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Bishop’s exit clears way for eradication of sexism in golf

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On Thursday, newly ex-PGA of America President Ted Bishop responded to criticism Ian Poulter levied against Nick Faldo in Poulter’s new book, first by calling Poulter a “lil girl” in a now-deleted post on Twitter, and subsequently elaborating that insult with a Facebook post that likened Poulter to “a little school girl squealing during recess.” Some 24 hours later, the PGA stripped Bishop of his title with only a month before he was to surrender it to another.

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By swiftly and decisively removing Bishop from his post, the PGA of America has made the statement that they, at least, support a notion that is long overdue for acceptance as obvious in American society — that women are equal to men. By likening Poulter to a girl or a woman in order to insult him, Bishop implicitly supported the draconian view that women are somehow lesser beings than men.

As Bishop might say: “C’MON MAN!”

Bishop’s high-profile ouster from the PGA of America indicates that the organization believes that the days of men getting away with insulting men by likening them to women should be over. If the PGA is going to stand by the statement made by its actions Friday, it needs to keep hammering away at the notion that women are indeed welcome in golf.

This whole affair represents a very real opportunity for golf to make some headway in its current major struggle: growth of the game. Women make up less than one-fifth of all American golfers, according to National Golf Foundation statistics. Is it any wonder that their numbers are so small when the overriding atmosphere of the game is one of male dominance? If women played 50 percent more rounds of golf than they currently do, the game would be markedly healthier. Given the size of the potential pool of new women golfers, that number is not at all unrealistic.

Augusta National Golf Club accepted its first female members in 2012, and the R&A voted to follow suit just last month. With Friday’s decision, whether it planned to or not, the PGA very publicly embraced a trend in golf. Maybe it’s time for an update of the succinct, effective “I Swing Like A Girl” ad from the USGA.

But where do we go from here? How do we, avid golfers, help this effort?

A nice start would be to eliminate sexist statements from male golf chatter.

  • “Nice shot, grandma.”
  • “Try not to trip over your skirt on your way off the green.”
  • “GOLF: Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.”
  • “Hit it, Alice!”
  • “Does your husband play golf?

I don’t have children, but if I have a daughter one day, I would like for her to feel comfortable learning to love golf, to feel like a golf course is a place where she belongs. One way to ensure that future is to train the current and future generations of male golfers to seriously accept girls and women as equals. Here’s hoping the PGA of America and other male golfers want the same.

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Tim grew up outside of Hartford, Conn., playing most of his formative golf at Hop Meadow Country Club in the town of Simsbury. He played golf for four years at Washington & Lee University (Division-III) and now lives in Pawleys Island, S.C., and works in nearby Myrtle Beach in advertising. He's not too bad on Bermuda greens, for a Yankee. A lifelong golf addict, he cares about all facets of the game of golf, from equipment to course architecture to PGA Tour news to his own streaky short game.

61 Comments

61 Comments

  1. Rodan

    Nov 2, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    Typical media response, instead of writing based on the facts you have inferred what TB meant when he said what he said, you are the problem here! Was he discriminating against little girls??? I don’t know, do little girls squeal more than others???? Probably. Just like little boys squeal more than men…..

    Really, besides Ian Poulter is a self absorbed “toolbox” (oh no, I just insulted a toolbox!) look at his social media posts……all his cars, private jets….etc. He may have more stuff, so what?

  2. Ponjo

    Oct 31, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    Squealing like little boy doesn’t sound right 🙂

  3. wineyax

    Oct 31, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    You make TED BISHOP look like COUNT DRACULA.

    Its just not fair IMHO.

  4. Jecarnl

    Oct 29, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    What a PC bull crap.

  5. snowman

    Oct 28, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    The Headline of this article is complete rubbish and the content is PC BS. This article should have been Published in Ms. or Cosmo. Do you honestly think firing Bishop will do Anything to bring more women into the game or whatever it is that the PC police are advocating? No Way!. What a bunch of PC Drivel.

