Although I miss the money flowing into my account, I haven't missed reviewing for a couple of weeks but sadly the time off has lapsed and some kind of new Autumn, wrap around golf season thingy has started again.
Whilst many of the bigger names in golf head to Wentworth this week, the PGA visits The North Course at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley.
This week the chances of picking the winner aren't very slim, for no other reason than Max Homa just wins. He's in full prep for the Ryder cup, he's won the last two events here, he's local to the course and the second favourite, Justin Thomas, looks about as comfortable on a golf course as a tinnitus sufferer looks at a Slayer concert. At 15/2 he's not juicy but he just can't lose IMO so it is him and 2 others this week.
The North course has been re-routed this year with holes being played in different orders to improve the finish (according to some bloke who is paid for his old rope). Regardless, this tree lined and narrow course is not long (7,166 Yards Par 72) and requires accuracy. It doesn't suit the modern golf game as much as most courses, but accurate driving and strong approach play will still yield plenty of birdies. Despite the hole order changing, I just can't get past MAX HOMA, and although his odds are short, I just can't see him not winning. However, this is the hill that thieves go to die on, so I am 10pts e/w this week at 15/2, 5 places 1/4 odds with Bet365.
JT isn't playing well enough and 3rd fav Theegala just doesn't drive well enough at his odds, so this week we look further down the list. A short accurate test always pushes me towards the same types of player, and whilst Brendan Todd, Chez Revie and Webb Simpson all entered my thinking, it's the form of KEVIN STREELMAN that really won the day. Streels ended the season with a real flurry with a 9th in the Charles Schwab and 2nd place in the 3M Open, and this is his kind of track for sure. Length is his only weakness IMO and this is one of the half a dozen places he is suited to go close, so I'm happy to go 3pts e/w 55/1 8 places 1/5 odds with Bet365 (each way extra).
Last up is a form pick only, and a man who seems to be returning from the doldrums. I was expecting him to travel to Wentworth this week from Ireland, but after his 16th place at the KP Club in Dublin he travels West to California instead. ERIK VAN ROYEN, despite his ridiculous elasticated ankle trousers, has been a fixture in world golf for the last few years, but 2023 has seen a big loss in confidence and a lot of missed cuts. A winner in Europe and on Tour on the PGA his talent just hasn't yielded the results, but since he finished his last round on the PGA at the Barracuda (finishing 6th), he has tied 8th at the European masters and last week showed yet more improvement in a field far stronger than this one. Maybe the trending isn't quite complete, but at 125/1 top 8 Bet365 (each way extra again) I'm using my last 2 points, in a field of this quality he is just way too big.
Just 3 this week, but at the very least Max will have us all enjoying the view on Sunday afternoon.
Go well TEWT
Homa 10pts e/w 15/2 5 places (1/4 odds) Bet365
Streelman 3pts e/w 55/1 8 places Bet 365
Van Royen 2pts e/w 8 places Bet365
