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The real intervention Tiger Woods needs right now

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If you haven’t seen Golf Digest’s retrospective on Tiger Woods’ regrettable history with denim, you need to do that. But be prepared for a dose of Dad Jeans that would put President Obama to shame.

The Golf Digest piece, and the horrors you’ll see below, have prompted me to take drastic measures.

Long before he was engaging in the bad behavior that led to his divorce and stint in therapy for one type of addiction, he displayed dangerous signs of another serious problem: an addiction to terrible off-course clothing.

The situation has been very bad for years. However, it seems to be getting worse. And this isn’t some sort of youthful experimentation that can be easily written off, like, say this:

enhanced-buzz-11876-1366396581-15

Or this:

twoods

Rather, it’s a deep-seated cluelessness that has Woods retreating further into the decade in which he came of age (the early 90s) as his hairline recedes.

No matter how dark things appear through the looking glass for Mr. Woods’ game on the golf course in the near future, they are darker still off the course when he is faced with the onerous task of dressing himself.

Consider, Woods has donned what look to be relaxed fit Lee jeans circa 1998 on two recent occasions: his appearance at a Raiders game and in this publicity photo for one of his courses. It’s the clashing golf polo and white belt that plunge this outfit into the inner circles of fashion hell.

tiger_woods_casual

And he wore his early 90s nightclub bouncer’s costume on Jimmy Fallon’s show recently.

[youtube id=”voCxOZCNRJ0″ width=”620″ height=”360″]

However, the truly awful spectacle of Tiger’s clothes-that-should-never-leave-the-dark-recesses-of-one’s-closet terror is an annual feat that—although noble in purpose—has given rise to some of Woods most regrettable sartorial selections.

Amping up the atrocity, let me introduce the unadulterated horror that is Tiger Woods’ Tiger Jam fashion.

Tiger Jam, which originated in 1998 “has garnered a reputation as being one of the premier fundraising events in Las Vegas,” according to Tiger Woods’ website. “To date, the exciting concert event, hosted by Tiger Woods, has raised approximately $15 million for the college-access programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation.”

The work of the foundation is commendable, and the fundraising is important work. This is what really matters at Tiger Jam. Still, a second-stage attraction at the event every year is the host’s attire.

Here a few examples of the menswear equivalents of shooting 74, 79 to miss the cut.

Here’s Tiger in 2001 with Stewart Scott combining a boot-camp buzz with a black tee shirt and leather jacket. This was arguably Tiger’s best look in the inglorious history of his Tiger Jam attire.

tiger jam 2001

And this, from a few years later is just…well the suit is stolen from an American business magnate visiting Panama in the early 20th century. Clearly he forgot to put a proper dress shirt on over his undershirt. And the glasses…no words.

2004

Then there’s the outfit below. TIGER: THOSE CLOTHES DON’T GO TOGETHER, AND A WHITE BELT DOES NOT MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER.

tiger jam-2009

And then, 1969 called. (It may have called for all three, actually).

2011

And some 3-D art Tiger decided to make into a shirt…It’s actually like two terrible shirts sewn together paired with dad’s jeans and the sneakers he wears to cut the lawn.

2012

And then…

The faintest ray of hope! While Tiger’s obsession with the tee-shirt-under-sport-jacket look continued at Tiger Jam last year, he’s actually managed to (against all odds) find himself a decent jacket that actually fits. The pants aren’t really the right style to go with the jacket, but we’ll take it. And if Lindsey Vonn had something to do Woods comportment, the golfing world gives its thanks.

2014

As I said, though, Woods has gone to a dark (tight-fitting tee-shirt-and-dress-pant combo) place lately, and the atrocious jean offensive has continued.

Behold, the final bit of evidence: Tiger Woods at the Oakland Raiders game with hall-of-famer Tim Brown last week. Brown is also a HOF dresser, showing Woods what the all-black and a blazer is all about. And really, the pocket square is just yards after the catch for the legendary wideout.

Tiger Woods is not.

The former world No. 1 elected to pair what appear to be Nike-style Airwalks from 1996 with K-Mart jeans from the same era and a polo he bought from the “gifts for dad” section of the O.co Coliseum team shop.

TigerWoods_18

Tiger, this is an intervention. All your fans are here, and there’s something we need to say…

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GolfWRX Editor-in-Chief

76 Comments

76 Comments

  1. Pingback: How Modern Times are Killing Saving golf | DESIGN CODE COPY

  2. personalized t shirts cheap

    Jun 9, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    Do you have any video of that? I’d want to find out more
    details.

  3. jerry w

    Oct 26, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    give me a break. How and what Tiger wears while he is off the course (and maybe even there as long as it is acceptable as having enough fabric as to cover him well enough as to not be offensive to women and small children) should be his choice . Last time I checked he was still a citizen of the USA and as such entitled to freedom and the pursuit of happiness. come on people I play golf in shorts and my legs are not things of beauty but that is my choice.

  4. John L.

    Oct 21, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS. It’s a bout time someone raised attention to this issue. First off, to all the people bashing the author, you are what is wrong with the game of golf right now. You’re boring mentality is exactly what golf doesn’t need. We need more people with an open mind, who are fun and hip. You’re dull sense of humor and seriousness is what slows pace of play. I definitely would not want to be in a foursome with any of you, I might quit playing the game because I was bored. So stop being haters because chances are you probably dress just as bad.

    So again, thank you for writing a FUN article that is so true. It’s nice when people keep it real. Tiger needs a stylist, badly. Who knows, it might help rebuild his reputation.

    Isn’t it ironic that he is homies with MJ who is also a HORRIBLE dresser. It’s so bad there is a tumblr dedicated to it.

    http://wtfismikewearing.tumblr.com/

  5. JoAnn

    Oct 20, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    I’m glad to see so many comments dissing the clown who wrote this. What’s your handicap, Sweetie?

  6. Dale Doback

    Oct 20, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    While Tiger may be a golfer this article has nothing to do with golf and is in poor taste. This is by far the worst article I have read to date on this website. GOLFWRX PLEASE FIRE THIS AUTHOR AND GIVE HIM A RECOMMENDATION TO GO WORK AT TMZ.