    • Ruben Acosta

      Oct 30, 2014 at 9:32 am

      There does seem to be a lot of male chauvinism in golf, this is just one example of how it can manifest. I think that Bishop’s reply was inappropriate and meant to be derogatory. One way we chide each other is to say something that will provoke the other. His mistake was that it also provokes many others. I think if Golf really wanted to “grow” the game they would put their efforts to those areas that have the most growth potential. That area is the LPGA and its tournaments. If you look at just what has happened in the last decade you have the FedEx people make up this desperate attempt to make their own major. They tell us how important early season points are and demand attention to that , but when it comes to it anybody wins playoff tournament it negates all those prior performance. I think they should take half of that money and devote it to LPGA and building purses. Another inequity is Golf Channel, their coverage of LPGA is pitiful and they will repeat play of PGA events more than once. And also since they seem to have trouble realizing the value of some of their best women sportcasters such as Winn McMurry and Holly Sonders. Forget about the FedEx and how important it is, this year the guy won 13.5 million dollars. I mean is this really a valid outcome? I am glad for Billy and he did play great at the end of this season but I don’t like how FEDEX tries to be more important than it is.

      • Bill

        Nov 1, 2014 at 8:32 pm

        Really lame, inaccurate take Rueben. Poulter deserved to be called out for HIS stupid comments. Bishops reply may have been unprofessional at best. Wuss, little girl etc fits Poulter for his take on Faldo. Gavrich (the author) is using this unrelated incident to grind a mythical ax against sexism.
        The author is mixing fictional politics with fact and landing way off target. Non story at best.

  6. Johnny

    Oct 28, 2014 at 11:55 am

    Bishop’s exit clears the way for the eradication of sexism in golf?

    Seriously? That has to be one of the most ignorant statements I have read in the coverage of this story. And there have been many such statements to choose from.

  7. Jafar

    Oct 28, 2014 at 10:32 am

    This is dumb.

    Everyone involved in this looks really stupid.

    I don’t even want to comment anymore, I hope this story gets buried after this week.

  8. Scooter McGavin

    Oct 28, 2014 at 9:24 am

    I am seeing way too many comments saying “men and women ARE different”. That is not the point. Let me repeat. That is not the point. The point is that it is offensive and sexist to use calling someone a girl as an insult. It’s the same as how we are trying to quit calling people or things “gay” as an insult, because it is demeaning to gay people. Most of you are not getting it because you are, for the most part, white, heterosexual men, and as such, are not typically on the receiving end of these slurs. Just because you have not had your race, gender, or sexual orientation used as a demeaning slur, does not mean that it is not offensive to others that have had it happen to them. In the United States, at least, racial minorities, LGBT’s, and women have had to come from behind from being second class citizens, and each time someone says an insult like “lil girl” (or its equivalent with racial minorities and LGBT’s) it only succeeds in slowing down the progress we are making with achieving equality, understanding, and acceptance. Again, just because your race and gender have not had to go through the same issue does not mean it is not a serious reality.

    • John

      Oct 28, 2014 at 12:03 pm

      Great article and well said Scooter. Unfortunately, thoughtful posts ike yours get buried in the cascade of reactionary nonsense that forums on golfwrx are well known for.

    • Jeremy

      Oct 28, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      Finally. Thank you for framing it the right way.

    • 502 to Right

      Oct 29, 2014 at 9:59 pm

      Yes, it is the point.

  9. Buggs

    Oct 28, 2014 at 8:58 am

    Stupid article.

  10. markhd

    Oct 27, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    C’mon, folks. This will keep happening as long as organizations keep telling 60-year-old guys that they “have to engage on social media” in order to market effectively. This is simply and wholly a marketing breakdown within the PGA. Handing a Twitter account to a CEO from past generations is roughly the same as handing a shotgun to a duck. They should not have fired Mr. Bishop. They should certainly have fired whomever is in charge of marketing and PR at the PGA. Yes, Mr. Bishop should have known he was holding a weapon of personal destruction when he picked up his cell phone or tablet of choice. His bad. But ultimately, his organization’s marketing people should never, ever have let him put his head on that block.

    Forewarned is forearmed, and Lord knows these sorts of organizations have seen this carnage too often in the past. Just dumb. Tragic, yes. But mostly dumb.

  11. Patricknorm

    Oct 27, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    The people I play golf with don’t comment like many of you do on this site. What I mean is that whether I play in a sanctioned tournament or a friendly Sunday morning skins game we don’t throw away lines like Ted Bishop did. We are to a fault quite polite and aware of each other’s peculuarites.
    Most of you are focusing on what he said rather than its context. If I’m a PGA member I want my head guy to be professional and a good leader.
    If Ted Bishop is meant to be the talking head for the PGA then it’s pretty hard to attract strong sponsors with this kind of throw away line. Regardless of what you think of Poulter, he wasn’t wrong.
    Is this article overly sensitive? Depends on your context. If I’m playing with another CEO I’d choose my words carefully.
    If I’m hanging with my 20 something buddies then anything goes. Ted Bishop in his capacity was better off saying zero.

