The first round of the USPGA Championship takes place on Thursday as the final major of the season gets underway in Charlotte. Every player teeing it up will be looking to put themselves in a good early position ahead of what they hope will be a big weekend.
As ever we have plenty of markets to get stuck into over the course of the first day so hopefully we can begin the event with a decent day and secure plenty of profit to take into the rest of the tournament.
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First Round Leader
Finally we have the opportunity to get stuck into this market once again. I say that because the conditions are not expected to change too much and with the course soft I would expect the morning starters to get the better of things here before the greens cut up and life gets a bit trickier in the afternoon. With that in mind I’m going with two fast starters from the morning session.
I’ve taken them both before so neither will need too much of an explanation. Thomas Pieters led after 18 holes last week and his length should see him overpower this course while Charley Hoffman led at the end of the first round of The Masters and is no stranger to leading early on. Both look to be hitting the ball really well so they are worthy of support as first round leader.
Thursday 3 balls
As ever each of the groups onto the course have been priced up and like the other two American majors we can find plenty of value early on in this one due to the fact that there are a number of veterans and club pros who tee it up in this tournament who we can eliminate to turn three balls into effective match ups. I’ve gone with four bets in all.
JB Holmes/Louis Oosthuizen/Danny Willett
Match tees off at 13.30 BST
Although Danny Willett is neither a veteran nor a club pro he can still be eliminated because his form is simply terrible right now and does not show any sign of turning around so I have this between JB Holmes and Louis Oosthuizen.
It is the American I like here though. This course sets up well for him off the tee and if he can keep the ball in play from the tee boxes then I think he has the all-round game to see off the South African who is beginning to flatter to deceive a little too much for a man of his undoubted talent.
James Hahn/K-T Kim/Greg Gregory
Match tees off at 14.10 BST
James Hahn is a former winner around Quail Hollow and he has been given a favourable draw for the first couple of rounds when he takes on K-T Kim and Greg Gregory in one of the afternoon three balls.
This course may not necessarily suit Hahn but it will certainly bring him some decent memories and I don’t think this group is going to take too much in the way of winning. At 4/5 he still offers some decent value in this grouping.
Alex Levy/Jeunghun Wang/Jamie Broce
Match tees off at 19.10 BST
This is another group where I think we can whittle it down to two and that is the European Tour pair of Alex Levy and Jeunghun Wang. Jamie Broce is inexperienced at this level and while it will be a great occasion for him I don’t expect him to compete here.
I’ve already backed the Frenchman to win the tournament and I see no reason not to back him to win this three ball either. It has been a while since we’ve seen the best of the young Korean and I’m not sure we are going to see it on an occasion like this. I’m with Levy here.
Jamie Lovemark/Luke List/Chris Moody
Match tees off at 19.35 BST
The final group onto the golf course on Thursday is the one between Jamie Lovemark, Luke List and Chris Moody where in truth I can only see one of the former two winning given the magnitude of the occasion.
In fact I see only Lovemark winning. There will be holes that List takes the cleaners with his length but with that length he can get into trouble if he is wayward which he can be from time to time so with that in mind I’ll take the more reliable Lovemark to come through here.
Tips
Back C.Hoffman First Round Leader (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
Back T.Pieters First Round Leader (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 51.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-6)
Back him here:
Back JB.Holmes to beat L.Oosthuizen & D.Willett for a 3/10 stake at 2.38 with Bet365
Back him here:
DEAD HEAT – Back J.Hahn to beat K-T.Kim & G.Gregory for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
Back him here:
Back A.Levy to beat J.Wang & J.Broce for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Ladbrokes
WON – Back J.Lovemark to beat L.List & C.Moody for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
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