    • Pat M

      Oct 20, 2014 at 10:43 pm

      His fashion sense is not that great but I have seen worse. I think as a force in golf that his era is over. He cannot match Rory and I doubt Tiger can ever win at The Masters again, especially if Bubba is palying well. Tiger had a great run but he is older now. The putting and the rest of the game is really shaky.

  7. Tom Duckworth

    Oct 19, 2014 at 11:23 am

    I thought this site was about golf. Why do we read some a**hole behind his keyboard taking shots at how someone dresses. Is this a fashion site now? OH MY GOD! DID YOU SEE THOSE JEANS HE WORE WITH THAT SHIRT? I THINK I MIGHT JUST DIE!!!!!!!

  8. steve

    Oct 18, 2014 at 9:02 am

    The guy that wrote this needs to be watched. Stalker alert, stage 3 clinger. Who pays that much attention to what any guy wears? This guy spends alot of time looking at Tigers pants, weird? What is he really looking at? Tiger get an order of protection fast.

  9. Cp3

    Oct 18, 2014 at 8:53 am

    Brandel Chamblee is that you?

    Bad attempt at comedy. Comes off as “kicking a guy while he’s down”. Honestly who cares how the guy dresses.

  10. Hank Haney

    Oct 17, 2014 at 9:16 pm

    I saw those same pants on an old lady at golden coral that tiger’s wearing in the last picture.
    He really needs to quit letting Phil pick out his clothes

  11. Justin

    Oct 17, 2014 at 4:07 pm

  12. hrey

    Oct 17, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    This is how really rich people dress. They don’t give a horse’s ass what they look like…they care more about their portfolio. Case in point-Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, etc.

    Tiger dresses under the mottto “It’s not how I dress that counts but who undresses me that does.” Raise your hand and post pics if your significant other looks like Lindsey Vonn or any other of the myriad of women that he’s slept with. I’ll grab a beer and wait.

  13. Ben

    Oct 17, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    This has to be one of the worst articles I’ve ever wasted my time reading… Seriously?

  14. Wally K

    Oct 17, 2014 at 11:29 am

    to each their own, I dont think he is dress badly at all off the course. The clothing fits the occasion in my book.

  15. labatomy

    Oct 17, 2014 at 11:08 am

    garbage articles like this are ruining what little integrity golfwrx is holding onto

    • Pat M

      Oct 20, 2014 at 10:45 pm

      Kind of funny mentioning “integrity” in an article about a guy who was a serial adulterer.

  16. Evan

    Oct 17, 2014 at 9:22 am

    Despite being a sport where fashion can/ should be showcased, golfers tend to be woefully unfashionable (not all, just most). Considering you can dress like Adam Scott or Luke Donald with just a bit of effort and/ or intervention, not sure why Tiger is such a marketing force. I guess America likes tacky/ cheap and no personality. Tiger’s game has risen to his endorsement hype, the rest of his life is not even close. Isn’t that what sports marketing and endorsements are all about? Kids or adults admiring an individual and wanting to be like them or buy their clothing and equipment?

    Whoever has been in control of Tiger’s brand needs a huge pat on the back, they might be better at marketing and PR than Tiger is at golf.

  17. Robeli

    Oct 17, 2014 at 9:10 am

    This article is racist as Ben is expecting Tiger to dress and look like a black man.
    Doesn’t Tiger have a right to dress and look like he wants! Seriously. Even is this article is suppose to be ‘tongue in the cheek’, it sends the wrong message.

    • Colin Gillbanks

      Oct 17, 2014 at 9:39 am

      Racist article?

      Really?

      I mean, seriously?

    • John

      Oct 17, 2014 at 10:37 am

      You have no idea what racism is if you consider this article racist. Go back into your hole please. By the way, Tiger is only half black

    • John L.

      Oct 21, 2014 at 3:19 pm

      This is the dumbest comment imaginable. How does a black man dress? Please enlighten us… I’m actually offended now.

  18. Desmond

    Oct 17, 2014 at 4:44 am

    Tiger grew up a golf prodigy … the real world is new to him. Street smarts, common sense and style takes a teacher.

  19. Upchucking

    Oct 17, 2014 at 4:17 am

    Oh man, this article brought tears and roaring laughter! So on point in every criticizing way. Dude has some serious sartorial isha’s, as Jesse Jackson would pronounce it. The 90’s bouncer gear!! Nice!
    And what in the Lawd’s name is he thinking with the stone washed David Lee Roth denims?!! I mean……is he caught in an eternal American Bandstand episode? 70’s music and dance series for our younger Canadian brothers and sisters up north. I thought the article was a great escape from the alleged state of the art equipment snooze material of coming driver downforce creating whale tails, fins, racing stripes, bogus shafts, counter balance this and that, 2 3/4 gains in distance with someone else’s design theme from years ago articles!! Bravo for pointing out the foibles of the rich and thick headed ungrateful clown that is on his way out the back door! Can you imagine what he’d pull from his closet for a stint on Dancing With The Stars………errrrrr fallin’ Stars, that is?

  20. D Louis

    Oct 17, 2014 at 2:19 am

    Hey Ben…you should post a full picture of yourself so we can insult and make fun of you

  21. KK

    Oct 16, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Tiger’s actually a 38 yo white dude from the burbs who just happens to look like a black man. This article confirms it.

  22. AZ Golfman

    Oct 16, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    That was a hilarious article. I have always wondered why he so fashion challenged. I guess once a nerd, always a nerd.

  23. BOSS

    Oct 16, 2014 at 9:42 pm

    not everyone can look as good as Kaymer.

  24. Tmk

    Oct 16, 2014 at 9:08 pm

    Wow, chill out critics. This article is downright hilarious.. Quit looking for hidden meanings or agendas. Smile. Laugh.

  25. 8thehardway

    Oct 16, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    If Nike isn’t sending him coordinated outfits it’s time for rumor and speculation.

