PGA Betting – 2012 AT&T National Championship Tournament Predictions
The PGA TOUR moves to Maryland this week to the Congressional Country Club, site of last year’s US Open.
2012 AT&T National
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Course: Congressional Country Club
Date: Jun 28 – Jul 1, 2012
Total Purse: US $ 6,500,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,116,000 (17% of total purse)
Defending Champion: Nick Watney ($1,116,000)
Congressional is long – 7500 yards so suffice to say, driving distance will be a huge factor this week. But as always, accuracy and a good putter are essential for a player to come home with the $1.116 million. Last week I had Hunter Mahan as my pick – a closing round 61 almost put him over the top – we’ll have to see if he can carry that momentum and realize his potential as one of the favorites this week.
Here is a brief glance at some of the field and how those players should fare on this monster Congressional course. There is lots of value – let’s take a look.
The Favorites:
Tiger Woods 11/2
Woods won this event the last time it was played here in 2009 and also has two wins this year. He is second on TOUR in both greens hit and the all-around and should do well this weekend. Tiger did show good form in his last outing at the US Open but fizzled down the stretch. With that meltdown fresh in his mind, Tiger should be motivated to do very well on a course that he absolutely loves.
Hunter Mahan 12/1
Mahan rallied on Sunday at the Travellers to finish T11 and has to be on the radar this week. He is fourth on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation and he has a good history at this event – T8 here in 2007, T12 in 2008 and second in 2009. Mahan has won twice on TOUR already this year and will be looking to make it three!
The Contenders:
Jim Furyk 15/1
In the three years this tournament was held at Congressional, Furyk finished 3rd, 3rd, and 7th. Combine that with his recent strong play at Colonial (4th), the Memorial (13th) and the U.S. Open (4th) and it promises to be a good week for the veteran.
Dustin Johnson 15/1
Johnson has shown little effect from his injury that kept him out for almost three months earlier this season. Since his return, Johnson has a T19 at the Memorial and win at the FedEx St. Jude Classic followed by a missed cut in his last outing at the US Open. He has had some time to cure what ailed him at Olympic and should be ready to contend this week.
Bo Van Pelt 25/1
Van Pelt has been on my lists almost every week and he has shown flashes – four top 25s in his last five starts. He is fifth on the PGA TOUR in total driving, 52nd in greens hit and third in Strokes Gained-Putting and he did finish T14 last year at Congressional at the US Open. Maybe this is the week Van Pelt finally gets the “W”.
Ryan Palmer 30/1
Palmer may be the player most due for a win with four top 10s in his last five starts including his last three. He is a big hitter which certainly helps on this track and he is top ten in strokes gained putting this year. Palmer is as hot as anyone on TOUR and certainly can’t be discounted.
Jason Day 40/1
Day is appearing on a lot of radars this week despite recording just two top 10s this year. He is in the top ten in driving distance and owns a lethal putter as well. The last time an event was played at Congressional he finished second behind Rory (last year’s US Open).
Nick Watney 40/1
Won this event last year even though it was played at the Aronimink course in Pennsylvania. He is 37th on the PGA TOUR in greens hit on TOUR and his all around game should suit him well this week.
The Sleepers:
Brian Davis 50/1
Davis has finished T4 three times in 2012 and may be the player most due for a win outside Ryan Palmer. He is playing the best golf of his career and is an intriguing name heading into this weekend.
Martin Laird 50/1
Laird is a very good driver of the golf ball and he finds the green with regularity – good traits for this track. He has a propensity for showing up in big events on tough courses as shown by his runner-up finish at the Players. Laird is an interesting sleeper and with his length off the tee could be in contention come Sunday. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Ben Curtis 50/1
Curtis has been great as of late but his one weakness – driving could be his Achilles heel at Congressional. He is accurate for sure but the big hitters are likely to pass him by.
Cameron Tringale 60/1
Has been on my Sleeper radar all season long but hasn’t quite busted out. He has consecutive top 25s at the Memorial and Travelers and is 20th on TOUR in total driving, 39th in greens hit and 19th in Strokes Gained-Putting. Tringale has four top 10 finishes already this year and this week could act as #5.
Davis Love III 60/1
Love has had some success at Congressional – T11 in last year’s US Open. He also finished T3 at the St. Jude Classic and was T29 in the 2012 US Open. Davis is in good form at the moment and could challenge on a course he likes very much.