  12. James

    Oct 27, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    When did men become the enemy of women and why? Political correctness is wrecking society. As much as everyone would LOVE to have a utopia where all are equal it isn’t a reality among human beings. Not everyone is the same and men and women are totally different even in many ways other than physical. Men like to look at pretty pictures of women and women tend to prefer the romance of the written word. Men are visual and women verbal if you will.

    Seems to me these days, people are looking for stuff to claim “offense” over. Everyone is a victim of some unseen force apparently.

  13. chad ryan

    Oct 27, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    If you think a man should be fired for saying “little girl” then you are also a little girl. There is nothing offensive to women about saying that. And i’m sorry but newsflash to all you PC people – women, especially little/young ones (as bishop was inferring) ARE IN FACT weaker than grown men. This will come as a shock to everyone who thinks that women play from the red tees that are 100 yds in front of the men’s tees simply because they prefer the color. Furthermore – one of the great aspects of the Rider cup is the US vs euro rivalry. If Phil mickelson had tweeted the same thing he would have been praised for supporting his team. I feel sorry for Mr Bishop, he really got thrown under the bus for nothing. And by the way….”SEXISM IN GOLF”? give me a break. You want golf to be “un-sexist”? Make the women play from the same tees as men. That would be unsexist. You want an even playing field? play from the tips like everyone else.

    • Bill

      Oct 27, 2014 at 3:31 pm

      “Bishop’s exit clears way for eradication of sexism in golf”

      So Mr. Bishop was the only barrier standing in between us and a game free of sexism? Golf is the most elitist, sexist, racist, and exclusive game in the world. Firing one old white guy is meaningless.

      Also can you get fired for saying the sky is blue?

  14. loubdoobe

    Oct 27, 2014 at 9:06 am

    Seriously, get over the political correctness. Women are physically weaker than men and losing your sense of humor over a figurative expression is asinine.

    • Bruce Wayne

      Oct 27, 2014 at 11:49 am

      Agreed. Bishops remark was not sexist. This story is being blown up way to much. At worst it was just a little banter on social media which was probably not the best place to do it. This story is an example of political correctness being taken way to far. I wonder if Bishop would have called Poulter a peacock for the flamboyant manner in which he dresses if Bishop would have been fired for violating animal rights for racially stereo typing an animal. This is just rediculous.

    • Jeremy

      Oct 27, 2014 at 12:13 pm

      The comment had nothing to do with physical strength.

  15. dapadre

    Oct 27, 2014 at 6:23 am

    I agree totally with the comment from the former PGA prez. I dont think it was meant to be sexist and was referring to little girls squealing as one may refer to boys being rascally. Now taken that from his position its not professional I think a suspension or penalty would have been the correct thing to do. I mean Ian P is not exactly Golfs choir boy (ooeps is that PC or is that allowed or will I also no be banned by Golfwrx).I live in Europe and believe me Ian P.has done some crazy things.

    I do believe that this was done to MARKET their toughness. Look at the statement the Russian Tennis President made.I found that to be more hurtful. Note I may have missed it but did anyone complain from the LPGA? Its irritating when groups are so-called protected (in this case women) when they could care less.Whats the next step, can I refer to my golf pal who happens to be white as Bro. Im black and this term can be traced back to the black community. Can we see how silly this is becoming. I hope they dont think by toughening up this will bring more golfers back.

    As for Ian P.I dont think he wanted this to happen, BUT the gods of golf are watching. When you point one finger three are pointing back at you. Karma is a B…h ( can I say that now actually).

  16. Mad-Mex

    Oct 26, 2014 at 11:33 pm

    So, are they still trying to figure out why golf is loosing players?

  17. Tyler

    Oct 26, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    Men and women ARE different. I respect that Golfwrx, due to it’s profile and relationship with so many manufacturers and advertisers (and same for its partner Golf Digest) must write such an article to score points with said other parties, but that doesn’t mean golf is a sport for sexists. Ted Bishop made a very strange comment, and probably wasn’t fit for his former position. That said, Ian Poulter is whiney, and annoying to listen to – all the way down to his angry birds/boy band haircut. He really does need to shut up because he really isn’t half the player Faldo is or was. Bishop was not wrong on that point. Again though, very strange choice of comments, perhaps a few less cocktails before taking to social media next time Ted.

