So last week I called that Pat Rodgers making birdie on 18 gets him into a play off. Without breaking sweat he makes bogey and Seamus Power crawled over the line. A close call for sure but a small loss last week has led me to decide to reduce my layout until January. This week like most of the others in recent weeks is a known but unknown quantity. Players peak at certain times of the year on certain grasses and layouts but our autumn time has always been a bit feast and famine for golfers so until the new year when we start to see the big PGA events I'm stealthing into full on each way wanker mode with a couple of outsiders on weeks where i feel the place money has value.
The worldwide technology championship at Mayakoba has been won for the last 2 years by Viktor Hovland. Mayakoba, Puerto del Carmen measures 7017 yards, a par 71 it's a beautiful tree lined, drivers golf course where accuracy rather than length is the key, which explains why Vik loves the gaff. Some Aussie designed it a few years ago I refuse to utter his name, but he certainly likes to reward good accurate driving, as was his forte, before getting into bed with the Saudis. Usually a tournament like this would have me running towards Brendan Todd and Chez Revie this week, Billy Horschel is another one who loves this place, but I'm going with 2 lads under 30 at big prices for 2 very different reasons. First up we have the season's stand out performer in terms of consistency. This lad has just got his first full tour card and to celebrate he's decided to go 13th, 15th, 9th and 3rd in his first 4 starts and is trending upwards thanks to some solid driving and a putter that rivals Denny McCarthy's. I wont scramble for the stats but I doubt you could find 10 players from the last 40 years who have started better than that in their first full season, and I back him to be in play off the tee and have plenty of looks this week with the wand. At a ridiculous 40/1 8 places with Betfair I'm 7 points each way on Taylor Montgomery.
My only other pick this week is Cam Champ. A regular to the blog after what he did at the masters last year, Cam's progress has been hindered by wrist problems and muscle strains since he exploded onto the tour in 2018. A low ball flight and breakneck ball speeds have him up there with Rory on Driving performance some weeks and when fit he can take any course to bits. However confidence in his body (and his putter) have held him back. In a field like this a fit and firing CC would be 33s or lower, but after a good showing of 8th in his last outing at the Zozo I saw enough to believe that good things are close. At a whopping 70/1 top 8 with Skybet I think a good Thursday could in the top 30 will see him improve, so he's getting 3points each way.
I'm away playing Sawgrass and Bayhill next week so the blog will be on hold (the lengths I go to for research), but all roads lead to January from here so keep the faith and keep some money in your pocket.
JR
