The tour heads to the Highlands course and their Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermuda greens at Atlanta Athletic Club for the season’s final major, the PGA. Here are my quick picks for slinging some € from abroad…
*Adam Scott (-125) vs. Fowler
*Nick Watney (-105) vs. Kuchar
*Zach Johnson (-140) vs. Watson
*Jason Day (-125) vs. Fowler
Sandwich, England and the Royal St. George’s Golf Club welcome golfers from around the world this week for the 140th edition of the Open Championship.
Strokes gained putting, birdies, bogey avoidance, and of course scrambling will all be key stats to look out for this week. And per the usual for this major… if the wind whips up, look out, it’ll get real interesting. Forecasts show that the winds could be rather brisk Thursday morning & Friday afternoon, so the tee time draw just became a factor as well. With such a crap-shoot in store, I think it’s smart to limit exposure.
Nick Watney | Under 25.5 – The best Team USA has got this week, and my semi-darkhorse pick to win. Just hope he doesn’t get screwed with the morning/afternoon tee time draw.
Lee Westwood | Under 13.5 – Just plain rock solid year and recent history at the Open. Plus, he has the afternoon/morning tee time draw which looks like an advantage.
Webb Simpson (-115) vs. Van Pelt – Hunch play for the Raleigh native’s first go-round across the pond.
Justin Rose (-170) vs. Els – Would have taken this anyway even with the weak odds, but there’s a tee time advantage here as well.
Goosebumps right? Always a spectacle, the best golfers in the world converge on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National for this major rite of spring. Here are my three picks to win for the week , and believe me, this was tough as hell to narrow down…
Phil Mickelson | 6:1 – It’s impossible to ignore his track record here, and obviously he’s playing well coming in. Hits the ball high and works it right to left, which gives him a distinct advantage. The modern day David Sims could easily bring home his fourth green jacket.
Nick Watney | 15:1 – As mentioned before here, his stats are off the charts and he has never finished outside the top 20 at Augusta. Playing better than ever.
Justin Rose | 35:1 – Has never missed a cut here and is coming off back-to-back top 5 finishes. Iron play has improved dramatically over past season or so.
Also considered: Mahan, Kuchar, Casey
Tournament Matchups
Watney -130 vs. Johnson – Soul Patch is way too errant off the tee, and his best finish here is a T30. Take the left coast guy this week. [Update: upon review, this was a 1st Round matchup that I bet on…a mistake that worked out nicely.]
Furyk -115 vs. Goosen – More of a hunch pick based on recent play, but Furyk has cashed 12 out of 14 times here.
Baddeley -120 vs. Fowler – Badds’ iron play is significantly better than years past plus he’s playing well, and Fowler has never teed it up in the Masters.
Moore -140 vs. Els – Moore has a great track record in the Masters, and Els couldn’t hit the Grand Canyon from 5 feet with his flatstick.
Casey -115 vs. Kaymer – Das German is 0-3 in cuts made here, and as mentioned above I do like Casey this week. I’m honestly shocked at the odds Kaymer is getting in these matchups.
Kim +110 vs. Stricker – I don’t like Stricker’s inconsistent play here (50% made cuts) and Kim is coming off a great week in Houston, plus a 3rd place finish last year has me really liking his value here.
The world’s best golfers invade Miami this week for the second WGC event of this season, this time at Doral to take on the famed TPC Blue Monster. Here are TDD’s picks of the tournament:
Martin Kaymer | 10:1 – Four worldwide wins in the past six months, a 3rd place finish here in last season, and he’s not the odds on favorite. Thanks “El Tigre”. Did I mention he’s #1 in the world?
Nick Watney | 20:1 – I think Watney, McDowell, and Kuchar will all be neck and neck this week, and but here’s my pick of the three… [Winning. Finally.]
Bill Haas | 30:1 – Playing extremely well, and even with a deep field he will contend. T6 here last year.
I’m missing the deadline here a little bit, but here are some quick picks for the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain this week.
Odds To Win Outright
Paul Casey | 14:1 – Great record at this event, and plays regular golf down the road in Scottsdale.
Geoff Ogivly | 25:1 – These are the same odds that I got him at in 2009 when I drunkenly threw some coin on the Aussie and he ended up winning. Hopefully, like two years ago, I’ll check my online account in a few days and find another nice gift from the gambling gods as well.
Robert Allenby | 50:1 – Ladies & gentlemen, Andrew Price’s pick to win it all…
Odds To Win Their Respective Bracket
Nick Watney | 7:1 – Playing well and fairly easy path to the final four all things considered.
Alvaro Quiros | 10:1 – Playing really well right now and has the game for this course.
The tour stops at the Torrey Pines this week for the Farmers Insurance Open, and wouldn’t you know it, Tiger (5:2) & Phil (16:1) are back! Yay. GIR & scrambling are key this week, especially on the South course. Plus it’s always nice to know how to putt on poa annua greens. A few picks to keep an eye on (besides Mr. Woods of course):
Nick Watney | 20:1 – Great track record at this event and can play with the big boys.
Rickie Fowler | 20:1 – SoCal brah who had a T5 here last year.
Ryuji Imada | 50:1 – Always plays well at TP, including the 2008 US Open. Great scrambler but also hit a lot of greens last week.
| Under 25.5 – The best Team USA has got this week, and my semi-darkhorse pick to win. Just hope he doesn’t get screwed with the morning/afternoon tee time draw.
| Under 13.5 – Just plain rock solid year and recent history at the Open. Plus, he has the afternoon/morning tee time draw which looks like an advantage.
the degenerates digest 