    Regarding women and ‘growing the game’ through their demo, my girlfriend enjoys playing golf, but her ceiling is about one hour and then she loses interest. Also, she will NEVER pay more than $300 for a cheap matched set, and she didn’t play baseball or softball so it’s as foreign to her as me trying to apply foundation or explain the term hypoallergenic! For 90% of american women this is the case. I’d you want to pull in the female demographic you need to simplify the game and the experience, and drop the entry level expense. Such as a 150yd tee for casual ladies, do more to popularize 9 hole rounds so they can get in and out without killing everyone else’s round, and talk the big boy manufacturers into creating sets for everyday ladies who aren’t interested in breaking 90. But also aren’t willing to blow cash on some overly cheap Walmart set.

    Or you could just accept that the golf industry is driven by men -who are more interested to ogle cart girls and are susceptible to being sucked into the allure of a cleverly marketed $400 driver (which they can’t fly 250 straight). Ie, the type to retreat back to the club and tweet from the cherrywood and leather adorned friendly confines of the boys club.. Ie, Ted Bishop..

    When the golf industry is ready to disrupt ITSELF.. ESPECIALLY GOLFWRX AND GOLF DIGEST (who peddle clubs the average man or woman can scarcely afford).. expect NO change, just more lip service such as this article..

  18. Will

    Oct 26, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    You guys are overreacting. This article is clearly written in a sarcastic tone.

  19. Nick

    Oct 26, 2014 at 3:29 pm

    Men and Women are NOT the same. Another thing when things are said such as “men…” that is what is called a generalization and it’s implicit that their are exceptions. So generalizing, women whine more than men, women are physically not as strong as men. Sexism exists cause it’s real, everyone is not the same.

    • Tyler

      Oct 26, 2014 at 7:59 pm

      The generalization that woman whine more than men is complety false. Studies show men and woman whine the same amount its just when woman do it we call it whining and when men do whine we call it expressing our thoughts. As for men and woman hitting the ball not as far, I would love to see you in a long drive competition with Michelle Wie.

      • joey5picks

        Oct 26, 2014 at 10:07 pm

        Michelle Wei is not the typical woman, so using her to support your point is a fallacy. As a group, men ARE stronger than women and DO hit it further. Fact.

        “Studies show” men and women whine the same amount? Studies also show people cite ficticious studies to try to prove a point.

      • marriedwithchildren

        Oct 26, 2014 at 10:17 pm

        Married men would disagree with you as to who whines more.

      • rer4136

        Oct 27, 2014 at 4:29 pm

        Do you find the term “Man up” offensive?

    • Jeremy

      Oct 27, 2014 at 12:12 pm

      He didn’t call Poulter a “lil girl” because he only hit his drive 230 yards. The comment had absolutely nothing to do with physical strength.

      You’re a complainer. You have a lousy attitude. You’re a girl.

      Get it?

  20. Large chris

    Oct 26, 2014 at 3:02 pm

    Ridiculous to fire him for non existent sexism.

    Correct to fire him for being inept and unable to use social media in a professional way. Anyone with a brain knows that in a corporate environment if you choose to use social media publicly you do so in a manner that is not personally critical of others, particularly of your own employees.

    Always amazes me how many high powered supposedly clever masters of the universe don’t get that.

  21. KT

    Oct 26, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    As a man, I am offended by the “come on man” phrase.

  22. Harry G.

    Oct 26, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    Right on Ted! The notion that women will save golf from the contraction it is experiencing is missing the reality of the situation. Young boys and girls will not spend long hours practicing a game that takes years of dedication and experience to play proficiently, not to mention 5 hours to play! Ever wonder why the U. S. can’t win the Ryder Cup? Look whose running the show!

  23. Jake Anderson

    Oct 26, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    Spot on, Mr. Garvich! What a wonderful article!

  24. rickrock

    Oct 26, 2014 at 11:47 am

    The Anti-PC-Police are out in force today! I guess they must do their policing before church, lol.

    This was a fireable offense, no doubt. No so much for what Bishop said, but for the fact that he took it to one of his own members on Twitter?!? Just… wow. Poor, poor leadership skills there, Ted.

