If you’re lucky, one of the takeaways from a trip to Las Vegas is a massive wad of cash (the unlucky, is undoubtedly an invoice from a night of what you thought was reciprocal passion). Ben Martin understands the financial beauty of Vegas now, as the winner of the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospital Open last weekend he walked away with $1,116,000 (USD). The jackpot also came with 500 FedEx Cup points, which skyrockets Martin up to 1st equal in the FedEx Cup standings.
The win capped off a remarkable turnaround for unheralded Martin. During a run in April Martin missed seven of eight cuts. In the 2014/14 PGA Tour opener he was the second worst player in the field. Even at the Shriners he was scrambling poorly (only got up and down 4-of-13 times), and in the final round was struggling with the putter (until 16 he had only made one putt over 3 feet – he then bombed an eagle and closed 18 with a 19 footer).
Of note:
– Rookie Tony Finau played well again. The huge hitter is right at home on the PGA Tour. T12 at the Frys.com and T7 at the Shriners.
– Two time leukemia battler Jarrod Lyle used a sponsors exemption nicely to again make a cut. He finished T42 and now heads to Australia to compete in the popular Triple Crown (including Rory McIlroy defending his Australian Open title).
– Wes Roach birdied 8 of his first 9 holes on Thursday at the Shriners. The run didn’t last though; he made just 10 more over the rest of the week to also finish T42.
The McGladrey Classic
The move to Georgia this week is not to Augusta unfortunately. However, the Sea Island Golf Club near Brunswick is still a beautiful PGA Tour venue. The Seaside course is a picturesque oceanside layout featuring creeks, dunes and marshland. Notwithstanding, the strong filed (of which 87 are making their third starts of the season), the test for the players will be in the difficulty in pulling away from the filed under the stigma of the McGladrey title. In the four PGA Tour McGladery tournaments all of them have been decided by one shot or less; a playoff here looks a distinct possibility.
A local winner is also strong possibility; the field features locals Chris Kirk, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson.
Top Picks
Chris Kirk – $17 – Unibet
Russell Knox – $34 – Tom Waterhouse (E/W)
Webb Simpson – $13 – Unibet
Zach Johnson – $26 – Centrebet (E/W)
Scott Brown – $34 – Luxbet
If anything Ben Martin’s stats from the Shriners prove just how difficult it is pick a winner on the PGA Tour. But this week lets go with Russell Knox. He makes the cuts at the Seaside course; led the field last week in Par 4’s and finished solo 3rd.
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
