All eyes will be on one man across the pond this week as it is the return to competitive golf of Tiger Woods. The legendary golfer returns from 15 months out injured in the tournament he hosts – the Hero World Challenge.
For the second year in a row Tiger is hosting the tournament in The Bahamas which serves as a purpose to promote the game out there and gives the 17 illustrious invitees a nice setting to compete for a significant first prize.
Recent Winners
2015 – Bubba Watson
2014 – Jordan Spieth
2013 – Zach Johnson
2012 – Graeme McDowell
2011 – Tiger Woods
2010 – Graeme McDowell
2009 – Jim Furyk
2008 – Vijay Singh
2007 – Tiger Woods
2006 – Tiger Woods
The Course
The Albany course in New Providence is the venue for the tournament. It is a par 72 which measures 7,267 yards but with all the freedom in the world off the tee this is very much a track for the longer hitters to go on the attack.
The Ernie Els designed course has five par 5s as opposed to the traditional four which makes for low scoring throughout the course of the week so we’re after players who take care of the par 5s and who make a lot of birdies.
The Field
17 men join Tiger in this jamboree of golf. Bubba Watson returns to defend his title while the 2014 winner Jordan Spieth is also teeing it up. Ryder Cup stars Patrick Reed, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Jimmy Walker, JB Holmes, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson are all here.
International stars such as Hideki Matsuyama, Louis Oosthuizen and Emiliano Grillo are also in the field with Russell Knox making up the field.
Market Leaders
Jordan Spieth begins the week as the 11/2 favourite. He tees it up fresh from a win in the Australian Open a couple of weeks ago. Player of the year Dustin Johnson is the 6/1 second favourite on a course which should really suit him.
Hideki Matsuyama has been in excellent touch just recently and he’ll begin the week as an 8/1 shot with the recent champion in Japan, Brooks Koepka a point bigger at 9/1. Henrik Stenson is a general 10/1 shot and it is 14/1 bar those five.
Betting
I’m going for two against the field this week. Both are long hitters who take care of the par 5s and who run up a number of birdies. One is in form while the other is worth chancing at the prices.
Brooks Koepka is playing some nice golf at the minute and heads into this tournament having finished second in Vegas not long back before winning a tournament in Japan even more recently. His power off the tee and aggressive style with the irons and the short stick should make him a leading player around here. There’s just about enough value in the 9/1 on him to stick with him on this good run.
Bubba Watson’s form has been fairly low key in recent times but we know he is a creature of comfort and on courses which suit his eye he can still be unstoppable. The left hander has had enough of a break to be ready to bounce back now and a course like this where he has plenty of freedom and five par 5s to attack should be the ideal tonic for him. If he can find his best form the 18/1 on him will soon look too big given his natural fit to the track.
Tips
Back B.Koepka to win Hero World Challenge (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 10.00 with Titanbet (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
Back B.Watson to win Hero World Challenge (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 19.00 with Boylesports (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
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