Opinion & Analysis

The 10 best things about playing golf alone

Published

10 years ago

Apr 13, 2014

A rarity in sports, golf can be properly played and thoroughly enjoyed when utterly alone.

There is something alluring — romantic even — about heading to your local course and playing 18 holes by yourself. It’s a silent battle, just you and the course slugging it out away from prying eyes. It’s a chance to do things your way.

In praise of the solo round, here’s a list of the 10 best things about playing alone. Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section.

No. 1: Fast Play

Solitary golfers can play fast, because they aren’t forced to waste time watching someone else play.

As a single, there is no waiting for your playing partner to hit, no need to remain greenside while he or she putts out and certainly no protracted search for that ProV1 that was sliced into the woods.

If you’re alone, you can easily tear around the course in under 3 hours (as long as there’s no one ahead of you). Just hit your ball, find it and hit it again. It’s a beautiful thing.

No. 2: Choosing Your Own Rhythm

When playing in a group, the rhythm of your round is at the mercy of your playing partners. If they are constantly whiffing and shanking, it’s difficult to establish a consistent cadence in your own game. On the other hand, you might feel rushed if you’re hitting more shots than your partners on every hole.

Playing by yourself allows you control your rhythm. Each shot can be studied, hit and assessed in your own time. Better still, the time between shots is relatively uniform, because you‘re always away. This constant, steady tempo undoubtedly helps you focus your mind and shoot lower scores.

Smart solo players can also manipulate the momentum of their round. When you’re playing well, you can easily continue at your current pace. When you’re playing poorly, you can take an extra few minutes on the next tee, or even hit a couple of practice balls, o help reset the momentum of the round and get your game back on track.

No. 3: Practice Opportunities

The fast pace of solo golf — together with the absence of other people — provides the perfect opportunity for on-course practice. If you want to work on a particular shot, you can simply drop some extra balls and swing away.

By hitting real shots on a real course in real conditions, you’re engaging in valuable game-specific training which cannot be simulated at the range or anywhere else.

No. 4: Real Integrity

When you’re all alone on the golf course, you can theoretically cheat as much as you want. No one will ever know.

So when you do the right thing and play every ball as it lies, call penalties on yourself and refuse to give yourself that slippery three-footer, there’s a higher level of integrity involved. In short, you’ll be able to look in the mirror with pride, no matter what you score. Playing by the rules will help you become a better golfer too.

No. 5: No Temptation to Outdo, Impress or Emulate Partners

Let’s face it; we all love to hit the longest drive or shoot the lowest score in our group. Most golfers carry the macho man gene, which leads them to compete against other players rather than themselves or the course. While this instinct can be a good motivator, it can also lead to some poor decisions and wasted strokes.

Playing alone eliminates the desire to outdo, impress or emulate anyone else. You can stick to your own strategy without any temptation to match others. Your scorecard will thank you.

No. 6: Fewer Nerves

We’ve all encountered the dreaded first tee jitters: shaky hands, dry mouth, inability to tee your ball and a million conflicting swing thoughts.

If you think back to times of nervousness (or even fear) on the golf course, I’d wager every one of them occurred in the company of people whose approval or acceptance mattered to you. It’s simply human nature.

When there’s no one around to judge or evaluate you, you’ll generally be looser, freer and more relaxed. In this optimal state, you’re more likely to play well and get a glimpse of your potential as a golfer.

No. 7: Play Your Way

It’s often awkward when you want to play from a certain set of tees, but a playing partner wants to play from another. Either someone yields and ends up playing from tees that don’t match their ability, or the players use separate tees and chaos ensues as everyone tries to decide who should have the honor.

The same principle applies when you want to ride but your buddy wants to walk, or vice-versa. Either someone caves and opts for a non-preferred mode of transport, or you both stick to your guns and play at wildly different paces for the entire round.

These dilemmas are completely avoided when you’re by yourself. Simply choose the tees you want, choose your preferred mode of transport and away you go.

No. 8: Spontaneity

Solo golfers are the masters of the spontaneous round. If you’re happy to play without company, you can head straight to the course whenever the mood strikes. No need to book tee times or work around anyone else’s schedule. Just go!

Once you’re on the course, you can go wherever your heart takes you. You’d prefer to play the back nine instead of the front? No problem. There’s a slow group on No. 6? You can skip ahead to No. 8 without having to seek anyone’s consent. You’re tired after 15 holes? Just walk in.