    Given that most of the differences between the sexes can be traced back to socialization, the need to change the words we use becomes more important if we want to see each other as equals.

    Did the ‘lil girl’ comment cross the line? I’m not sure, but the PGA is clearly better off with Bishop gone.

  25. paul

    Oct 26, 2014 at 10:40 am

    Where I live we don’t have nearly as much political correctness. I had to read about Teds comments twice to see why it was sexist… Little boys squeal as well as little girls, little girls just squeal more often and louder. Sounds like poulter to me ???? I had my sensitive wife read this so far, she doesn’t see my comment as sexist.

  26. PCPolice

    Oct 26, 2014 at 9:22 am

    The PC police will come for everyone until the communist manifesto has been fully implemented.

  27. Dave

    Oct 26, 2014 at 8:00 am

    What a bunch of baloney. Firing a guy over nonsense like this. I’d bet someone had it in for Bishop. Let’s get this guy.

    The world has gone completely crazy. I weep for the young people.

    • dwntnbrown

      Oct 26, 2014 at 2:49 pm

      tis not a guy it a lil girl who got their feelings hurt. if it wasn’t for what they are sitting on there would be a bounty on their ears

    • rer4136

      Oct 27, 2014 at 4:31 pm

      We live in a country where some think same sex marriage is an important issue. Its the young people causing the problem.

  28. darrell

    Oct 25, 2014 at 11:08 pm

    Most of this article is a complete fabrication. “likening Poulter to a girl or a woman in order to insult him” This a false statement Tim, he said “lil girl.”…lesser beings than men” Where did that reach come from? “insulting men by likening them to women” Again,, Tim he said “lil girl.” This article will play big in the liberal North East States, but those of us with an IQ over 14 are not going to fall for this false journalism. You are right in the fact that you do not have a little girl because if you did you would realize they squeal on the playground. This is something boys do not do. I am not condoning the statements made, however the reaction of the PGA board is way out of line. Using your leap in reporting…..you are denigrating all PGA members with this article, lumping all professionals in the woman hating crowd.

    • JR

      Oct 26, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      People who are liberal probably think what Bishop wasn’t sexist too. Nice try.

  29. Tyler

    Oct 25, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    Haha well said Knobbywood, this world is becoming crazy. Its sad that instead of instilling confidence in kids, so when when someone calls them a silly name it doesn’t bother them because they are secure in who they are, we teach them to cry and be upset and tell the teacher. Anyways listening to morning drive this morning made me sick.

  30. Steve Sales

    Oct 25, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    Dear Mr. Gavrich,
    If you are so upset about how your future daughter might be uncomfortable about getting into golf because of the neocons involved how will you explain writing these scathing gender equality pieces for this website. If you will notice the “Leaderbord” section headers on the right side of this page you will find that only the male tours are listed. Talk about old bys club mentality! And you have the gall to take money from such an organization! What would your poor daughter say. How will she be able to face life with living with a demeaning jerk such as yourself.
    Maybe the Enquirer has an opening? I feel you might be able to fully realize your full journalistic potential writing for those folks, you seem like a natural.

  31. Rwj

    Oct 25, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    Sexism in golf from the male point of view. How is the LPGA’s continue use of coverage of the pretty girls helping sexism? They insist on tight skirts and blouses…that’s equality? I don’t understand how a group of guys playing together and razzing their buddies with “does your husband play” after a putt well short demean women? By your impression, make the ladies hit 600 yard par-5’s and all the par-3’s over 200 yards…equality all around or maybe, just maybe realize the sexes are different and stop being so critical of every single thing.

    • rer4136

      Oct 27, 2014 at 4:34 pm

      Great point. All courses played at the same length. One set of tees for everyone. No exceptions, play it back.

  32. Dimarco

    Oct 25, 2014 at 8:18 pm

    I think the biggest issue is that the golf media is pumping up this story and pushing it as a highly sexist remark that women golfers NEED to be upset about. I talked this story over with my wife and she didn’t see it as sexist . She thought it was not a good remark for a PGA president to make but she thought using it as a beacon for change was a little bit of stretch. Neither of us felt that it has or will set back the women’s game.

    What I find interesting is that we haven’t heard anything from the LPGA or any LPGA golfers on this yet.