  26. Dutch

    Oct 16, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    Funny stuff Ben. The last thing the internet needs is another story about Tiger’s swing, his coaches or his personal life. Kudos for injecting a little humor and taking a different approach on a tired subject.

    Ignore the complainers this probably just hit a little too close to home.

  27. Fred

    Oct 16, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    He should hit up his buddy MJ for some fashion tips?

    http://wtfismikewearing.tumblr.com/

    • Waqar

      Oct 16, 2014 at 7:06 pm

      Some people just don’t have it, he is a bit dorky like the Pres.

    • John L.

      Oct 21, 2014 at 3:21 pm

      The greatest blog ever. MJ is trying to bring JNCOs back.

  28. James

    Oct 16, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    Tour issue jeans…where can I buy them?!?!?!

  29. scotty pimpin

    Oct 16, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    I thought it was a great story. I thought it was hilarious nice one golfwrx!!

  30. Garbage man

    Oct 16, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    I am far from a Tiger fan, I actually typically root against him when I watch golf. But this article is obnoxious. Why is it wrong that Tiger dresses like a regular guy? Would it be better if he wore ridiculous “urban threads” like Kanye West or one of those clown rappers? Sure he could maybe work on some better color matching or some better size choices but it’s not that bad. He dresses for himself, like he should, like men used to. I understand the full onslaught of emasculation that has occurred in the last 15 years is really pushing men to try to be as feminine as possible, and compete with women for title of most fashionable. But don’t hate just because some men still choose to have balls and dress how they want. Next article!

    • Jimbo

      Oct 17, 2014 at 10:45 am

      If you think he dresses ok then I’ve got news for you son. He doesn’t need to dress “urban”. Can’t he employ someone to give him some pointers. Some of that attire is horrific. But he’s American so….

  31. Josh

    Oct 16, 2014 at 5:45 pm

    Those of you saying this is an irrelevant article are probably the same ones who think that with a few more golf lessons, you’ll be ready to hit q-school. There is so much more that goes into becoming a professional and a brand that can compete week in and week out.

    Tiger is a brand — he is not just a golfer or a normal person–he is the predominant force in the golf industry’s sales pitch until someone unseats him…not just in equipment but also in apparel.

    Because he gets PAID TO REPRESENT FASHION, it’s fair to realize this as a major misstep in the presentation of his brand to the public. And, the fact that he apparently refuses to hire a competent stylist for pennies compared to what he potentially could net in image recognition, is a sign that he’s not as “on top of his game” as some in the public want to credit him being.

    Take this coupled with his infidelities….his play with injuries that cause more time away from the game, the fumbling of his coaching/caddy relationships…he truly is lucky that he delivers in the clutch because all signs point to someone who thinks they are without fault and unwilling to see any blind spots. Or as some would call a d-bag.

    Just my 2 pennies.

  32. dapadre

    Oct 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    So this is what becomes of Tiger news when we run out of real golf news to write about.

    • Greg Hunter

      Oct 16, 2014 at 5:23 pm

      I agree, stupid article I wasted my time on. since it was from golfwrx I thought it would decent…honestly, this was crap!

    • pvsd4090

      Oct 18, 2014 at 7:05 am

      I agree. Who is writing this stuff? What does it have to do with golf? This author; Ben, has came up with some dumb stuff but this article takes the cake. This is the kind of material reserved for tabloids at the checkout stand.

  33. Ben

    Oct 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    I read everyday, but I must say that this article is a total hijack of a Barstool Sports acticle that “Pres” wrote last week.

    Come on!

  34. MikeB

    Oct 16, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    mind your own business! Who died and made you the fashion police! Get a life, will you?

  35. drew r

    Oct 16, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    GolfWRX I hate to tell you, but your target audience is generally out of touch with fashion. These are golfers we’re talking about. If someone dresses too well at course and isn’t below a 4 cap, other players snicker, “who does that guy think he is?”

    • Knobbywood

      Oct 23, 2014 at 6:42 pm

      Wow really? So you and your friends PURPOSELY dress like clowns and make fun of somebody who actually dresses well because they can’t shoot 76? Thank my lucky stars I don’t have to tee it up with your crowd

  36. Largechris

    Oct 16, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Perfectly good article quit complaining…

    Reality check Tigers fashion sense is beyond awful. We judge on appearances, yes, it is the easiest and quickest thing to make a judgement on. Why not, we all do it every day, consciously or not.

    Surprised that the ‘dressed by grandma’ apology press conference didn’t get a mention as well.

    I and millions of other fans will never get to know the real tiger, so we form our opinion from other cues. And the data unfortunately supports the conclusion douche.

  37. snowman0

    Oct 16, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    I agree some of the outfits don’t look great, but this article is really irrelevant and a waste of server space/bandwidth.

  38. Philip

    Oct 16, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    Tiger dresses for himself – as confident individuals often do. Why would he dress for anyone else? Only insecure sheep give a care for the general public, especially in regards to their attire.

    So Ben, when are we going to see you on the catwalk?

    • Evan

      Oct 16, 2014 at 4:36 pm

      And only insecure sheep care what score they shoot on the golf course or what golf course they play at or what golf clubs are in their bag… oh wait, why are you on GolfWRX? The same thing can be said in any walk of life… it’s ok to have an opinion as long as it’s kept in perspective. Fashion/ Design/ Art/ Music mean very little to some people and a whole lot to others. No, fashion is not necessary, but neither is golf.

      • Philip

        Oct 16, 2014 at 5:12 pm

        Obviously I did not explain myself properly. I did not say fashion is not important. That is what is wonderful about life, we all have different interests and various things that are important to each of all. If we were all the same – boring! Besides, if we were all honest, there is little we do that is necessary.

        However, there is a difference between an opinion and picking on someone because you can. Is this article truly in perspective? What is it’s point other than to poke fun at someone.

        One is not an insecure sheep because they want to improve and search out venues to do so, i.e. “GolfWRX”. One is an insecure sheep if one cares more about what others think of them and their actions, thoughts, dress, etc., than there own views of themselves. Few of us can claim to be totally secure in all parts of our lives, but as long as we do not allow the opinion of others to hold more importance, then no harm.