No. 9: Score However You Want

Some days you want to work on your game or just enjoy the experience of playing golf without worrying about the scorecard. Playing alone provides the ideal environment for doing just that. If you don’t want to think about shooting a number, you don’t have to.

If you must have competition or scorecard pressure, you’ve got plenty of options. You can score a traditional round of stroke play, or drop two balls and play one against the other, or perhaps use two or more balls for a round of best ball. The choice is yours.

No. 10: No Banal Banter

Playing on your own obviates the necessity to keep saying “nice shot” and, worse still, “hard luck.”

You don’t have to feign interest in your playing partner’s vacation plans, views on popular culture, marital woes or latest swing thought. You also don’t need to share your life story or engage in pointless small talk. You’re liberated to focus solely on whatever you want, whether that’s your swing, strategy, the scenery or whatever else floats your boat.

For some, golf will always be a social experience, where playing the game is equal or secondary to forming friendships with playing partners on the course or at the 19th hole. While the social side of golf is a definite drawcard, the benefits of playing alone should be considered too.

If you’ve never tried a solo round, get out there and have a go at the next opportunity. You might just discover a new passion.

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Michael Forster

Michael is an avid amateur golfer, playing off a handicap of 7, with a deep passion for the game. He splits his time between Australia and the United States. He is a member of the New South Wales Social Golf Tour, which conducts events on a variety of courses in and around Sydney, Australia.

26 Comments

Pingback: How To Play Golf Alone Step By Step Guideline – Chooserly
John James

Jul 6, 2018 at 12:44 pm

No 11 – Enjoy The Beauty! There is nothing like hitting a perfect drive, with a little draw, watching the ball fly against the mountains, sky and setting sun. This must what heaven is like!

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John James

Jul 6, 2018 at 12:40 pm

No 11 — Enjoy The Beauty! There is nothing like hitting a perfect drive, with a little draw, against the mountains, sky and setting sun — with nothing but silence all around you. It must be what heaven is like!

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Mazhar Hussain

Mar 19, 2016 at 7:08 am

Playing golf alone early in the morning with birds chirping and moist fresh air penetrating the lush green environment surrounding you is the best thing you can find yourself in. On each Tee I silently watch the fairway ahead and focus on the ball with peace and serenity of mind and attempt a rhythmic swing. When the ball flies like a bird in a straight parabola I feel joy and indescribable pleasure. Inner peace and serenity is what converts a golf swing into a killer blow thereby achieving distance and confidence required for the next shot. You always play against the par.

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Straightdriver235

Jul 3, 2014 at 10:32 pm

Golf should be a solitary game. Here’s to playing alone. If I do play with others, it better not be more than a twosome, anything more and it is drudgery. Indeed, I don’t think it is fair that many tour events send out players in threesomes on Thursday and Friday… It is quite possible some great player who can’t cope with more than one other partner just can’t play well enough to make the cuts, but could burn the course up once he got down to a twosome. It is true, the comments, if you are a tournament golfer, playing alone has its limits. You wouldn’t catch me dead in a foursome, maybe as often as I go to a wedding or a funeral… not very.

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wakit300

May 13, 2014 at 3:42 pm

Just saw this article and ummm are you trying to follow in the footsteps of Rolling Stone? Top 10 list should always count DOWN from 10 to 1. If you know what #1 is right away, why bother with the rest?

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Chris

Apr 23, 2014 at 4:38 pm

I play much of my golf solo. However, I consider most of those sessions to be practice. I believe that adjusting to the pressure of others, the pace with which they play, etc. to be an integral part of the game. While I find those solo sessions do help me improve more than a mindless session on the range, it still doesn’t compare to the pressure of playing with others. In short, I think solo rounds are the best way to improve, but the real test can only come when playing with others, when you can’t just put another ball down.

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Alex K.

Apr 16, 2014 at 10:48 pm

I’m fortunate enough to live and work close enough to my course that I frequently have a round on my own after work. I find it a great way to keep fit because (as mentioned in the article above), there are no/few hold ups and I can play as fast as I want. Another bonus (of sorts) is, without the pressure of competition (or others’ critical eyes), I find I can ‘let it all hang out’ with shot selection resulting is some (all modesty aside), spectacular shots which over time has left me with several 2-3ft eagle and double eagle putts. I guess all I need to do now is capture and retain that mindset and unleash it on comp day!