  33. Dave

    Oct 25, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    Look at a response Ian poulter had to a sports writer on twitter in this article. He uses a much more vulgar name but barely a peep from the media.

    http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2014/3/9/5488298/ian-poulter-twitter-hideki-matsuyama-wgc-cadillac-championship-2014

  34. RP Jacobs II

    Oct 25, 2014 at 7:49 pm

    This PC environment is ridiculous, LMAO. Its like an infectious communicable disease, lol. Was what he said foolish? Absolutely!! However where I am most dissapointed is that a president/CEO should have much more productive things to do with his time than to insert himself into a potentially controversial social media exchange.

    What bothers me were not his words, however the thoughts, process and priorities of such a man. Now THAT bothers me greatly. My GF happens to be a LPGA Class A Master and she finds this all amusing especially the men who have come out of the wood work chirping about equality, sexism, bla, bla bla.

    Her only question to the PC chirper was why have there no prominent women jumping on the PC band wagon?

    They were there for Augusta.

    No, Ted Bishop was a disappointment in so many areas, however this is typical of the PC movement in trying to make a minor issue into WW III, LOL.

    Are females and Ladies where they should be in the game?

    Absolutely not!!!

    However it’s garbage like this that make the REAL issues that much tougher a hill to climb.

    We don’t need a bunch of Type B passive PC male leading the charge, LMAO.

    Have a nice week Gals & Gents 🙂

    Fairways & Greens My Friends,
    Richard

  35. Roger

    Oct 25, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    Twitter will continue to assist in Workplace Dismissals!

  36. D Snyder

    Oct 25, 2014 at 7:00 pm

    Would the powers that be have fired Bishop if he had said “lil boy” or “lil man”? What a bunch of PC bs…nothing “draconian” about it.

    • Ryan

      Oct 25, 2014 at 8:30 pm

      Agreed..

    • Jeremy

      Oct 25, 2014 at 9:02 pm

      They wouldn’t have fired him if he’d said a lot of other things. But… he didn’t.

      • Knobbywood

        Oct 26, 2014 at 7:59 am

        Wow way to totally strike out on that analogy… Lil boy correlates to Lil girl… Unlike “alot of other things” also the sky is blue and 2+2 is 4

        • Jeremy

          Oct 27, 2014 at 12:06 pm

          It was an admittedly lazy attempt to point out the flaw in D Snyder’s argument. If he’d said “idiot” like Poulter once famously did, it wouldn’t have been that bad (though still childish and unprofessional of a man in Bishop’s position). If he’d said “lil boy” he’d have probably gotten off the hook. But he said what he said and I wish the obnoxiousness of it were more obvious to a lot of people here.

  37. Ritch

    Oct 25, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    This is a good piece and I agree with the PGA’s actions. I work part-time in the pro shop at a local club. We have a number of events that we promote as coed but have a very difficult time getting women to participate. Some of this is due to the subtle and, in some cases, overt attitude expressed by the men about playing with women. There is one lady here who put the men at ease during our weekly senior scramble. There was a silent tension the first couple of holes but then, following a semi-shank on the third, she cut loose with a couple of expletives, the ice was broken and the rest of the round proceeded as good fun. One footnote regarding the comment “hit it Alice”, during an interview with Sports Illustrated, I believe, Peter Allis stated that he was responsible for that comment. Apparently, he hadn’t been putting well in his Ryder Cup match and after leaving another putt short, someone in the gallery spouted “hit it Allis”.

  38. Ted

    Oct 25, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    This is the sort of useless drivel that’s beginning to make this site irrelevant. Calling someone a little girl is hardly sexist and anyone claiming so is delusional or succumbing to the irrational power of political correctness. Newsflash, there are inherent differences between boys and girls. Little girls are weak and immature. That doesn’t mean they are of a lesser standing than little boys. Alas, that’s not the issue here. Ted bishop was wrong to call out Ian Poulter but folks such as the author of this piece are doing a greater disservice to women and girls. By clinging to false notions of sexism and discrimination you prevent girls, young ladies, and women from toughening themselves against the realities of the world. Not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone is going to be nice to you. But, but highlighting trivial occurrences such as this one, you degrade the sensitivities of the general public when true instances of sexism arise.

  39. Knobbywood

    Oct 25, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    This whole thing makes me sick… A guy lost his job for calling someone a little girl!! The world has gone totally insane with political correctness!! People are so easily offended by the slightest thing it makes my head spin… If this honestly offends you I am so glad I don’t have to interact with you

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19th Hole

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

Published

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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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