PGA Betting Predictions
Another no cut event from Asia sanctioned by the PGA TOUR, the European and Asian Tours comes our way this week when the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions takes place at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
2013 HSBC Champions
Location: Shanghai, China
Course: Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club
Date: Oct 31 – Nov 3, 2013
Total Purse: US $ 8,500,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,200,000
Odds from [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Defending Champion: Ian Poulter ($1,200,000)
A world class field will tee it up on a 72 measuring 7,266 yards. A good all-around game will be tested this week but you can expect the winner to go low. Martin Kaymer recorded a 20 under score the last time this event was held here in 2011 and David Howell recorded a 20-under 268 in the inaugural WGC-HSBC Champions in 2005.
Let’s take a look at some of the names to watch this week as players chase the winner’s share of the $8.5 million purse as well as an invitation to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship and the PGA Championship
The Favorites:
Rory McILROY 12/1
Didn’t have the best year (zero wins) but starts a new season on a track that he has three top 5s on in three starts in his career. He tied for second at the Korean Open two weeks ago before sharing 27th last week at the BMW Masters and is the favorite this week because of his prior success on this track.
Phil MICKELSON 14/1
Had a win here in 2009 and has finished top 20 in his last two starts overall including a T19 last week. He wasn’t happy with his effort last week and will be out to avenge his disappointing effort. A motivated Phil is certainly a dangerous one.
Justin ROSE 16/1
Hasn’t played since a sixth place finish at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. His ball striking is sensational – if his putter heats up he is will contend. He has played here just once – a T7 in 2011.
The Contenders:
Martin KAYMER 20/1
Had a win here in 2011 after a T6 in 2009. He always seems to have one bad round that takes him out of contention – something he hopes to avoid this week. He tied for 13th at last week’s BMW Masters, has cracked the top 15 in his last three worldwide starts and is a dangerous defending champ on this course.
Keegan BRADLEY 25/1
Had a bad weekend at the CIMB – otherwise he would have run away with the tournament. He loves WGC events – top 25s in all seven starts in those events. He tied for 16th here in 2011 after starting strong, but fading on the weekend, very similar to last week.
Sergio GARCIA 25/1
Has an impressive string of top 20s going – he hasn’t been outside since the Barclays and he looked good at times last week. He has the all-around game that is perfectly suited for this track – he finished T23 here in 2009. He has twenty-four top 25s in his last 30 starts and an intriguing 25/1 this week.
Jordan SPIETH 25/1
This will be his WGC debut but there is no denying his form the last six or so months. He looked OK in the President’s Cup – the last time we saw him. He ended the 2013 season with a T2 at East Lake and is another interesting 25/1 this week.
Jason DUFNER 28/1
Duf’s game is very well suited for this track – superb ball striker and when his putter heats up, is virtually unstoppable. He has quietly finished 10 in five of his last nine starts and has a knack of showing up in the bigger events. To ignore Duf in this spot is to not be a golf fan. [ad-1198200]
Francesco MOLINARI 33/1
Has played very well on this track – a win in 2010 in wire-to-wire fashion, T10 in ’09 and a T23 in ’11. He tied for second at last week’s BMW Masters after a pair of top 20s worldwide before that which shows his form ahead of the HSBC.
Ryan MOORE 33/1
Won the CIMB in a playoff last week after a T11 at the BMW Championship and a T9 at the Shriners – he’s been playing very well. He finished third in his only start in this tournament back in 2009 and although I guard against picking players that won the week before, you simply cannot ignore Moore’s current form.
Peter UIHLEIN 33/1
Has been terrific of late – top sevens in four of five starts with a pair of solo seconds and a T5 at the BMW Masters. He makes his first start in the WGC but enters in arguably the best form of his career.
Jimmy WALKER 40/1
Has played every event so far this young season and has not been worse that T12 in any of the four tournaments. Walker is realizing his enormous potential and is an interesting 40/1 here.
Graham DeLAET 40/1
I’ve been all over this guy lately and as mentioned in previous weeks his stats are too good not to have won yet on TOUR. He finished T7 last week at the CIMB and has eight top 25s in last 15 starts with six top 10s. He absolutely HAS to win sometime.
Hideki MATSUYAMA 40/1
Had a bad weekend in Kuala Lampur but has 17 top 25 in 18 starts as a professional – impressive. He is another that will win sometime and this weekend could be his time.
The Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Bill HAAS 50/1
Started his season last week and finished T16 at the CIMB. He has not been out of the top 30 in his last seven starts but hasn’t finished top 15 in any of them either. He is consistently good but hasn’t quite shown the form I need to back him.
Kiradech APHIBARNRAT 50/1
I had him as my sleeper plat week and he almost rewarded me – a second place finish at the CIMB. He has played this track twice before but never has he entered in such good form. He is a motivated guy looking to make himself a household name. The best name in golf could emerge this week.
Rickie FOWLER 55/1
Has quietly put together a good run – seven top 25s in his last 10 starts including a T19 last week at the CIMB. He has played this track just once – a T25 in 2010.
The Pick:
I know it may seem a bit boring but Keegan Bradley at 25/1 is just too good to pass up. I picked him last week and almost looked like a genius before his meltdown on the weekend. He loves WGC events and will be looking to get that first win of 2013 this weekend. He strings together four solid rounds and avenges his collapse from last week at the HSBC Championship.
At risk of sounding like a broken record I have the same sleeper as last week as well. Kiradech Aphibarnrat is a solid 50/1 again this week. Asian golfer could make good on his home continent.
