A journey into the complete unknown.

So we head to Utah this week, and to their first PGA Tour event in over 60 years. There are no tour stats to lean on for this week, but given the Utah Championship has been played since 2019 on the Korn Ferry tour, we can derive that players will go low, and good accuracy from the tee will set up lots of chances, so driving stats are what I'm leaning on, given the elevations and blind shots on offer. Black Desert Resort Golf Course, is a stunning bit of land. Rolling hills, 360 degree views, Lava Rock, waste areas and carpeted fairways will give the players a real treat this week, as long as they bring their sun cream, as we are looking at 33 degrees plus all week! At 7371 Yards, Par 71, the tour has added 200 yards to it's little brother event on the Korn Ferry, so a bit of distance with accuracy would be nice, and 127 players will go at this Fall Season event hoping to push into the top 125 for next years bigger tour showcase events.

There is a theme in golf that one good showing leads to another, and despite some woeful form, KEITH MITCHELL rose like a Phoenix from the ashes last week (after I had written him off) and looked a likely winner for some time, but for a bogey on the 18th to miss the play off. Being in contention after such a strong run is not easy to deal with, given no real form to lean on under the pressure, but we should know by now I love a follow up to a good performance, and Keith is the best driver in the field, he's long, he loves playing in the heat (a Tennessee native and Georgia Tech star) and has the class. He is my first pick and my most obvious and we invest 7pts each way 18/1 5 places with Bet365.

This time last year I felt Parker Coody and his moustache of epic proportions, was the guy to follow coming off his Korn Ferry graduation, but like the punting slut that I am, I'm jumping into his twin brother's bed this week instead. PIERCESON COODY is decent with the big stick, and he is long, he putts exceptionally well and he has previous here. 6th in 2023 and 10th in 2022, the 24 year old Texan had a reasonable year on tour last year to boot and the extra length will help him against some tappers. 120th would have seen him into the play offs in previous years, but that background of work and 2 top 10s sandwiched into a plethora of made cuts in the final 3rd of the season, make him a tasty pick for this week at the very least. Course form and ability make him work 2pts e/w this week 90/1 Ladbrokes 8 places.

Rinse and repeat next as STEPHAN JAEGER is cracking odds this week. He showed glimpses last week and his driving ability will shine through here. He won on tour in 24 and this field and this test should be right in his wheel house. 33/1 8 Places with Paddy Power we go 4pts e/w.

Last up I have a real soft spot for this guy. His online presence on twitter is exceptional, the tips, advice and content he puts out is so open and out there, I was thinking maybe to his detriment. However last season saw a renewal of some fine form, and despite him going against the driving stat profile this week (it's the weakest part of his game), his 5 top 20s last year and 1 top 10 at the Amex (similar temperatures and vistas) tell me he can place for us at a nice price. He has played here in 2022 finishing 5th and this is a field he belongs in for sure and at 31 the Berkeley graduate is in his prime and trending upwards. His name is MICHAEL KIM, and he is 70/1 in several places (Hills Betfair PP), top 8 and we go 2pts e/w on him to close the week out.

Just a note that a small loss last week came about with Thorbjornsen sharing 8th with 2 others, sharing with 1 other would have seen a profit, but a small 9pt loss isn't the end of the world, but given Norlander and Jaeger both had chances, it was a what could have been.

TEWT