AFTER a great finish to the Memorial last week where unfortunately my selection Rickie Fowler couldn’t keep a storming Jason Dufner from taking the prize the PGA Tour moves to Memphis for the FedEx St Jude Classic.
I posted three tips last week and two were placed with Fowler leading until he bogeyed late on to allow the fast-finishing Dufner take the glory after a delay for thunder and lightning. Kevin Kisner also gave me a place.
The 7244-yard par 70 at TPC Southwind has been hosting the tournament since 1989 with notable winners such as Greg Norman, Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson. With the greens averaging 5420 sq ft approaches to the pin, putting and scrambling all important. GIR, putting and scrambling stats are those to look at.
Looking at the relevant stats Fowler looks a good fit for here but at an average price of 8-1 I’m going to leave him out. However, one man who is in good form and fits the bill is Francesco Molinari.
His form in the last two outings has been impressive and playing on the PGA Tour seems to have improved his game. He followed up a T6 at The Players with a solo second at the BMW PGA so good finishes in good fields. GIR: 68.24% (35th) Scrambling: 61.66% (46th) Putting Average: 1.747 (T35th)
Kyle Stanley has had an up and down season but with a T4 at The Players and a T6 at the Memorial showed a good return to form, although he did miss the cut at the Dean and Deluca Invitational in between. He is second in the GIR stats and his other stats are ideal for the TPC Southwind. He has the odd lapse and throws in a bad round but his overall game is good. GIR: 71.65% (2nd) Scrambling: 61.15% (55th) Putting Average: 1.769 (T87)
A player with good form at TPC Southwind is Brooks Koepka with a T19, third and a second in his last three years. In 12 rounds here Koepka has a scoring average of 68.17. Not had a great season but the talent is certainly there. Since a T11 at the Masters there has been some sort of return to form and hopefully going back to this course where he seems to play well will give his season a boost. GIR: 64.02% (143rd) Scrambling : 54.36% (188) Putting Average: (1.736 (19th)
Recommended Bets
1.5pts ew Francesco Molinari (20-1, BetVictor)
1.5pts ew Kyle Stanley (Bet365, 33-1)
1.5pts ew Brooks Koepka (Betfair, 12-1)
Ace Venturer
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
3 for me this week
Phil mickelson 16/1 surely will get a win at some stage seems like forever and this is a tricky course
Peter uilhen 60/1 ew – another player who performs better on tough courses can’t live with the big boys bit on a low scorer he could be ew value
Ian poulter 50/1 signs of return to form this year and as above you dont need shoot 20 under here to win
I like Ace’s reasoning for Koepka and will also back Stanley who has been tipped elsewhere.
The Lyoness Open is tough but apart from Ace’s picks Frittelli is one who has been flagged up.
Talking of golf – I’m heading off soon for a game with McBookie’s Paul Petrie after making a Scotland v England tips video for Daily Record online.
That will be available to view tomorrow and let’s hope I take money off the bookie on the course.