Category: Golf Betting

We have another treat in store for golf fans this week as the 2021 renewal of the Phoenix Open gets underway on Thursday afternoon. TPC Scottsdale, Arizona plays host. We have a talented field in attendance as some of the top names in the sport contest a tournament that claims to be one of the oldest and best-loved on the PGA Tour.

Which player will join an exclusive list of Phoenix Open winners that already includes the likes of Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson? Our team of golf writers and sports betting experts preview the action, offering our thoughts on how readers should approach the betting. We also pick out three players at decent odds we expect to perform better than their prices suggest.

Webb a nice price to defend

Webb Simpson won this title last year with an impressive 17 under par which was a decent effort, equal to three of the last four champions. The spare in that run was Gary Woodland in 2018 when scoring 18 under par.

Simpson is back in attendance and out to successfully defend the title. 

He’s an eye-catching price to do just that with William Hill offering odds of 16/1 on Webb to snare another trophy. 

It’s worth noting that if Simpson were to defend the Phoenix Open, he wouldn’t be the first player to do so. Hideki Matsuyama was the star in 2017 and showed the skill and character to repeat the feat in 2018. Hideki Matsuyama offers a decent alternative. His course form makes the 22/1 offered by the trading team at William Hill look a generous offer.

When and where to watch?

Follow all four days of play from the Phoenix Open live on Sky Sports. We get underway at 14:30 GMT. Each of the online bookmakers mentioned on this page offers both pre-game and in-play betting markets.

Expect a tight finish

When paying close attention to the stats attached to recent Phoenix Opens, we are surprised to report Webb Simpson was victorious last year but had to come through a playoff to ensure he banked the winner’s cheque.

That may not seem too surprising at first glance, but when we tell you that four of the last five winners, between 2016 and 2020, have won via a playoff, we begin to get a clearer idea of what to expect. This week’s Phoenix Open will be a high scoring affair with accuracy off the tee more important than distance and power.

Players who remain calm on the greens will set themselves apart from the chasing pack, however. It would come as no surprise to see this year’s Phoenix Open go right down to the wire once again. Armchair fans certainly hope that’s the case.

The trends also show it’s worth taking on the betting favourites with a big price runner winning each of the last five titles. That will be music to the ears of value hunters. We give a chance to Hideki Matsuyama who knows how to win here.

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Hideko Matsuyama	22/1 (23.00)	William Hill	BET HERE
Webb Simpson	16/1 (17.00)	William Hill	BET HERE
Rory McIlroy	11/1 (12.00)	William Hill	BET HERE

The focus remains in UAE this week as golf fans turn to the Dubai Desert Classic which gets underway in the early hours of Thursday morning, UK time. Emirates Golf Club in Dubai provides the setting, and the list of players in attendance includes some of the best on tour.

Hatton leads the list

This looks to be a deeply competitive field, and a strong case could be made in support of any of the leading names lifting the title. Traders at major bookmakers have picked their favourites, however, and each of the top betting apps prices the in-form Tyrrell Hatton as the most likely winner at the conclusion of play.

The talented 29-year-old Englishman from High Wycombe has never won a golf major during his career, but his recent stats suggest it’s only a matter of time before he claims one of the sport’s big prizes. Will 2021 be his year?

He was in sensational form when winning the Abu Dhabi Championship last week, leading home the chasing pack by a comfortable and impressive margin. The top names in the game were raving about Hatton’s potential with many suggesting he is destined to become the British number one, passing Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy in the process.

When and where to watch?

The Dubai Desert Classic gets underway at 04:00 GMT on Thursday, and you can follow all four days of play live on Sky Sports.

Stats dead against Herbert

Lucas Herbert won this title last year when edging a nervy playoff to record a nine-under-par winning score. That was a dramatic finish and made great viewing for the large TV audience, but a low-scoring and tight end isn’t the norm in this competition.

Four of the last five Dubai Desert Classic winners have posted scores of 19 under par or better, so we are expecting another high-scoring few days of professional golf. The course lends itself well to the big hitters off the tee but the difference between winning and losing the Desert Classic in recent times has been a steady hand with the putter.

A new champion?

The stats show we have seen a new champion crowned in each of the last five renewals and that trend will put a few shrewd backers off sticking with Lucas Herbert to come and defend his title. Those who do fancy two-in-a-row will be delighted to see their man priced at 50/1 (Unibet).
Go for the big prices.

We’re taking a few at bigger prices this week to give backers an interest. Matt Wallace is available at 22/1 with William Hill, and he has performed well here in the past, bagging a runner up slot. He plays well in this part of the world and should give each-way backers a run for their money.

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Matt Wallace (each way)	22/1 (23.00)	Unibet	BET HERE
Sergio Garcia (each way)	22/1 (23.00)	William Hill	BET HERE
Shane Lowry (each way)	33/1 (34.00)	bet365	BET HERE

This week’s European Tour returns to our screens, and it’s back with a bang thanks to the hotly anticipated Abu Dhabi Championship. A tournament first staged back in 2006, this year’s renewal begins on Thursday. All four days of play from Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE, will be shown live on television to a global audience.