        • Evan

          Oct 16, 2014 at 5:24 pm

          I agree with most of what you say… but going back to your original post, it would be hard call Tiger a confident individual. On the golf course maybe but his personal life has been far from balanced and secure. From someone who is such a public figure and makes ALOT of money off of his image (not just his golf game) I would say that a light hearted opinion piece about his fashion sense at public events is in perspective. Tiger has also been voted best dressed on tour multiple times by fellow players, not sure if this says something about the other players or about the person at Nike who puts out his clothes.

          • Philip

            Oct 16, 2014 at 5:34 pm

            True enough. Didn’t know he was voted best dressed on tour – like anything, whether it should be taken as a compliment would depend on the tour standard for outfits. In my opinion, the credit would go more to the individual at Nike outfitting him.

  39. stripe

    Oct 16, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    So “Dad Jeans” are ones that bunch at the bottom? I really did not know this LMAO. Seriously, this is good to know!

  40. :-p

    Oct 16, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    Dudes……. what you guys don’t understand is that he doesn’t have the body of a fashion model! He can’t wear skinny jeans, because his body shape is not meant for the catwalk! Sheesh, what, you all been watching too much Project Runway

  41. Kelly

    Oct 16, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    In the second last photo it took me almost a full minute to realize that Tiger was even in the photo.

  42. Dane

    Oct 16, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    lol this is great! Of all the body guards and entourage hes invested in, Joan Rivers would of been the wisest!

  43. Evan

    Oct 16, 2014 at 2:20 pm

    ^ These dudes ^ probably dress just like Tiger, and thus, have no understanding as to why his attire is appalling. Anyway, I enjoyed the story. I also understand that not every story from Golf WRX needs to be a serious issue, or equipment related, or whatever. This story was written to be entertaining, not to inform the reader of a serious matter.

    • bradford

      Oct 16, 2014 at 2:33 pm

      he meant “v those dudes v”

      • dot dot

        Oct 17, 2014 at 10:58 am

        Do you have proof he meant that. Back up your claim please.

  44. Rwj

    Oct 16, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Wow. Tiger Woods and his clothing choices vs a guy who writes about another man’s clothing choice…Tiger wins

    • bradford

      Oct 16, 2014 at 2:32 pm

      …vs some guy who comments on the article? (I realize guy 4 in this string is me, but #3 is going down with me)

      • Evan

        Oct 16, 2014 at 4:39 pm

        lol, bravo! I’ll be #5… going down with the ship just for the fun of it!

      • Jeremy

        Oct 16, 2014 at 5:55 pm

        Hilarious. Loved this “article,” despite having to put “article” in quotes.

      • dot dot

        Oct 17, 2014 at 11:00 am

        Bradford, please stop trolling.

  45. Carl truitt

    Oct 16, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    another shameless story that incorporates Tiger, if for no other reason than because his name alone draws eyeballs.

    i hope golfwrx got a deal on this story

    • Josh

      Oct 16, 2014 at 3:15 pm

      Yet you clicked on it – know how to get them to stop writing these pointless Tiger articles you hate? Stop giving them hits.

      • Carl truitt

        Oct 16, 2014 at 8:33 pm

        Josh,
        You’re right but sometimes you have to speak your mind…you know what I mean?

    • Joe Momma

      Oct 16, 2014 at 3:46 pm

      They should have gotten Levis or some other denim company, but they didn’t.

      So rest assured you can sleep at night knowing Tiger and GolfWRX made no more money than they did the day before.

      Good thing you monitor peoples money… where would we be without all you haters?

      You should critique the Health Care system next, it really needs your attention.

      • Carl truitt

        Oct 16, 2014 at 8:32 pm

        Joe momma….Not sure you understood the post, but glad you could go on the offensive. Re-read my post and see if the light comes on.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Valspar Championship betting preview: Elite ballstrikers to thrive at Copperhead

Published

on

The PGA TOUR will stay in Florida this week for the 2024 Valspar Championship.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is a par 71 measuring 7,340 yards and features Bermudagrass greens overseeded with POA. Infamous for its difficulty, the track will be a tough test for golfers as trouble lurks all over the place. Holes 16, 17 and 18 — also known as the “Snake Pit” — make up one of the toughest three-hole stretches in golf and should lead to a captivating finish on Sunday.

The field is comprised of 156 golfers teeing it up. The field this week is solid and is a major improvement over last year’s field that felt the impact of players skipping due to a handful of “signature events” in a short span of time. 

Past Winners at Valspar Championship

  • 2023: Taylor Moore (-10)
  • 2022: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2021: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2019: Paul Casey (-8)
  • 2018: Paul Casey (-10)
  • 2017: Adam Hadwin (-14)
  • 2016: Charl Schwartzel (-7)
  • 2015: Jordan Spieth (-10)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

Key Stats For Copperhead

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach grades out as the most important statistic once again this week. Copperhead really can’t be overpowered and is a second-shot golf course.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds (per round)

  1. Tony Finau (+.90)
  2. Nick Taylor (+.81)
  3. Justin Thomas (+.77)
  4. Greyson Sigg (+.69)
  5. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+.67)

2. Good Drive %

The long hitters can be a bit limited here due to the tree-lined fairways and penal rough. Playing from the fairways will be important, but laying back too far will cause some difficult approaches with firm greens that may not hold shots from long irons.

Golfers who have a good balance of distance and accuracy have the best chance this week.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+91.3%) 
  2. Zach Johnson (+91.1%)
  3. Sam Ryder (+90.5%)
  4. Ryan Moore (+90.4%)
  5. Aaron Rai (+89.7%)

3. Strokes Gained: Ball Striking

Adding ball-striking puts even more of a premium on tee-to-green prowess in the statistical model this week. Golfers who rank highly in ball-striking are in total control of the golf ball which is exceedingly important at Copperhead.

SG: Ball Striking Over Past 24 Rounds:

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1.32)
  2. Keith Mitchell (+1.29)
  3. Tony Finau (+1.24)
  4. Cameron Young (+1.17) 
  5. Doug Ghim (+.95)

4. Bogey Avoidance

With the conditions likely to be difficult, avoiding bogeys will be crucial this week. In a challenging event like the Valspar, oftentimes the golfer who is best at avoiding mistakes ends up on top.

