By Gerry Ahern FrontPage Bets
So you think you know golf well enough to bet on it?
This season’s PGA Tour roster has proven anything but predictable.
Sepp Straka became the youngest unheralded player to win a tournament, passing a fading Daniel Berger among others to win the Honda Classic at last week’s PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The Bear Trap tripped up many stars and sent players looking for the next Cinderella story. Straka, who was ranked 176th in the official world golf rankings prior to the win, earned his first Tour W.
His triumph continued the underdog trend in 2022. No player ranked higher than 15th (Scottie Scheffler) won an event.
Next up this week is the Arnold Palmer Invitational on long, strong, wet Bay Hill in Orlando. The King’s course is a reasonable size, a par 72 a whopping 7,466 yards.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau is injured. So there’s a potential favorite to cast aside. Five of the top 10 players in the game are in the field.
Will another unsung hero break through? Or will a more chalky pick snag the trophy?
Catch the action on Thursday (2-6pm Golf Channel); Friday (2pm-6pm, Golf Channel); Saturday (12:30-2:30 p.m., Golf Channel, 2:30-6:00 p.m. NBC); and Sunday (12:30-2:30 p.m., Golf Channel, 2:30-6:00 p.m. NBC).
The favourite: Jon Rahm (+750)
The long Bay Hill goes well with the cream. The world’s best player has only made the top 15 once this season (T-21 at the Genesis Invitational). First on the tour in shots won off the tee, he’s set for success in his first API appearance in central Florida.
Select to click: Keith Mitchell (+4500)
Mitchell has three top six finishes in six starts at Bay Hill. He’ll be a terror off the tee on a course that requires it. Mitchell, ranked 73rd, has three top 10 finishes this season. He won’t be the fifth first-time winner in six weeks this season. Mitchell won the 2019 Honda Classic.
Top 5: Rory McIlroy (+250)
McIlroy is just getting started this year. The Northern Ireland star won the CJ Cup to launch this campaign. He was T-10 at the Genesis Invitational. McIlroy won at Arnie’s Place in 2018. The world No. 5 has finished in the top 10 here for the past five seasons.
Top 10: Scottie Scheffler (+175)
World No. 6 Scheffler already has a win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open this season. He was a T-15 at Bay Hill two years ago and expects to be back in contention if he can channel the shots needed in tight spots.
More notable Honda Classic betting odds on winning
Scottie Scheffler (+1600)
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