(1/2 Unit) WEBB SIMPSON TO WIN (25-to-1)
Simpson isn’t someone who is going to bring in big TV ratings and storm around the course pumping his fist like Tiger Woods, but he’s had a stellar career with six wins and a major championship (2012 U.S. Open). He excels on shorter courses and four of his six career wins came on courses with Bentgrass greens. Although he missed the cut here last year, in the previous two years he was fifth and third.
MATCH-UP BETS
(1 Unit) Tony Finau (-135) over Marc Leishman
Not only does Finau seem to thrive when he’s playing in an event with a star-studded field, but, like Simpson, he loves the Bentgrass greens. He was the leader after Round 1 here last year when he ultimately finished second, and he’s made the cut in four of five starts on this course. Leishman hasn’t played this tournament the last two years and in his previous seven starts on the course he only cracked the top 20 once (13th in 2006).
(1 Unit) Russell Knox (-135) over Bubba Watson
Bubba loves the long ball and as mentioned above that gives him zero advantage here. There’s a reason he has seldom played this course. He hates it. Bubba hasn’t traveled here since 2008 when he placed 72nd and his only other start in this event came two years previous when he missed the cut. Knox, meanwhile, has played the event in four of the last six years. He not only made the cut in all four starts, but finished in the top 24 all four times, including an eighth-place last year.
Simpson isn’t someone who is going to bring in big TV ratings and storm around the course pumping his fist like Tiger Woods, but he’s had a stellar career with six wins and a major championship (2012 U.S. Open). He excels on shorter courses and four of his six career wins came on courses with Bentgrass greens. Although he missed the cut here last year, in the previous two years he was fifth and third.
MATCH-UP BETS
(1 Unit) Tony Finau (-135) over Marc Leishman
Not only does Finau seem to thrive when he’s playing in an event with a star-studded field, but, like Simpson, he loves the Bentgrass greens. He was the leader after Round 1 here last year when he ultimately finished second, and he’s made the cut in four of five starts on this course. Leishman hasn’t played this tournament the last two years and in his previous seven starts on the course he only cracked the top 20 once (13th in 2006).
(1 Unit) Russell Knox (-135) over Bubba Watson
Bubba loves the long ball and as mentioned above that gives him zero advantage here. There’s a reason he has seldom played this course. He hates it. Bubba hasn’t traveled here since 2008 when he placed 72nd and his only other start in this event came two years previous when he missed the cut. Knox, meanwhile, has played the event in four of the last six years. He not only made the cut in all four starts, but finished in the top 24 all four times, including an eighth-place last year.