Gritty golfers who can grind out difficult pars have a much better chance in an event like this than a low-scoring birdie-fest.

Bogey Avoidance Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+9.0)
  2. Xander Schauffele (+9.3)
  3. Austin Cook (+9.7) 
  4. Chesson Hadley (+10.0)
  5. Greyson Sigg (+10.2)

5. Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions

Conditions will be tough this week at Copperhead. I am looking for golfers who can rise to the occasion if the course plays as difficult as it has in the past.

Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1,71) 
  2. Min Woo Lee (+1.39)
  3. Cameron Young (+1.27)
  4. Jordan Spieth (+1.08)
  5. Justin Suh (+.94)

6. Course History

That statistic will tell us which players have played well at Copperhead in the past.

Course History Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Patrick Cantlay (+3.75) 
  2. Sam Burns (+2.49)
  3. Davis Riley (+2.33)
  4. Matt NeSmith (+2.22)
  5. Jordan Spieth (+2.04)

The Valspar Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), Good Drive % (15%), SG: BS (20%), Bogeys Avoided (13%), Course History (13%) Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions (12%).

  1. Xander Schauffele
  2. Doug Ghim
  3. Victor Perez
  4. Greyson Sigg
  5. Ryan Moore
  6. Tony Finau
  7. Justin Thomas
  8. Sam Ryder
  9. Sam Burns
  10. Lucas Glover

2024 Valspar Championship Picks

Justin Thomas +1400 (DraftKings)

Justin Thomas will be disappointed with his finish at last week’s PLAYERS Championship, as the past champion missed the cut despite being in some decent form heading into the event. Despite the missed cut, JT hit the ball really well. In his two rounds, the two-time major champion led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach per round.

Thomas has been up and down this season. He’s missed the cut in two “signature events” but also has finishes of T12 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T12 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, T6 at the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am and T3 at the American Express. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking in the field.

Thomas loves Copperhead. In his last three tries at the course, he’s finished T13, T3 and T10. Thomas would have loved to get a win at a big event early in the season, but avoidable mistakes and a balky putter have cost him dearly. I believe a trip to a course he loves in a field he should be able to capitalize on is the right recipe for JT to right the ship.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout +6000 (FanDuel)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is playing spectacular golf in the 2024 season. He finished 2nd at the American Express, T20 at Pebble Beach and T24 at the Genesis Invitational before finishing T13 at last week’s PLAYERS Championship.

In his past 24 rounds, the South African ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 26th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. Bezuidenhout managed to work his way around TPC Sawgrass last week with minimal damage. He only made five bogeys in the entire week, which is a great sign heading into a difficult Copperhead this week.

Bezuidenhout is winless in his PGA Tour career, but certainly has the talent to win on Tour. His recent iron play tells me that this week could be a breakthrough for the 35-year-old who has eyes on the President’s Cup.

Doug Ghim +8000 (FanDuel)

Doug Ghim has finished in the top-16 of his past five starts. Most recently, Ghim finished T16 at The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field.

In his past 24 rounds, Ghim ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 5th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. In terms of his fit for Copperhead, the 27-year-old ranks 12th in Bogey Avoidance and 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions, making him a great fit for the course.

Ghim has yet to win on Tour, but at one point he was the top ranked Amateur golfer in the world and played in the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup and 2017 Walker Cup. He then won the Ben Hogan award for the best male college golfer in 2018. He certainly has the talent, and there are signals aplenty that his talent in ready to take him to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.

Sepp Straka +8000 (BetRivers)

Sepp Straka is a player who’s shown he has the type of game that can translate to a difficult Florida golf course. The former Presidents Cup participant won the 2022 Honda Classic in tough conditions and should thrive with a similar test at Copperhead.

It’s been a slow 2024 for Straka, but his performance last week at the PLAYERS Championship surely provides some optimism. He gained 5.4 strokes on approach as well as 1.88 strokes off the tee. The tee-to-green game Straka showed on a course with plenty of danger demonstrates that he can stay in control of his golf ball this week.

It’s possible that the strong performance last week was an outlier, but I’m willing to bet on a proven winner in a weaker field at a great number.

Victor Perez +12000 (FanDuel)

Victor Perez is no stranger to success in professional golf. The Frenchman has three DP World Tour wins including a Rolex Series event. He won the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as well as the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which are some big events.

Perez earned his PGA Tour card this season and enters the week playing some fantastic golf. He finished in a tie for 16th in Florida at the Cognizant Classic and then tied for third in his most recent start at the Puerto Rico Open.

In his past 24 rounds in the field, Perez ranks 11th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 1oth in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, 6th in Good Drive % and 15th in Bogey Avoidance.

Perez comes in as a perfect fit for Copperhead and offers serious value at triple-digit odds.

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Opinion & Analysis

Myrtle Beach, Explored: February in South Carolina

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As I gain in experience and age, and familiarity breeds neither contempt nor disdain, I understand why people return to a place. A destination like Myrtle Beach offers a sizable supply and diversity of restaurants, entertainment venues, and shops that are predicated on the tenets of the service industry. Greet your customers with a smile and a kind word, and they will find comfort and assurance. Provide them with a memorable experience and they will suggest your place of business to others.

My first tour of Myrtle Beach took place in the mid-1980s, and consisted of one course: Gator Hole. I don’t remember much from that day, and since Gator Hole closed a decade later, I cannot revisit it to recollect what I’d lost. Since then, I’ve come to the Grand Strand a few times, and been fortunate to never place a course more than once. I’ve seen the Strantz courses to the south and dipped my toe in the North Carolina courses of Calabash. I’ve been to many in the middle, including Dunes, Pine Lakes, Grande Dunes among them.

