It is ‘Moving Day’ in the WGC Bridgestone Invitational on Saturday with many of the best in the game looking to make their move and set themselves up for a big cheque and a shot at the title on Sunday. Heading into the second half of the tournament we have a great leaderboard and a golf course playing very tough so it should be a great weekend.
Friday Recap
At the halfway stage of the tournament it is the USPGA champion Jimmy Walker who holds a two shot lead. The fact that he leads on seven under shows how tough the course is given that it is soft after a couple of downpours during Friday’s round. Walker leads by two from Thomas Pieters with a strong group including Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama back in third.
There is another strong group four off the lead on three under with Jordan Spieth looking to launch a title tilt from there. Jason Day, Alex Noren and former WGC champion Russell Knox are also in this group while Open de France champion Tommy Fleetwood is on two under.
Unfortunately it was not to be for our pick on Friday as Thomas Pieters faltered late on to allow Alex Noren through to win their three ball which was slightly annoying as Pieters was going along nicely before the rain, which they brought the tee times forward to avoid, came. Nevertheless we have two days to put that right.
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Saturday Betting
There is so much quality in the head of the leaderboard that finding value in the third round leader market is not easy. You would think the class will really come to the top here and the prices reflect that so I will leave those alone and focus on the two balls in terms of betting on Saturday’s round.
Saturday 2 balls
Finally the rain looks to have relented so the players can go out in two balls throughout the course of the day which should make for much better betting potential. The leaders go out at 7pm UK time but it is two other groups which have caught my eye from a betting point of view.
Paul Casey vs Harold Varner III
Match tees off at 18.00 BST
The first pairing I like from a betting perspective is the one between Paul Casey and Harold Varner III. Both men go into the second half of the tournament on one under par and will be bang in contention with good rounds here.
Looking through the scorecards for the two men I’m not convinced that Paul Casey is firing on all cylinders. He only has two birdies and a fortuitous eagle to his name in two rounds so far whereas Varner III has made plenty more birdies and added an eagle.
Varner III has struggled to put two nines together so far in this tournament. He has begun both rounds slowly and come home like a train but if he can stick the two good ones together he can comfortably beat a quiet looking Casey here.
Hideki Matsuyama vs Charley Hoffman
Match tees off at 18.40 BST
Two men used to being at the business end of tournaments compete in the third to last group out on the course when Hideki Matsuyama goes out alongside Charley Hoffman. Both men start in good positions on the leaderboard and should be aiming for the title from here.
Hoffman performed miracles to shoot 69 on Friday having found less than 30% of the fairways but as this course firms up again there is no way low scores will be possible from the rough so that is a concern.
Matsuyama has showed some decent stuff from tee to green especially in the second round. He made seven birdies in the first round but a host of mistakes cost him. He cleaned up the mistakes to shoot 67 on Friday and if he keeps the error count low he should see off a Hoffman who has been far too erratic off the tee.
Tips
Back H.Varner III to beat P.Casey for a 3/10 stake at 3.20 with Betfred
Back him here:
Back H.Matsuyama to beat C.Hoffman for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Betfair
Back him here:
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