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- steve
  
  Jul 12, 2015 at 12:44 pm
  
  double eagle putts? What kind of course are you playing that you can have double eagle putts?
  
  Reply Report comment
erkr

Apr 16, 2014 at 2:03 am

In summertime I play on my childhood course alone at 6am. Its at the ocean. As I play the town wakes up and I watch people bike down on course for early swim. I go 18 holes and I’m back to have second breakfast with wife and kids.
I always keep score and no gimmies.

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ParHunter

Apr 15, 2014 at 4:15 pm

I like to play two balls when I play on my own, both with different shots, a high chip vs a bump and run etc.
another good one is reverse scramble, where you hit two drives but have to take the worse of the two.

The only problem is if you play on your own in between 3 or 4-balls. You either have to wait all the time (hence playing two balls) or you get asked to play through and that can make you feel rushed. I recently played through 6 groups in the course of 5 holes. It felt more like jogging than golf.

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Ryan

Apr 15, 2014 at 10:35 am

5 years ago I got to play a good bit of solo golf. I agree – some of the best “alone” time that can be had. I definitely improved as a player as well as enjoyed the solitude and the lack of “noise” created by playing partners. I can’t remember the last time I got to go around on my own. I wish I could occasionally still.

I think that is one of the best things about golf – I can go out alone, with friends, or be paired up with strangers and have a great time. There is something special about solo golf that I think most people aren’t aware of as they take having playing partners as a given. Great article!

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- Ryan
  
  Apr 15, 2014 at 10:39 am
  
  Forgot to mention my only hole-in-one was during a solo round. I was jumping for joy and not a soul around to see it. Most people think that’s a travesty but I think its wonderful and private memory I don’t have to share.
  
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  - billy
    
    Apr 16, 2014 at 2:08 pm
    
    I had 6 other eyes on mine and it was pretty special also…+ the memory is with them too and there is a little something special knowing they occasionally mention …”I was playing with a Guy once on a elevated par 3 and the ball hit center green then started toward the hole like it had eyes”
    
    I fear hitting that shot again alone…
    
    Reply Report comment
Audrey

Apr 13, 2014 at 12:33 am

Loved this article! As a woman golfer, I have found solo golf a wonderful way to work on my game and enjoy the beauty of the course. I have also found you can find courses’sweer spot’ where you can golf solo without being slowed down by golfers ahead.. I have found there are not alot if woman golfers……and on the flip side, while solo golfing I meet two other women who have become great golf companions. Whether with them or going solo, it’s always a good day out there!

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Jim

Apr 12, 2014 at 11:04 pm

This is my favorite way to play unless i play a round with my dad. Most people look at you funny if you say you play alone. Nothing like you the course and your clubs set to try to shoot your lowest round ever . Its like your own little get away if only for a few hours, escaping the every day hustle

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- corey
  
  Apr 13, 2014 at 12:18 am
  
  couldn’t agree more
  
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  - Dave
    
    Apr 15, 2014 at 11:37 pm
    
    +2
    
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Tom Duckworth

Apr 12, 2014 at 8:47 pm

Early morning just after the sun comes up…..best time of the day. I like seeing the dew on the greens just a few birds and the sound of the breeze the trees. You just dial into the rhythm of your swing. It’s the best I just can’t add anymore.

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Brian

Apr 12, 2014 at 10:47 am

I play over half my rounds solo just for the solitude. Sure if I’m invited to play, I happily oblige. It’s like reading a good book. Once you get into it, you can’t stop.

Nice article.

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paul

Apr 12, 2014 at 12:13 am

I play by myself all summer. Once a week, 9 holes, 6am, done by 7:20 and at work 5 minutes early.

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Double Mocha Man

Apr 11, 2014 at 7:50 pm

Good topic! I played today by myself and propped up my cellphone on my push cart… and watched the Masters! While sipping a tasty Italian sports drink. Life is good. Only the green jacket was missing.

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luke keefner

Apr 11, 2014 at 7:29 pm

Most of the guys I play with would never EVER consider going out to play alone but for some reason I crave it. Maybe I’m a little misanthropic but I’m usually at first irritated when I get paired up with someone. Fortunately I am usually surprised at how much I enjoy the company. But, still, I consider golf a solitary game for me unless my son is home. That is as good as it gets

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j.a.