2024 brought a quartet of new courses, including two at the Barefoot Resort. I’d heard about the North Myrtle Beach four-pack of courses that highlight the Barefoot property, including layouts from Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Davis Love III, and Greg Norman. I had the opportunity to play and shoot the Dye and Fazio tracks, which means that I’ll have to return to see the other two. Sandwiched between them were the TPC-Myrtle Beach course, also from Tom Fazio, and the Pawley’s Plantation trace, by the hand of Jack Nicklaus. I anticipated a bit of the heroic, and bit of the strategic, and plenty of eye candy. None of those architects would ever be considered a minimalist, so there would be plenty of in-play and out-of-play bunkers and mounds to tantalize the senses.

My nephew arrived a few days early, to screen a few more courses. As a result, you the reader will have an extra quarter of mini-reviews, bringing the total of courses in this piece to eight. It was inconceivable that CJR would play four courses that I had never played nor photographed, but that was the case. His words appear at the end of this piece. We hope that you enjoy the tour.

Main Feature: Two Barefoots, a TPC, and Pawley’s Plantation

Barefoot Dye

What Paul “Pete” Dye brought back from his trips to the United Kingdom, hearkened back to what C.B. MacDonal did, some 65 years prior. There is a way of finding bunkers and fairways, and even green sites, that does not require major industrial work. The Dye course at Barefoot Resorts takes you on a journey over the rumpled terrain of distant places. If there’s one element missing, it’s the creased and turbulent fairways, so often found in England and Ireland. The one tenet of playing a Dye course, is to always aim away from temptation, from where your eyes draw you. Find the safe side of the target, and you’ll probably find your ball. It then stands that you will have a shot for your next attempt. Cut the corner, and you might have need to reload. The Barefoot course begins gently, in terms of distance, but challenges with visual deception. After two brief 4s and a 3, the real work begins. The course is exposed enough, to allow the coastal winds to dance along the fairways. Be ready to keep the ball low and take an extra club or two.

TPC-Myrtle Beach

If memory serves, TPCMB is my first trek around a TPC-branded course. It had all the trappings of a tour course, from the welcome, through the clubhouse, to the practice facilities and, of course, the course. TPC-Myrtle Beach is a Tom Fazio design, and if you never visit Augusta National, you’ll now have an idea of what it is like. You play Augusta’s 16th hole twice at TPCMB, and you enjoy it both times. Fazio really likes the pond-left, green-angle-around par three hole, and his two iterations of it are memorable.

You’ll also see those Augusta bunkers, the ones with the manicured edges that drop into a modestly-circular form. What distinguishes these sand pits is the manner in which they rise from the surrounding ground. They are unique in that they don’t resemble the geometric bunkering of a Seth Raynor, nor the organic pits found in origin courses. They are built, make no mistake, and recovery from them is manageable for all levels of bunker wizardry.

Barefoot Fazio

If you have the opportunity to play the two Tom Fazio courses back to back, you’ll notice a marked difference in styling. Let me digress for a moment, then circle back with an explanation. It was written that the NLE World Woods course designed by Fazio, Pine Barrens, was an homage to Pine Valley, the legendary, New Jersey club where Fazio is both a member and the architect on retainer. The Pine Barrens course was plowed under in 2022, so the homage no longer exists. At least, I didn’t think that it existed, until I played his Barefoot Resort course in North Myrtle Beach.

Pine Valley might be described as an aesthetic of scrub and sand. There are mighty, forced carries to travers, along with sempiternal, sandy lairs to avoid. Barefoot Fazio is quite similar. If you’re not faced with a forced carry, you’ll certainly contend with a fairway border or greenside necklace of sand. When you reach the 13th tee, you’ll face a drive into a fairway, and you might see a distant green, with a notable absence: flagstick. The 13th is the icing on the homage cake, a callout of the 8th hole at Pine Valley. Numero Ocho at the OG has two greens, side by side, and they change the manner in which the hole plays (so they say.) At Barefoot Fazio, the right-side green is a traditional approach, with an unimpeded run of fairway to putting surface. The left-side green (the one that I was fortunate to play) demands a pitch shot over a wasteland. It’s a fitting tribute for the rest of us to play.

Be certain to parrot the starter, Leon’s, advice, and play up a deck of tees. Barefoot Fazio offers five par-three holes, so the fours and fives play that much longer. Remember, too, that you are on vacation. Why not treat yourself to some birdie looks?

Pawley’s Plantation

The Jack Nicklaus course at Pawley’s Plantation emerged from a period of hibernation in 2024. The greens were torn up and their original contours were restored. Work was overseen by Troy Vincent, a member of the Nicklaus Architecture team. In addition, the putting corridors were reseeded with a hardier, dwarf bermuda that has experienced great success, all along the Grand Strand that is Myrtle Beach.

My visit allowed me to see the inward half first, and I understand why the resort wishes to conclude your day on those holes. The front nine of Pawley’s Plantation works its way through familiar, low country trees and wetlands. The back nine begins in similar fashion, then makes its way east, toward the marsh that separates mainland from Pawley’s Island. Recalling the powerful sun of that Wednesday morning, any round beginning on the second nine would face collateral damage from the warming star. Much better to hit holes 11 to close when the sun is higher in the sky.

The marshland holes (12 through 17) are spectacular in their raw, unprotected nature. The winds off the Atlantic are unrelenting and unforgiving, and the twin, par-three holes will remain in your memory banks for time’s march. In typical Golden Bear fashion, a majority of his putting targets are smallish in nature, reflecting his appreciation for accurate approach shots. Be sure to find the forgiving side of each green, and err to that portion. You’ll be grateful.

Bonus Coverage: Myrtlewood, Beechwood, Arrowhead, and King’s North

Arrowhead (Raymond Floyd and Tom Jackson)

A course built in the middle of a community, water threatens on most every hole. The Cypress 9 provides a few holes forcing a carried drive then challenge you with water surrounding the green. On Waterway, a drivable 2nd hole will tempt most, so make sure the group ahead has cleared the green.

Myrtlewood (Edmund Alt and Arthur Hills) and Beechwood (Gene Hamm)

A middle of the winter New Englander’s paradise. Wide open fairways, zero blind shots and light rough allow for shaking off the rust and plenty of forgiveness. A plethora of dog legs cause one to be cautious with every tee shot. Won’t break the bank nor the scorecard.