Westwood back in town

Lee Westwood won this title last year with an unmatched score of 19 under par. That was one of the most impressive cards we have seen from a winner of this title in recent years. His effort would have been enough to claim glory in four of the last five renewals. The spare is a stunning -22 from Tommy Fleetwood when defending back in 2018.

England’s ‘Westy’ bids to make it two wins in-a-row but he starts as an outsider with all major bookmakers placing Westwood way down the outright betting order. There’s no doubt the 47-year-old is talented enough to repeat the feat but, if he is to finish in pole position this year, it will take a massive effort.

This competition has added significance for Westwood as he bids to secure the Ryder Cup selection and take his place in history. Lee aims for an 11th pick, and that would equal the best effort. He secured his place in the team by winning the Abu Dhabi Championship last year so knows just how important this weekend’s golf could be in his career.

When and where to watch?

Four days of play begin at 03:30 GMT on Thursday and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Fleetwood has won two of the last four

Bettors eager to have recent course form on their side when attempting to predict a champion may wish to know Tommy Fleetwood has finished as champion here in half of the last four renewals, taking gold in 2017 and again in 2018.

The 29-year-old Englishman from Southport has finished runner up in both the US Open and The Open Championship since scoring in Abu Dhabi, so backers will have their stake on a man with proven track form and experience performing at the highest level.

It is no surprise to see Fleetwood hold his own with the pre-tournament betting favourites. Those looking to stick with the former champion will be delighted to find odds of 14/1 available at bet365 on Fleetwood regaining the prize.

Expect high scores

The stats show this is a high scoring competition with the worst winning score of the last five years being the -16 of Rickie Fowler in 2016. This is a course that suits the big hitters off the tee and those prepared to take risks.

Rory McIlroy is the early favourite in the betting at 6/1 (Betfred), and we must agree with the odds-makers on that call. He should get off to a strong start, out before the forecast wind, and we’ve seen before that once Rory gets his nose in front, he’s difficult to budge.

Recommended Bets

Rory McIlroy to win	6/1 (7.00)	Betfred	BET HERE
Tommy Fleetwood to finish in Top 5	4/1 (5.00)	Boylesports	BET HERE
Lee Westwood to finish in Top 10	4/1 (5.00)	Unibet	BET HERE

The highlight of this week’s golf schedule comes in the form of the Sony Open in Hawaii as the PGA Tour descends on Waialae. This will be the 56th running of the tournament, first played back in 1920, which has produced some memorable winners over the years.

Smith back to defend

Waialae County Club plays host to some of the top names on the PGA Tour this week with Webb Simpson, Collin Morikawa and Harris English in attendance and dominating the pre-competition betting at all major sportsbooks.

Cameron Smith won the 2020 version of the Sony Open in Hawaii, carding a winning score of -11 but he had to come through a tense playoff to get his hands on the prize money. Smith is back in the running and back to defend his title, but oddsmakers seem to have put a line through his chances, and he’s much further down the outright betting list than you’d maybe expect to find a recent winner. His form and odds are likely to attract the attention of value hunters.

On the final day, Smith produced the goods to win this trophy last year, staging a late smash and grab after entering Sunday in second place and trailing the leader by three points. The traders also wrote him off on that occasion due to a surprising lack of accuracy off the tee, but it was his cool head with the putter in hand that saw him finish in pole position.

When and where to watch?

Four days of play begin at midnight on Thursday, and you can follow the action live on Sky Sports.

English arrives in form

Last week, Harris English stole the headlines when winning a playoff against Joaquin Niemann to scoop the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He birdied the deciding hole to see off his opponent and collect what was only his third title on tour, ending a painful seven years wait for glory.

It’s worth noting English doesn’t only arrive in winning form, he has handled himself well at this venue in the past. He impressed with a third-place finish back in 2015, improving a place from his efforts in 2014. The talented 31-year-old from Georgia will enter relaxed, confident, and ready to continue his winning ways.

Stats suggest a tight finish

The stats associated with the Sony Open in Hawaii suggest this will be another close contest with plenty of drama. Cameron Smith needed a playoff last year, and that was the second extra hole in three renewals, Patton Kizzire scraping through in 2018 thanks to a winning score of -17.

Another high scoring Sony Open

This may be a competitive field, but it should be a high scoring affair. This is backed up by the trends with three of the last five winners finishing with a score of -20 or better. The experience and style of play make Matt Kuchar a worthy pick this week.

Another draw in the making?

Both sides came into this fixture with great form. Before the weekend’s win against Sociedad, Sevilla conceded three goals in seven La Liga games. Atleti’s defence stability is well known as Jan Oblak already kept ten clean sheets in the league. This could be a hard-fought game with fewer goal-scoring opportunities in both ends.

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Harris English	14/1	Bet365	BET HERE
Kevin Kisner	30/1	Bet Victor	BET HERE
Matt Kuchar	40/1	Bet365	BET HERE