This Week’s PGA Tour Predictions!
A tremendous field will give it a go this week on Riviera’s iconic track as the 2015 Northern Open is contested. Riviera is unlike last week – it measures 7,349 yards and it plays to par of 71.
Bet On The 2015 Northern Trust Open
When: February 19 – 22, 2015
Golf Course: Riviera Country Club – Pacific Palisades, California
Purse: $6,700,000 – Winning Share: $1,206,000
Defending Champion: Bubba Watson
***2015 BONUSES***
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Needless to say, length off the tee will be essential here with three par 5’s looming – two of which are reachable in two for the bombers.
Not only is distance essential here however – Riviera is a terrific test of one’s all-around game. But make no mistake about it, this course is a ball-striker’s haven. Par 5 and par 4 scoring average are things I looked at this week – course history and current form also have a great say in who I am keeping my eye on.
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So who are the few that have caught my eye? Let’s break it down.
2015 Northern Trust Open Golf Favorites:
Dustin Johnson 10/1
Has three top 4s and a T10 in seven appearances at this event but also has two missed cuts sprinkled in there. Johnson is coming off a T4 last week at Pebble Beach and looks as though any rust that he did have is a thing of the past. The defending runner-up has the length to contend here but against a quality field is still a tad hard to trust.
Bubba Watson 11/1
Defending champion makes his first starts since a T2 at the Waste Management – his third top 10 in three starts this season. He has an incredible eight top 3s the last year and is as hot as any player on the planet right now. It’s safe to say that he should be in the mix this week as well.
Jordan Spieth 11/1
Is coming off a T7 at Pebble Beach after a shocking missed cut at Torrey Pines. He finished T12 here last year and is one golfer due for a huge effort this week. He is currently 11th on TOUR in strokes gained tee-to-green which is something that will come in awfully handy this week.
2015 Northern Trust Open Golf Contenders:
Jimmy Walker 16/1
I picked Jimmy last week and he finished a quiet T21 – you have to think that he is in for a better week this at Riviera.
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The fact is that nobody is playing better than Walker right now. Walker is on record as saying that he loves Riviera and why not – he has top 20 finishes in each of the last four years here including T4 finishes in 2011 and 2012. Walker suddenly comes at a good price after a down week – don’t sleep on him!
Bill Haas 28/1
How much does Haas love this course? In 2011, Haas finished T-12, in 2012 he won, 2013: T-3, and in 2014: T-23. His present form can’t be denied either after a win at the Humana and a T19 at Pebble Beach. Haas is certainly one to keep an eye on at a course he has a terrific relationship with.
Jim Furyk 28/1
Finished a very respectable T7 last week in his first stroke play event since September! He did have the 54 hole lead but rust crept into the equation – something that shouldn’t happen with a tournament under his belt. He has six top-25 finishes at Riviera since 2006, including each of the last three years and has twelve top 10s overall in the last year.
Charl Schwartzel 33/1
Will be looking for his first US win since the 2011 Masters but has been close here – T3 (2013) and fifth (2014). He looked great in South Africa to open 2015 only to fall apart on Sunday and finish second and he did have a T9 in Abu Dhabi. Schwartzel always shows up at Riviera – expect no less this week!
2015 Northern Trust Open Golf Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Graham DeLaet 50/1
He’s 3-for-3 at Riviera with a T21 in 2013. His precision tee to green makes him a threat here – and the price is right. He also opened this month with a T7 at the WM Phoenix Open.
Robert Streb 66/1
Has made every cut this year and is coming off a T10 at the Waste Management – his fifth top 10 so far. Streb ranks in the top 24 on Tour in putting (fifth), birdies per round (ninth), total driving (22nd) and sand saves (24th) – perfect attributes for this course. He is an intriguing 66/1 and could sneak past this quality field.
Charlie Beljan 66/1
A confident Beljan is an awfully good one and that is precisely what we saw last week with a solo third at Pebble Beach. His history here is also very good – a playoff loss on 2013 and a T12 last year. Present form and course history are in Beljan’s favor this week indeed.
2015 Northern Trust Open Golf Pick:
The pick this week is the same as last week – Jimmy Walker at 16/1. Riviera is his favorite track and after a down week at Pebble Beach I am expecting a huge bounce back this week.
The sleeper is Robert Streb at 66/1. His number are just too good to ignore.
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