King’s North @ Myrtle Beach National (Arnold Palmer)

A signature Arnold Palmer course, waste areas, island greens and daring tee shots. Highlighted by the 4th hole Par 5 Gambler hole, if you can hit the smaller fairway on the left you are rewarded with a short approach to get to the green in 2. The back 9 is highlighted by an island green par 3 and a finisher with over 40 bunkers spread throughout. A challenge for any golfer.
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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Players Championship betting preview: Pete Dye specialists ready to pass tough TPC Sawgrass test

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The PGA Tour heads to TPC Sawgrass to play in one of the most prestigious and important events of the season: THE PLAYERS Championship. Often referred to as the fifth major, the importance of a PLAYERS victory to the legacy of a golfer can’t be overlooked.

TPC Sawgrass is a par-72 measuring 7,245 yards and featuring Bermudagrass greens. Golfers must be patient in attacking this Pete Dye course.

With trouble lurking at every turn, the strokes can add up quickly. With a par-5 16th that is a true risk-reward hole and the famous par-3 17th island green, the only safe bet at TPC Sawgrass is a bet on an exciting finish.

THE PLAYERS Championship field is often referred to as the strongest field of the year — and with good reason. There are 144 in the field, including 43 of the world’s top 50 players in the OWGR. Tiger Woods will not be playing in the event.

THE PLAYERS is an exceptionally volatile event that has never seen a back-to-back winner.

Past Winners at TPC Sawgrass

  • 2023: Scottie Scheffler (-17)
  • 2022: Cameron Smith (-13)
  • 2021: Justin Thomas (-14)
  • 2019: Rory McIlroy (-16)
  • 2018: Webb Simpson (-18)
  • 2017: Si-Woo Kim (-10)
  • 2016: Jason Day (-15)
  • 2015: Rickie Fowler (-12)In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

5 Key Stats for TPC Sawgrass

Let’s take a look at five metrics key for TPC Sawgrass to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds.

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach has historically been far and away the most important and predictive stat at THE PLAYERS Championship. With water everywhere, golfers can’t afford to be wild with their iron shots. Not only is it essential to avoid the water, but it will also be as important to go after pins and make birdies because scores can get relatively low.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Tom Hoge (+1.37) 
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+1.20)
  3. Tony Finau (+0.99)
  4. Jake Knapp (+0.83)
  5. Shane Lowry (+0.80)

2. Total Driving

This statistic is perfect for TPC Sawgrass. Historically, driving distance hasn’t been a major factor, but since the date switch to March, it’s a bit more significant. During this time of year, the ball won’t carry quite as far, and the runout is also shorter.

Driving accuracy is also crucial due to all of the trouble golfers can get into off of the tee. Therefore, players who are gaining on the field with Total Driving will put themselves in an ideal spot this week.

Total Driving Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Rory McIlroy (22)
  2. Akshay Bhatia (25)
  3. Keith Mitchell (25) 
  4. Adam Hadwin (34)
  5. Sam Burns (+39)

3. Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs

TPC Sawgrass may be Pete Dye’s most famous design, and for good reason. The course features Dye’s typical shaved runoff areas and tricky green complexes.  Pete Dye specialists love TPC Sawgrass and should have a major advantage this week.

SG: Total (Pete Dye) per round over past 36 rounds:

  1. Patrick Cantlay (+2.02)
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+1.90)
  3. Min Woo Lee (+1.77) 
  4. Sungjae Im (+1.72)
  5. Brian Harman (+1.62) 

4. Strokes Gained: Ball Striking

Prototypical ball-strikers have dominated TPC Sawgrass. With past winners like Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Webb Simpson, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, it’s evident that golfers must be striking it pure to contend at THE PLAYERS.

SG: Ball Striking Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+2.02)
  2. Tony Finau (+1.51)
  3. Tom Hoge (+1.48)
  4. Keith Mitchell (+1.38)
  5. Will Zalatoris (+1.18)

5. Par 5 Average

Par-5 average is extremely important at TPC Sawgrass. With all four of the Par-5s under 575 yards, and three of them under 540 yards, a good amount of the scoring needs to come from these holes collectively.

Par 5 Average Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Scottie Schefler (+4.31)
  2. Erik Van Rooyen (+4.35)
  3. Doug Ghim (+4.34)
  4. Wyndham Clark (+4.34)
  5. Matt Fitzpatrick (+4.31)

6. Strokes Gained: Florida

We’ve used this statistic over the past few weeks, and I’d like to incorporate some players who do well in Florida into this week’s model as well. 

Strokes Gained: Florida over past 30 rounds:

  1. Scottie Schefler (+2.43)
  2. Erik Van Rooyen (+1.78)
  3. Doug Ghim (+1.78)
  4. Wyndham Clark (+1.73)
  5. Matt Fitzpatrick (+1.69)

7. Strokes Gained: Total on Courses with High Water Danger

With water everywhere at TPC Sawgrass, the blow-up potential is high. It can’t hurt to factor in some players who’ve avoided the “eject” button most often in the past. 

Strokes Gained: Total on Courses with High Water Danger over past 30 rounds:

  1. Scottie Schefler (+2.08)
  2. Rory McIlroy (+1.82)
  3. Tony Finau (+1.62)
  4. Patrick Cantlay (+1.51)
  5. Will Zalatoris (+1.49)

THE PLAYERS Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (25%), Total Driving (20%), SG: Total Pete Dye (14%), SG: Ball-striking (15%) SG: Par 5 (8%), SG: Florida (10%) and SG: High Water (8%).

  1. Scottie Scheffler 
  2. Shane Lowry 
  3. Tony Finau 
  4. Corey Conners
  5. Keith Mitchell
  6. Justin Thomas
  7. Will Zalatoris
  8. Xander Schauffele
  9. Cameron Young
  10. Doug Ghim
  11. Sam Burns 
  12. Chris Kirk
  13. Collin Morikawa
  14. Si Woo Kim
  15. Wyndham Clark

2024 THE PLAYERS Championship Picks

(All odds at the time of writing)

Patrick Cantlay +2500 (DraftKings):

Patrick Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship but is undoubtedly one of the most talented players on the PGA Tour. Since the win at Wilmington Country Club, the 31-year-old has twelve top-10 finishes on Tour and is starting to round into form for the 2024 season.

