The American Express Tips & Predictions: Low scoring expected in La Quinta
This week's PGA Tour event takes place at PGA West in La Quinta, California across two different courses.
The American Express (formally known as the Bob Hope Classic) would normally be played across three different courses in a pro-am format, but due to COVID there are no amateurs, so it's a straight strokeplay tournament with a halfway cut. The first two rounds are alternated between the Nicklaus Tournament and Stadium courses, with the Stadium course hosting the weekend's play.
I've three more golf betting tips for you this week after another small return from Collin Morikawa placing in Hawaii on Sunday.
Much like my Xander Schauffele tip in the Sentry a fortnight ago, Morikawa was in contention throughout the week but it always felt like he was on the periphery rather than having a genuine chance to win.
It's another good field this week, although made considerably weaker on Monday when favourite Jon Rahm pulled out.
Market Leaders
Rahm's scratching leaves Patrick Cantlay at the top of the market at 14/1, with the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Reed at 16/1l. Brooks Koepka at 20/1 makes me raise an eyebrow based on best form, but with injury and form issues in 2020 and this is his first outing for ten weeks, I'm going to tentatively overlook him this week for three at bigger prices.
This week's golf betting tips
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Sungjae Im each-way (8 places)
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First up is Sungjae Im who can be backed at 22/1 with William Hill paying eight places.
The South Korean had seven top-10s on the PGA Tour last season and has already had two this term, including 2nd place in the Masters and 5th place at the Sentry a fortnight ago.
The 22-year-old has some solid course form in the book finishing 12th in 2019 and 10th here last year, whilst his stats stack up nicely, ranking 1st in the field for par five scoring, 20th for greens in regulation and 25th for birdies or better.
He'll need his putter to click no doubt but he's shown he can go on and win, landing his maiden PGA title last winter in the Honda Classic on Bermuda greens and he's just such a solid and consistent option these days.
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Patton Kizzire each-way (6 places)
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At bigger prices, there are a couple of players I like, the first being Patton Kizzere who is a 66/1 chance with Unibet.
The American ranks 13th for shots gained putting this season on the PGA Tour and 7th best in this field.
Add to that, he's no slouch off the tee, ranked 16th in the field at 306 yards this season and he's ranking 2nd in the field for par five scoring.
Kizzere also ranks top ten in the field for birdie or better this season and although he's yet to really light up at these courses, he has two top tens in his last three starts on the PGA Tour and at a big price I think he can go well this week.
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Peter Malnati each-way (8 places)
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My third tip comes in the shape of Peter Malnati (pictured in a fine hat), who is a 100/1 chance with Paddy Power paying eight places.
I'm drawn to Malnati's putting stats at a track which could well become a putting competition.
Malnati ranks 2nd for shots gained putting on the PGA Tour this season and best in this week's field. He's third in the field for birdies or better and 14th for par five scoring.
His recent form is good as well, finishing 14th last week, plus another two top 5's already this season.
The 33-year-old is a big price who I wouldn't be surprised featured in the places and Paddy Power are not only best price about his chances but are also paying out the top eight.
Best of the rest
There's a bundle of folks who I wouldn't be surprised put in good performances this week. From the top of the betting former winner Patrick Reed could go well but I wanted the extra value in Im. Cameron Champ's stats hold up nicely this week, as does one of last week's selections Charles Howell III.
At massive prices Michael Gligic can be backed at 500/1.
The Canadian hasn't got much in the form book but popped up four times in the key metrics I was looking at this week so I may have a small play on him.
As ever, good luck with your bets if you're following and please gamble responsibly. I'm going to keep showing my record post lockdown for a few weeks until we have some 2021 results to show.
Follow me at Twitter @rustyboy75.
Post-lockdown form:
Winners
- Tyrrell Hatton - BMW PGA Championship - advised at 16/1
- John Catlin - Irish Open - advised at 40/1
- Jon Rahm - BMW Championship - advised at 14/1
- Dustin Johnson - Northern Trust - advised at 20/1
- Justin Thomas - WGC FedEx St Jude - advised at 12/1
- Webb Simpson - RBC Heritage - advised at 30/1
Placed
- Colin Morikawa - T7 Sony Open In Hawaii - advised at 14/1
- Xander Schauffele - T5 Sentry Tournament of Champions - advised at 10/1
- Laurie Canter - 2nd Italian Open - advised at 45/1
- Kristoffer Ventura - T6 Sanderson Farms Championship - advised at 80/1
- Xander Schauffele - 5th US Open - advised at 16/1
- Kristoffer Ventura - T7 Safeway Open - advised at 80/1
- Laurie Canter - 2nd Portugal Masters - advised at 66/1
- Si Woo Kim - T3 Wyndham Championship - advised at 40/1
- Jason Day - T4 USPGA Championship - advised at 40/1
- Phil Mickelson - 2nd WGC FedEx St Jude - advised at 110/1
- Viktor Hovland - 3rd Workday Charity Open - advised at 25/1
- Kevin Streelman - T7 Workday Charity Open - advised at 60/1
- Tyrrell Hatton - T4 Rocket Mortgage Classic - advised at 16/1
