While the stars of the world are off over in China competing for the WGC riches, the rest of the PGA Tour will be embarking on Bermuda for the inaugural Bermuda Championship, a 120 match event which carries the usual Tour benefits for the winner.
In a pretty rare scenario we actually have the FedEx Cup leader Lanto Griffin teeing it up in this tournament and there is every chance he could extend his lead at the top of those standings, depending on who comes out on top in China.
The Course
Port Royal Golf Course is the venue this week and the immediate thing which jumps out at us when looking at it is the lack of length on show. It is a par 71 which only measures 6,828 yards so it isn’t going to need a bomber to get the job done this week. It is going to need someone who controls their golf ball though because there are 80 bunkers and five water hazards on the course.
Given that we are on an island, the other thing we are going to need is something who is comfortable at getting the job done in windy conditions. Clearly there is the potential for this to be a low scoring event so someone who can get the ball rolling on the greens can never be ruled out. I’m looking for links or resort golf specialists this week.
The Field
Clearly this isn’t a tournament designed to be the best field on the PGA Tour but there is one standout name in it. It is barely 12 months ago that Alex Noren was holing the putt which won Europe the Ryder Cup but such has been his poor year since then he has to come here to look to make it back in the top 50 in the world rather than do it in China.
Russell Knox is another in the category of surprise entrants here while the FedEx Cup leader Lanto Griffin is also in the field. The likes of Scottie Scheffler, Robby Shelton, Denny McCarthy and Mark Hubbard are among those eyeing up a first PGA Tour title this week. Branden Grace and Robert Streb are just two men who are looking to revive their careers.
Market Leaders
We have a trio of favourites for the tournament this week. Alex Noren fully deserves to be at the head of the betting at 16/1 even though his form has been patchy to say the least over the last 12 months. It is only that which puts me off because if he strikes it well he has the class to lead this lot a merry dance. Denny McCarthy has seemingly been a winner in waiting for a while given that he regularly head the putting stats but the fact he hasn’t won yet puts me off while Lanto Griffin is bidding for a second title in succession. He has had time off since winning in Houston but first time winners can take a while to back that up. I’ll look elsewhere.
Three more men come next at 20/1 this week. They are Aaron Wise, a leading contender in his own right to be fair albeit at a price which doesn’t do a whole lot for me. I was very keen on Scottie Scheffler earlier in the season and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins here given his dominance at a similar level on the Korn Ferry Tour last season but his temperament has left plenty to be desired Russell Knox is the third member of this trio and I’ll come on to him shortly.
Beau Hossler should have won the Houston Open last year but got beaten in a playoff by Ian Poulter but he is 25/1 to win here on another track where the wind is expected to be a feature. His form away from Texas isn’t the best it must be said so I’m not so sure I can have him on my radar this week. It is 28/1 bar those who have been named.
Main Bets
I really like Russell Knox this week. He ticks every box for me with the exception of really good recent form, although his performances in Europe have been better than the results suggest and have been in much stronger form than this one. The key is Knox is from Scotland so the breeze isn’t going to bother him and he is one of the purest ball strikers in the game. If there is a weakness to his game it is in his putting but it is the tee to green game which is under the microscope this week. Knox is too good for events like this and he’s the sort of price that I’ll pay to see him show it.
Doc Redman has struck the ball very nicely this season but hasn’t quite got the results to show for it but in this weaker event with the big names out of the way this could be the week if he continues to strike the ball well. We know he can go low from when he did so at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last season when he finished second on 19 under par. He won the US Amateur at Riviera of all places earlier in his career and you need to be a good ball striker to do that. He is a shade overpriced in this field.
Outsiders
I’ll take a couple at big prices who have shown up in what I call these second tier events in the past. George McNeill has a very good record in the Dominican Republic and his Hawaii record isn’t too shabby either. McNeill made the top 15 twice last season – in Dominica and the Barracuda Championship so he enjoys these lesser events. He has already finished T6 in the Sanderson Farms Championship which is nothing too shabby so he should probably be a slightly lower price than he is. I’ll pay to see how he goes.
Jonathan Byrd is another one who shows up in the island tournaments. He has a good record in Dominican Republic where he was fourth last year and has shown up with a number of top 20 finishes in Puerto Rico and the Barbasol and Barracuda Championships in their various guises. He has a win in Hawaii to his name in the past as well which is very much a positive and so at the prices available I’ll pay to see how this event gets his juices flowing.
Tips
Back R.Knox to win Bermuda Championship (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 21.00 with Betfred (1/5 1-6)
Back J.Byrd to win Bermuda Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 151.00 with Betfred (1/5 1-6)
Back D.Redman to win Bermuda Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with 888sport (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
Back G.McNeill to win Bermuda Championship (e/w) for 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with William Hill (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
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