Cantlay has done well in the most recent “signature” events this season, finishing 4th at Riviera for the Genesis Invitational and 12th at Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The former Tour Championship winner resides in Jupiter, Florida and has played some good golf in the state, including finishing in a tie for 4th at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational. His history at TPC Sawgrass has been up and down, but his best career start at The PLAYERS came last year when he finished in a tie for 19th.

Cantlay absolutely loves Pete Dye designed courses and ranks 1st in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on Dye tracks in his past 36 rounds. In recent years, he’s been excellent at both the RBC Heritage and the Travelers Championship. TPC Sawgrass is a place where players will have to be dialed in with their irons and distance off the tee won’t be quite as important. In his past 24, rounds, Cantlay ranks in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach.

Despite being winless in recent years, I still believe Cantlay is capable of winning big tournaments. As one of the only United States players to bring their best game to Marco Simone for the Ryder Cup, I have conviction that the former top amateur in the world can deliver when stakes are high.

Will Zalatoris +3000 (FanDuel):

In order to win at TPC Sawgrass, players will need to be in total control of their golf ball. At the moment, Will Zalatoris is hitting it as well as almost anyone and finally has the putter cooperating with his new switch to the broomstick style.

Zalatoris is coming off back-to-back starts where he absolutely striped the ball. He finished 2nd at the Genesis Invitational and 4th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where his statistics were eye opening. For the week at Bay Hill, Zal gained 5.0 strokes on approach and 5.44 strokes off the tee.

Throughout the early part of his career, Zalatoris has established himself by playing his best golf in the strongest fields with the most difficult conditions. A tough test will allow him to separate himself this week and breakthrough for a PLAYERS Championship victory.

Shane Lowry +4000 (DraftKings):

History has shown us that players need to be in good form to win the PLAYERS Championship and it’s hard to find anyone not named Scottie Scheffler who’s in better form that Shane Lowry at the moment. He finished T4 at the Cognizant Classic followed by a solo third place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The fact that the Irishman contended at Bay Hill is a great sign considering he’s really struggled there throughout his career. He will now head to a different style of course in Florida where he’s had a good deal of success. He finished 8th at TPC Sawgrass in 2021 and 13th in 2022. 

Lowry ranks 6th in the field in approach in his past 24 rounds, 7th in Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye designed courses in his last 30 rounds, 8th in par 5 scoring this season, and 4th in Strokes Gained: Total in Florida over his past 36 rounds.

Lowry is a player who’s capable of winning big events. He’s a major champion and won another premier event at Wentworth as well as a WGC at Firestone. He’s also a form player, when he wins it’s typically when he’s contended in recent starts. He’s been terrific thus far in Florida and he should get into contention once again this week.

Brian Harman +8000 (DraftKings):

(Note: Since writing this Harman’s odds have plummeted to 50-1. I would not advise betting the 50).

Brian Harman showed us last season that if the course isn’t extremely long, he has the accuracy both off the tee and with his irons to compete with anyone in the world. Last week at Bay Hill and was third in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, gaining 5.54 strokes on the field in the category.

In addition to the strong iron play, Harman also gained strokes off the tee in three of four rounds. He’s also had success at Pete Dye tracks recently. He finished 2nd at last year’s Travelers Championship and 7th at the RBC Heritage.

It would be a magnificent feat for Harman to win both the Open Championship and PLAYERS in a short time frame, but the reality is the PGA Tour isn’t quite as strong as it once was. Harman is a player who shows up for the biggest events and his odds seem way too long for his recent track record.

Tony Finau +6500 (FanDuel):

A few weeks ago, at the Genesis Invitational, I bet Hideki Matsuyama because I believed it to be a “bet the number” play at 80-1. I feel similarly about Finau this week. While he’s not having the season many people expected of him, he is playing better than these odds would indicate.

This season, Tony has a tied for 6th place finish at Torrey Pines, a tied for 19th at Riviera and tied for 13th at the Mexico Open. He’s also hitting the ball extremely well. In the field in his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, 6th in Par 5 average and 15th in Total Driving.

Finau’s problem has been with the putter, which has been undeniably horrific. However, this week he will see a putting surface similar to the POA at TPC Scottsdale and PGA West, which he’s had a great deal of success on. It’s worth taking a stab at this price to see if he can have a mediocre week with the flat stick.

Sungjae Im +9000 (FanDuel):

It’s been a lackluster eighteen months for Sungjae, who once appeared to be a certain star. While his ceiling is absolutely still there, it’s been a while since we’ve seen Im play the type of golf expected of a player with his talent.

Despite the obvious concerns, the South Korean showed glimpses of a return to form last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He tied for 18th place and gained strokes off the tee, on approach, around the green and with the putter. When at his best, Im is a perfect course fit for TPC Sawgrass. He has remarkable precision off the tee, can get dialed in with his irons on shorter courses and can get up and down with the best players on Tour.

This number has gotten to the point where I feel comfortable taking a shot on it.

Billy Horschel +20000 (FanDuel):

Billy Horschel is a great fit on paper for TPC Sawgrass. He can get dialed in with his irons and his lack of distance off the tee won’t be a major detriment at the course. “Bermuda Billy” does his best work putting on Bermudagrass greens and he appears to be rounding into form just in time to compete at The PLAYERS.

In his most recent start, Billy finished in a tie for 9th at the Cognizant Classic and hit the ball extremely well. The former Florida Gator gained 3.32 strokes on approach and 2.04 strokes off the tee. If Horschel brings that type of ball striking to TPC Sawgrass, he has the type of putter who can win a golf tournament.

Horschel has been great on Pete Dye designed courses, with four of his seven career PGA Tour wins coming on Dye tracks.

In a season that has seen multiple long shots win big events, the 37-year-old is worth a stab considering his knack for playing in Florida and winning big events.

 

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