Apr 11, 2014 at 7:18 pm

I have experienced all of this and being a high handicapper, in few words I can say, it’s the only way to play in peace.

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- Billy
  
  Apr 12, 2014 at 3:52 am
  
  amen!
  
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Dan

Apr 11, 2014 at 5:32 pm

You can plug in some headphones and listen to golf weekly or Metallica 🙂

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Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 2

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2024

Terry Koehler

In my last post, I explained the basic performance dynamics of “smash factor” and “gear effect” as they apply to your wedges and your wedge play success. If you missed that post, you can read it here.

At the end of that post, I promised “part 2” of this discussion of what makes a wedge work the way it does. So, let’s dive into the other two components of any wedge – the shaft and the grip.

It’s long been said that the shaft is “the engine of the golf club.” The shaft (and grip) are your only connection to all the technologies that are packed into the head of any golf club, whether it be a driver, fairway, hybrid, iron, wedge or even putter.

And you cannot ignore those two components of your wedges if your goal is optimizing your performance.

I’ve long been an advocate of what I call a “seamless transition” from your irons into your wedges, so that the feel and performance do not disconnect when you choose a gap wedge, for example, instead of your iron-set-matching “P-club.” In today’s golf equipment marketplace, more and more golfers are making the investment of time and money to experience an iron fitting, going through trial and error and launch monitor measuring to get just the right shaft in their irons.

But then so many of those same golfers just go into a store and choose wedges off the retail display, with no similar science involved at all. And that’s why I see so many golfers with a huge disconnect between their custom-fitted irons, often with lighter and/or softer graphite or light steel shafts . . . and their off-the-rack wedges with the stock stiff steel ‘wedge flex’ shaft common to those stock offerings.

If your wedge shafts are significantly heavier and stiffer than the shafts in your irons, it is physically impossible for you to make the same swing. Period.

To quickly improve your wedge play, one of the first things you can do is have your wedges re-shafted with the same or similar shaft that is in your irons.

There’s another side of that shaft weight equation; if you don’t have the forearm and hand strength of a PGA Tour professional, you simply cannot “handle” the same weight shaft that those guys play to master the myriad of ‘touch shots’ around the greens.

Now, let’s move on to the third and other key component of your wedges – the grips. If those are not similar in shape and feel to the grips on your irons, you have another disconnect. Have your grips checked by a qualified golf club professionals to make sure you are in sync there.

The one caveat to that advice is that I am a proponent of a reduced taper in your wedge grips – putting two to four more layers of tape under the lower hand, or selecting one of the many reduced taper grips on the market. That accomplishes two goals for your scoring.

First, it helps reduce overactive hands in your full and near-full wedge swings. Quiet hands are key to good wedge shots.

And secondly, it provides a more consistent feel of the wedge in your hands as you grip down for those shorter and more delicate shots around the greens. And you should always grip down as you get into those touch shots. I call it “getting closer to your work.”

So, if you will spend as much time selecting the shafts and grips for your wedges as you do choosing the brand, model, and loft of them, your scoring range performance will get better.

Vincenzi’s 2024 Wells Fargo Championship betting preview: Tommy Fleetwood ready to finally land maiden PGA Tour title

Published

4 days ago

May 6, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The PGA Tour season ramps back up this week for another “signature event,” as golf fans look forward to the year’s second major championship next week.

After two weaker-field events in the Zurich Classic and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, most of the best players in the world will head to historic Quail Hollow for one of the best non-major tournaments of the year.

Last season, Wyndham Clark won the event by four shots.

Quail Hollow is a par-71 measuring 7,521 yards that features Bermudagrass greens. The tree-lined, parkland style course can play quite difficult and features one of the most difficult three-hole stretches in golf known as “The Green Mile,” which makes up holes 16-18: two mammoth par 4s and a 221-yard par 3. All three holes have an average score over par, and water is in play in each of the last five holes on the course.

The field is excellent this week with 68 golfers teeing it up without a cut. All of the golfers who’ve qualified are set to tee it up, with the exception of Scottie Scheffler, who is expecting the birth of his first child.