The Pick:
I’m going to stay away from Tiger this week – when the driver is important, Woods falls apart. I’m going with Dustin Johnson at 15/1 – his driving distance will be the difference this week.
As for my sleeper, you have to like the value that Davis Love poses at 60/1.
2012 AT&T National Championship Betting Lines & Future Odds
CLICK TO BET
| Tiger Woods | 5/1 |
| Hunter Mahan | 12/1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 16/1 |
| Jim Furyk | 18/1 |
| Adam Scott | 20/1 |
| K.J. Choi | 33/1 |
| Bo Van Pelt | 33/1 |
| Nick Watney | 33/1 |
| Jason Day | 40/1 |
| Ben Curtis | 50/1 |
| Bryce Molder | 50/1 |
| Ryan Moore | 40/1 |
| Martin Laird | 50/1 |
| Robert Garrigus | 50/1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 50/1 |
| Ben Crane | 66/1 |
| Seung-yul Noh | 66/1 |
| Marc Leishman | 66/1 |
| Y-E Yang | 80/1 |
| Davis Love III | 66/1 |
| Charles Howell III | 66/1 |
| Brian Davis | 66/1 |
| Cameron Tringale | 66/1 |
| Blake Adams | 80/1 |
| Bud Cauley | 80/1 |
| John Huh | 80/1 |
| Pat Perez | 66/1 |
| Andres Romero | 80/1 |
| Kyle Stanley | 80/1 |
| Camilo Villegas | 80/1 |
| Charley Hoffman | 66/1 |
| Greg Owen | 80/1 |
| Jeff Overton | 66/1 |
| Rory Sabbatini | 66/1 |
| Ryan Palmer | 33/1 |
| Spencer Levin | 80/1 |
| Robert Allenby | 80/1 |
| Brendon De Jonge | 80/1 |
| Chad Campbell | 66/1 |
| Charlie Wi | 80/1 |
| Harris English | 80/1 |
| Michael – H Thompson | 80/1 |
| Kevin Chappell | 80/1 |
| Nick O’Hern | 100/1 |
| Matt Every | |
| Brian Gay | 125/1 |
| Patrick Cantlay | 100/1 |
| Heath Slocum | 100/1 |
| Boo Weekley | 125/1 |
| Greg Chalmers | 100/1 |
| Sang-Moon Bae | 125/1 |
| D-A Points | 100/1 |
| George Mcneill | 125/1 |
| Kevin Stadler | 100/1 |
| Kevin Streelman | 100/1 |
| Vijay Singh | 80/1 |
| Chris Kirk | 100/1 |
| Gary Woodland | 125/1 |
| Kyung-Tae Kim | 125/1 |
| J.J. Henry | 150/1 |
| Jordan Speith | 150/1 |
| Danny Lee | 125/1 |
| Scott Piercy | 100/1 |
| Johnson Wagner | 125/1 |
| Chris Stroud | 125/1 |
| Sean O’Hair | 100/1 |
| Tommy Gainey | 100/1 |
| James Driscoll | 125/1 |
| David Mathis | 150/1 |
| Ricky Barnes | 150/1 |
| Daniel Summerhays | 150/1 |
| Bob Estes | 150/1 |
| Brian Harman | 200/1 |
| Dicky Pride | 200/1 |
| Lucas Glover | 150/1 |
| Trevor Immelman | 125/1 |
| Rod Pampling | 150/1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 150/1 |
| John Merrick | 125/1 |
| Brandt Jobe | 125/1 |
| Graham Delaet | 150/1 |
| Jhonattan Vegas | 150/1 |
| Roberto Castro | 175/1 |
| Stewart Cink | 125/1 |
| Beau Hossler | 150/1 |
| Angel Cabrera | 200/1 |
| Billy Mayfair | 200/1 |
| Jeff Maggert | 200/1 |
| Brendan Steele | 150/1 |
| John Mallinger | 200/1 |
| Tom Gillis | 200/1 |
| Chris Couch | 200/1 |
| Tim Herron | 200/1 |
| Will Claxton | 250/1 |
| Chris Dimarco | 250/1 |
| Cameron Beckman (Suspended) | 1/100 |
| Chez Reavie | 150/1 |
| Martin Flores | 200/1 |
| Kris Blanks | 250/1 |
| Scott Stallings (Suspended) | 250/1 |
| Kyle Reifers | 250/1 |
