green over everyone’s last 36 rounds, and he’s fourth in Opportunities Gained. His best result here was a T-6 in 2016.
3. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele has surprisingly not played here as a professional. He’s a natural course fit, however, with a strong tee-to-green game and he was excellent on approach while finishing T-14 in Mexico.
2. Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood again came close to his first career PGA Tour win last week, as he finished solo third at PGA National. He tied for third at Bay Hill last year, and he gained 9.0 strokes tee-to-green last week.
1. Rory McIlroy
McIlroy’s 2.78 strokes gained per round are more than anyone else in the field with a minimum of five rounds played at Bay Hill. He hasn’t finished worse than last year’s T-6 in the last three years at this event and he has finished in the top five at each of his last six worldwide events.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