Past Winners at Quail Hollow

2023: Wyndham Clark (-19)
2022: Max Homa (-8)
2021: Rory McIlroy (-10)
2019: Max Homa (-15)
2018: Jason Day (-12)
2017: Justin Thomas (-8) (PGA Championship)
2016: James Hahn (-9)
2015: Rory McIlroy (-21)

Key Stats For Quail Hollow

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes gained: Approach will be extremely important this week as second shots at Quail Hollow can be very difficult.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

Akshay Bhatia (+1.16)
Tom Hoge (+1.12)
Corey Conners (+1.01)
Shane Lowry (+0.93)
Austin Eckroat (+0.82)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Quail Hollow is a long course on which it is important to play from the fairway. Both distance and accuracy are important, as shorter tee shots will result in approach shots from 200 or more yards. With most of the holes heavily tree lined, errant drives will create some real trouble for the players.

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Past 24 Rounds:

Ludvig Aberg (+0.73)
Rory McIlroy (+0.69)
Xander Schauffele (+0.62)
Viktor Hovland (+0.58)
Chris Kirk (+0.52)

Proximity: 175-200

The 175-200 range is key at Quail Hollow. Players who can hit their long irons well will rise to the top of the leaderboard.

Proximity: 175-200+ over past 24 rounds:

Cameron Young (28’2″)
Akshay Bhatia (29’6″)
Ludvig Aberg (+30’6″)
Sam Burns (+30’6″)
Collin Morikawa (+30’9″)

SG: Total on Tom Fazio Designs

Players who thrive on Tom Fazio designs get a bump for me at Quail Hollow this week.

SG: Total on Tom Fazio Designs over past 36 rounds:

Patrick Cantlay (+2.10)
Rory McIlroy (+1.95)
Tommy Fleetwood (+1.68)
Austin Eckroat (+1.60)
Will Zalatoris (+1.57)

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass)

Strokes Gained: Putting has historically graded out as the most important statistic at Quail Hollow. While it isn’t always predictable, I do want to have it in the model to bump up golfers who prefer to putt on Bermudagrass.

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass) Over Past 24 Rounds:

Taylor Moore (+0.82)
Nick Dunlap (+.76)
Wyndham Clark (+.69)
Emiliano Grillo (+.64)
Cam Davis (+.61)

Course History

This stat will incorporate players that have played well in the past at Quail Hollow.

Course History over past 36 rounds (per round):

Rory McIlroy (+2.50)
Justin Thomas (+1.96)
Jason Day (+1.92)
Rickie Fowler (+1.83)
Viktor Hovland (+1.78)

Wells Fargo Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), SG: Off the Tee (23%), SG: Total on Fazio designs (12%), Proximity: 175-200 (12%), SG: Putting Bermuda grass (12%), and Course History (14%).

Wyndham Clark
Rory McIlroy
Xander Schauffele
Shane Lowry
Hideki Matsuyama
Viktor Hovland
Cameron Young
Austin Eckroat
Byeong Hun An
Justin Thomas

2024 Wells Fargo Championship Picks

Tommy Fleetwood +2500 (DraftKings)

I know many out there have Tommy fatigue when it comes to betting, which is completely understandable given his lack of ability to win on the PGA Tour thus far in his career. However, history has shown us that players with Fleetwood’s talent eventually break though, and I believe for Tommy, it’s just a matter of time.

Fleetwood has been excellent on Tom Fazio designs. Over his past 36 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on Fazio tracks. He’s also been incredibly reliable off the tee this season. He’s gained strokes in the category in eight of his past nine starts, including at The Masters, the PLAYERS and the three “signature events” of the season. Tommy is a golfer built for tougher courses and can grind it out in difficult conditions.

Last year, Fleetwood was the first-round leader at this event, firing a Thursday 65. He finished the event in a tie for 5th place.

For those worried about Fleetwood’s disappointing start his last time out at Harbour Town, he’s bounced back nicely after plenty of poor outings this season. His T7 at the Valero Texas Open was after a MC and T35 in his prior two starts and his win at the Dubai Invitational came after a T47 at the Sentry.

I expect Tommy to bounce back this week and contend at Quail Hollow.

Justin Thomas +3000 (DraftKings)

It’s been a rough couple of years for Justin Thomas, but I don’t believe things are quite as bad as they seem for JT. He got caught in the bad side of the draw at Augusta for last month’s Masters and has gained strokes on approach in seven of his nine starts in 2024.

Thomas may have found something in his most recent start at the RBC Heritage. He finished T5 at a course that he isn’t the best fit for on paper. He also finally got the putter working and ranked 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week.

