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2015 PGA Tour Humana Challenge Tournament Betting Preview

This Week’s PGA Tour Predictions!

The PGA pros vacate Hawaii this week and invade Indian Wells, California for the Humana Challenge – a pro-am format tournament that will feature some longer rounds than the best in the world are used to.

Bet On The 2015 Humana Challenge

Location: Indian Wells, California, United States
Course: Classic Club, PGA West – Palmer Private, LaQuinta, Silver Rock
Date: Jan 22-25, 2015
Total Purse: US $ 5,700,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,026,000 (18% of total purse)
Defending Champion: Patrick Reed ($1,026,000)
***2015 BONUSES***
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The one thing that we know about this upcoming week – the winner will have to go low – last year’s Champ Patrick Reed was 28 under!

Two courses will welcome the PGA’s best and the cut will take place after 54 holes. Obviously the Humana ranks among the easiest par 72s the Pros will play this year – the two courses are short, the par 5s are easily reachable and the par 4s are made for scoring.

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Present form is always a factor at the Humana – players that have done well at the Sony traditionally play well at Indian Wells. Length won’t be a factor – good ball striking and a hot putter will be the determining factors this week.

So who should we be keeping an eye on? Let’s take a look.

2015 Humana Challenge Favorites:

Patrick Reed 12/1

Patrick Reed tore up this track last year and enters in stellar form this year off an impressive win at Kapalua. Jimmy Walker repeated at the Sony – Reed has a chance to make it a repeat champ two weeks in a row. Like him or not Reed is ascending up the ranks – in what is sure to be a birdie-fest they hottest guy in the field has to be in the conversation.

Matt Kuchar 18/1

Won this event in 2010 and is third in all-time earnings at the Humana. He showed some cracks last week in falling off to eighth at the Sony after starting the fourth round in second. Kuch may be showing some signs of wear already – his patented consistency just isn’t there so far this year.

Phil Mickelson 22/1

I just can’t trust him as third choice in his first event in an eon – can you?

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Ryan Palmer 22/1

Has a terrific course history here – he was runner-up here last year and T6 in 2013 – three top 6 finishes in four years. He has a terrific seven straight top 25 finishes worldwide and is coming off a T17 at the Sony. Present form and course history have Palmer firmly on the radar this week.

2015 Humana Challenge Contenders:

Bill Haas 25/1

Haas absolutely loves this track – the scene of his first PGA win in 2010. He’s also had a P2 in 2011 and a T6 last year at the Humana. He has just one above par round here in four attempts – as consistent a player on this track as there is in the field. If you are big on course history Haas may be your man.

Zach Johnson 28/1

Johnson’s success rests on his putter – it let him down en route to a T64 at Waialae last week. He hasn’t finished outside the top 25 in the last three editions of this tournament however – a T3 last year being his best result.

Webb Simpson 33/1

His move to a standard putter doesn’t seem to be much of an issue – surprising! He was in contention at Waialae for the first two rounds but tailed off on the weekend to eventually finish T13. His stats jump off the page when looking at this event – he can be a birdie machine, he can chew up the par 5s and his play from 150-175 yards is terrific. Simpson is due – a win may come this week.

2015 Humana Challenge Sleepers (50/1 or higher):

Paul Casey 50/1

Started well last week – he held the first round lead but tailed off as the weekend came to a close. Last week he finished 10th in GIR and 19th in putting. Casey was tops on TOUR in play from 150-175 yards birdie or better %age – perfect attributes for this track. He plays here for the first time but a 62 on Thursday last week could be the confidence booster Casey has been lacking for far too long!

Jerry Kelly 80/1

Finished a good T6 last week and was fifth in his start before. He was second in putting at Waialae – something that will come in handy here. At this tournament he’s been good – a T13 last year followed an eighth and a pair of other top 15s on this track the last five years. So far on TOUR Kelly is 22nd total birdies, 15th scoring average and 17th 1 putt %age.

2015 Humana Challenge Pick:

The pick this week is Bill Haas at 25/1. He has three top six finishes in the last four years including a win – hard to argue with that!

The Sleeper this week is Jerry Kelly at 80/1. The price is certainly right and so is his current form.

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By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.