THERE'S only the one golf tournament taking place this week and it’s on the PGA Tour for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, being held over two courses; Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach, California.
We will see notable differences to the tournament this year with no amateurs taking part and instead of the usual three courses, it will just be played on the two mentioned. 54 holes on the Pebble Beach Links course and 18 on Spyglass Hill.
The 156 field will be competing on both par 72 venues for an impressive $7.8million with $1.4millions to the eventual winner on Sunday.
The event starts at 4.30pm GMT on Thursday and will be live on Sky Sports Main Event from Thursday through to Sunday.
The unlikely winner last year, Nick Taylor, will return to defend the title he won defeating Kevin Streelman by four strokes with a very impressive -19 scorecard.
Just as I’m writing this preview breaking news that world No.1 Dustin Johnson has just announced his withdrawal from the tournament to spend time with family after his victory in Saudi Arabia last week. The markers are currently being revised.
Success in Saudi
I predicted Dustin Johnson would carve up the course for fun and come up trumps last week at The Saudi International and he certainly didn’t disappoint winning by two shots with a -15 scorecard.
My other selection Tony Finau 18/1EW finished runner up making it a 1-2 for us. To pick a winner at golf is tricky enough at the best of times with usually around 150 golfers all competing for the victory so to get not just 1st but 2nd as well makes writing my previews and tips all the more worthwhile.
DJ also landed my 10/11 Nap selection beating Bryson De Chambeau convincingly in the 72-hole match bet.
Well done to everyone who followed my selections last week and collected a tidy profit, just so glad I could help you take some money off the bookies.
Patrick Cantlay
So on to the selections, I’ve just had to review the markets due to DJ withdrawing but to be honest I was actually going to oppose the world No.1 this week anyway, at least he can’t make me look a fool now for doing so.
The man I had in mind to oppose him was Patrick Cantlay who was trading at around 12/1 but he is now trading at a best price 8/1 each-way with Betfair.
Again, I don’t want to look a fool and change my selection just because the price has dropped, we all know what happens when we do that so I’m going to stick with Cantlay for my main selection.
I had plenty good reason to oppose DJ this week and go with Cantlay; Johnson has just had a long week in Saudi Arabia in a different time zone and was always going to need some time to recharge his batteries.
If he had competed this weekend I feel it may have all caught up with him especially in the later rounds hence why he has probably made the decision in the past hour to stay at home with his family.
Cantlay is now the highest ranked player in this field and with his impressive figures and averages around this Pebble Beach layout it has to be an advantage at a course he just simply adores.
When the US Open was held here in 2019 the American played some sublime golf, finishing a respectable eleventh.
With these greens so small Cantlay's short, accurate game will give him even more an advantage over this field.
A native to these parts, Cantlay's last two events in California has seen him finish 1st – winning The Zozo Championship – and 2nd – runner up at The American Express not far from here a couple of weeks ago, he was so unlucky to be beaten by one shot to eventual winner Si Woo Kim.
I can see Patrick Cantlay make it win number four on the PGA tour with yet another victory here this week on home soil.
Will Zalatoris
For my next selection I’m going to side with a golfer I’ve been following recently, Will Zalatoris 20/1 each-way at Betfair.
I suggested Zalatoris at 60/1 eah-way at The Farmers Insurance Open just a couple of weeks ago and if you backed him with the firm’s offering first eight place money then you would have earned a tidy profit with the American finishing 7th.
I also selected him at the same event to be in the Top 20 at 3/1 so I’m willing to keep with this young talented 24-year-old as I can only see good times ahead.
If you read my previous previews about Zalatoris then you will realise why I am so confident this youngster will be winning PGA tour events including majors.
I’m also going to predict that Zalatoris will finish in the Top 20 yet again this week and make it my NAP at 5/4 (Bet365).
Jason Day
For my next selection I’m going to look for some value down the field and for this reason I’m going to pick Jason Day 25/1 each-way at Betfair.
I just feel that without Dustin Johnson in attendance this may open the door and give some confidence to others and a player I think can take full advantage is this former major champion.
It is a concern that the Australian has missed the cut in his last two tournaments but I’m willing to ignore this as Day has so much talent on offer.
He has recently teamed up with new coach Chris Como and their were definitely signs at The Phoenix Open that this partnership was starting to come together.
He was striking the ball much sweeter and his strokes gained approach figures were up with the best he has had when winning tournaments consistently.
Day also has an impressive record here at Pebble Beach where three of the four rounds will be played. He has rewarded each-way punters in his last four appearances here and five of the last six.
Given this weaker field, I think this will play into the Australian's hands and he will sense an opportunity to get back on track and be a leading contender come Sunday.
Patrick Cantlay vs Daniel Berger
For my final selection I’m going to choose my main selection Patrick Cantlay to get the better of Daniel Berger in the 72-hole matchbet at 10/11 (Bet365).