The two-time PGA champion captured the first of his two major championships at Quail Hollow back in 2017, and some good vibes from the course may be enough to get JT out of his slump.

Thomas hasn’t won an event in just about two years. However, I still believe that will change soon as he’s been one of the most prolific winners throughout his PGA Tour career. Since 2015, he has 15 PGA Tour wins.

Course history is pretty sticky at Quail Hollow, with players who like the course playing well there on a regular basis. In addition to JT’s PGA Championship win in 2017, he went 4-1 at the 2022 Presidents Cup and finished T14 at the event last year despite being in poor form. Thomas can return as one of the top players on the PGA Tour with a win at a “signature event” this week.

Cameron Young +3500 (DraftKings)

For many golf bettors, it’s been frustrating backing Cam Young this season. His talent is undeniable, and one of the best and most consistent performers on the PGA Tour. He just hasn’t broken through with a victory yet. Quail Hollow has been a great place for elite players to get their first victory. Rory McIlroy, Anthony Kim, Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark all notched their first PGA Tour win at Quail.

Throughout Cam Young’s career, he has thrived at tougher courses with strong fields. This season, he finished T16 at Riviera and T9 at Augusta National, demonstrating his preference of a tough test. His ability to hit the ball long and straight off the tee make him an ideal fit for Quail Hollow, despite playing pretty poorly his first time out in 2023 (T59). Young should be comfortable playing in the region as he played his college golf at Wake Forest, which is about an hour’s drive from Quail Hollow.

The 26-year-old has played well at Tom Fazio designs in the past and ranks 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on those courses in his last 36 rounds. Perhaps most importantly, this season, Young is the best player on the PGA Tour in terms of proximity from 175-200 in the fairway, which is where a plurality and many crucial shots will come from this week.

Young is an elite talent and Quail Hollow has been kind to players of his ilk who’ve yet to win on Tour.

Byeong Hun An +5000 (FanDuel)

Byeong Hun An missed some opportunities last weekend at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. He finished T4 and played some outstanding golf, but a couple of missed short putts prevented him from getting to the winning score of -23. Despite not getting the win, it’s hard to view An’s performance as anything other than an overwhelming success. It was An’s fourth top-ten finish of the season.

Last week, An gained 6.5 strokes ball striking, which was 7th in the field. He also ranked 12th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th for Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. The South Korean has been hitting the ball so well from tee to green all season long and he now heads to a golf course that should reward his precision.

An’s driver and long irons are absolute weapons. At Quail Hollow, players will see plenty of approach shots from the 175-200 range as well as some from 200+. In his past 24 rounds, Ben ranks 3rd in the field in proximity from 175-200 and 12th in proximity from 200+. Playing in an event that will not end up being a “birdie” fest should help An, who can separate from the field with his strong tee to green play. The putter may not always cooperate but getting to -15 is much easier than getting to -23 for elite ball strikers who tend to struggle on the greens.

Winning a “signature event” feels like a tall task for An this week with so many elite players in the field. However, he’s finished T16 at the Genesis Invitational, T16 at The Masters and T8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The 32-year-old’s game has improved drastically this season and I believe he’s ready to get the biggest win of his career.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s LIV Golf Singapore betting preview: Course specialist ready to thrive once again

Published

2 weeks ago

Apr 30, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.

Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.

Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”

Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.

“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.

Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.

“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”

“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”

As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.

In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.

“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”

Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.

Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:

Fairways Hit

1.) Louis Oosthuizen

2.) Anirban Lahiri

3.) Jon Rahm

4.) Brendan Steele

5.) Cameron Tringale

Greens in Regulation

1.) Brooks Koepka

2.) Brendan Steele

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Cameron Tringale

5.) Anirban Lahiri

Birdies Made

1.) Brendan Steele

2.) Dean Burmester

3.) Thomas Pieters

4.) Patrick Reed

5.) Carlos Ortiz

LIV Golf Individual Standings:

1.) Joaquin Niemann

2.) Jon Rahm

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Louis Oosthuizen

5.) Abraham Ancer

LIV Golf Team Standings:

1.) Crushers

2.) Legion XIII

3.) Torque

4.) Stinger GC

5.) Ripper GC

LIV Golf Singapore Picks

Sergio Garcia +3000 (DraftKings)

Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.

This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.

Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)

Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.

This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.

It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.

Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)

Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.

Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.

Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.

Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)

Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.

Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.

If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.

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