Weekly PGA Tour Tips

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Xander Schauffele – 18/1 – 3pts each-way

Tony Finau – 35/1 – 1.5pts each-way

Marc Leishman – 45/1 – 1.25pts each-way

Joaquin Niemann – 55/1 – 1pt each-way

Adam Scott – 70/1 - 1pt each-way

Victor Perez – 150/1 – 0.75pts each-way

Kurt Kitayama – 400/1 – 0.5pts each-way

The PGA Championship, second major of the year, is the main event in golf this week. Possibly, the year’s strongest field assembles at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina on what will be the longest course in major championship history. The Ocean Course was designed by Pete Dye and previously hosted the 2012 PGA and the 1991 Ryder Cup along with some World Cups in the 1990’s. It has quickly become an iconic venue and predicting a winner this year will be a tall order. The course bears resemblance to other Dye courses used on the PGA Tour like Harbortown, Whistling Straits and TPC Sawgrass in that angles and sightlines off tees and into greens will not be straightforward. However, Kiawah represents a uniquely tough challenge with 10 holes directly on the ocean with the wind being a huge factor to consider. In that way, it could compare with Open Championship venues but it is not really a links course as the level of the whole course has been raised with elevated greens on most holes meaning that the ball has to be flown through the air. Rory McIlroy blew away the field here in 2012 to win by a record eight shots and he is the clear favourite this week following his recent win at Quail Hollow. Others at the top of the market do not quite have as strong claims as contenders this week. Jon Rahm’s game and temperament has not improved with fatherhood, JT’s putting is ropey, DJ is pulling out of tournaments too often and Bryson is hitting it all over the place. There seems to be stronger prospects at better prices further down the betting list.

After much consideration, the headline selection is given to proven major championship player, Xander Schauffele. The X Man has eight top-10 finishes in his fifteen major appearances. That record alone almost means that he should be automatically backed at every major, but this week his price looks a bit more attractive. He also plays well at majors at coastal tracks with a t-3rd at Pebble Beach and a t-2nd at Carnoustie. He is No 7 in the world and it is time that he claimed his first major at the PGA where six of the last ten winners were debut major winners.

Another player who has an incredible record in majors in the last few years is Tony Finau. The big-hitting man from Utah has eight top-10’s in the last 12 majors, the most recent one at the Masters where he barely had his B-game. He has been in great form this year and should have won at Riviera. His sole Tour win in Puerto Rico was on paspalum greens that will feature at Kiawah. He plays Dye courses really well and should be in the shake-up on Sunday.

Wind will be factor this week and Marc Leishman is an excellent wind player. He grew up playing golf on the Sand Belt courses in Victoria, Australia. Tracks like Royal Melbourne would have big similarities to Kiawah and Leishman should thrive this week. He is good form and can take his maiden major.

Joaquin Niemann has been a favourite of TrickyDogleg in recent months and it is all because he has been so consistently good. Ever since narrowly missing out in a playoff in Kapalua Niemann has looked a winner-in-waiting. A PGA Championship would mark a massive jump on his previous PGA Tour win, but he has the class to do it.

A man who perennially performs well in majors is former Masters Champion, Adam Scott. These days, Scott is trying to peak his game for the big tournaments. He has won a Players on a Dye course and played solidly here in 2012. His is still overpriced for a player with still much to offer.

Victor Perez is currently looking like he will make the European Ryder Cup team. He has performed well this year and won the Dunhill Links on a windy, tough layout. He also played well at the WGC Matchplay on the Pete Dye-designed Golf Club of Austin. He is another who is overpriced given his potential.

Finally, our outsider is an American who plays on the European Tour and performs well on paspalum greens. Kurt Kitayama won his two Euro titles at Mauritius and Oman, both coastal tracks with paspalum greens. He also performed well at the Saudi International earlier this year on the same surface (Finau was also runner-up). He may raise his game back on home soil.