Tag: Matt Kuchar

Golf: Haas holds on at Humana

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Bill Haas prevailed in the latest event of the PGA Tour at the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation.  Breaking a deadlock of six players, when an epic playoff seemed likely, Haas triumphed for the second time in this tournament after a 2010 win.

Haas was one of six players tied at 21-under after he made a par on 15 and finally managed to pull free when he made a composed birdie on 16 to get to 5-under for the day.  Of the six, Haas was probably the most underrated, despite his FedEx Cup win in 2011 and especially with Matt Kuchar in the mix.

But when Kuchar failed to birdie the par 5 18th, Haas took the title by a single shot over him, Charley Hoffman, Brendan Steele, Steve Wheatcroft and Sung Joon Park.  Three others were a shot further back which outlined the strength of the field and the closeness of the final round.

Haas’ four rounds in the 60’s were matched by others, but his second round 63 was bettered only by Ryan Plamer’s 61 in the same round.  The round was ultimately the decisive effort in a low scoring that demanded consistency and fight.  His gritty determination was seen down the final hole when he was forced to play an off balanced bunker shot in a bid to save par and close out his sixth PGA Tour win.

Jimmy Walker retains his lead in the FedEx Cup race over birdie-leader Robert Streb and another 2014/15 season winner, Charley Hoffman.  Because the big names are yet to play much of  a part in the new season, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Tiger Woods are paying the least to land the FedEx Cup.

Golf: Walker improves his closing to win Sony Open

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One week after letting a final round lead slip, Jimmy Walker proved he had learnt his lesson by expertly closing out the Sony Open.  The 36-year-old Oklahoma native won the Waialae hosted Sony Open for the second consecutive year; this time empathically.

Setting the record for the largest victory margin in the tournaments history – a whopping 9 shots – Walker made seven birdies on the closing 11 holes to win at 23-under, and jump into the familiar position of FedEx Cup leader, a position he held for the bulk of last season.

Walker’s repeat win is undoubtedly a big confidence boost after he was rundown by Patrick Reed last week at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, but it’s also an excellent example of the best response to a narrow defeat, and a testament to his steely determination.  Rather than overthink the finish at Kapalua, Walker just shot 62-63 over the weekend to round of his 257 total.  In the process he became the first repeat winner at the Sony Open since Ernie Els won in 2003/2004.

He did however admit that he used last week as motivation.  “I really wanted to finish out the day like I didn’t do last week,” Walker said.

He started the final day two clear; where it was expected that Matt Kuchar would provide the sternest challenge.  However, their contrasting rounds – Walker without a bogey in his 63; Kuchar without a birdie in his 71 – meant the challenge never eventuated.  Kuchar’s disappointing effort meant he finished in a tie for third with Harris English and Gary Woodland, who both had 67’s.

Scott Piercy was alone in second thanks to a 66.

The result of Walker’s two stop Hawaiian excursion was a scoring average of 66, just under $1.7 million cash, and an expected leap to number 13 in golf’s official word rankings.  His opinion of Hawaii will be vastly different to the unlucky Robert Allenby.  The Australia golfer was on the receiving end of a scary robbing and kidnapping after missing the cut.

Of the tips we dished out last week, we had Walker (1st), Day (17), Kirk and Howell III (26), Johnson (64) and Matsuyama (MDF).  So we probably didn’t get you too much money unless you picked Walker and nobody else.  See how we do later in the week when we preview the Humana Challenge.

Bae-Leaves Field In His Wake On Route To PGA Tour Win

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To begin with some personal gloating, I predicted Sang-Moon Bae’s Frys.com win in my preview article last week.

The kid didn’t disappoint.  His efforts on Thursday and Saturday secured a huge lead heading into Sunday which he never relinquished despite closing out the tournament with a one over 73.  The disappointing 73 meant he became the first player to win a PGA Tour event with a final round over par since Ben Crane at the St. Jude Classic in June.  I doubt he will care though.

The fact is no one got within two of him on the final day.  Coasting in to victory and 500 FedEx Cup points was somewhat surprising for the South Korean 28-year-old given his relatively weak putting performance.  Bae ranked 44th in strokes gained putting for the week and took 31 putts in the final round; proving that some exemplary ball striking and scrambling can deliver wins.

Bae held off challenges from Steven Bowditch and several Ryder Cup notables in the field.  Hunter Mahan had the best finish (T3), while Lee Westwood finished T12, Matt Kuchar (T21) and Jimmy Walker a disappointing 63rd.  Bowditch’s second place was especially surprising, not because of his ability, but due to his wayward swinging that saw him T67 in fairways hit and T71 in greens in regulation.

There were some shakes.  Bae made bogeys at 11,13, and 14 during his final nine.  However he already looks mentally tougher than he has in devious years, and closed it out with four straight pars.

Some big names also jumped in on the first page of the leaderboard.  Joining Mahan in a tie for third was Retief Goosen, Hideki Matsuyama, Martin Laird and Bryce Molder.

Bae’s at it again this week in the PGA Tour’s next start.  More on that below

Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

The PGA Tour now moves to TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.  The course is described as a 7,255 yard par 71 roaming through canyons and arroyos of the Nevada desert.  It’s well known for Tiger Woods’ first professional victory in 2006 , and it’s affiliations with pop superstar Justin Timberlake.

The most interesting stretch of holes should be from 15th home.  A drivable par four, is followed by another birdie chance at the par 5 16th, then comes the water logged 17th and the tight closing triumph.  That said, rounds in the 70s won’t win here.

No major changes to the field this week.  Although Billy Horschel makes his first appearance post FedEx Cup, loads of money, and a new baby.  There will be plenty of punter interest in his ability to reprise his feats of September.  Webb Simpson lines up again after his win here last year; so too does Martin Laird a winner here in 2009 and coming off the back of a tied third effort last week.

Top Picks

Billy Horschel – $16 – Unibet

Hideki Matsuyama – $21 – Betvictor

Webb Simpson – $29 – Sportsbet

Steven Bowditch – $101 – Luxbet

Tony Finau – $67 – Topbetta

Sang-Moon Bae – $56 – Bet365

Winner

Not mentioned above but I’m going for Cameron Tringale ($45).  Solid last week.  3 made cuts out of 4 at TPC Summerlin with a T11 in his first appearance in 2010.

Frys.com Preview – PGA Tour

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No sooner has the bunker dust from the FedEx Cup Playoffs and Ryder Cup settled, than the first tournament of the new PGA Tour season is thrust upon us.   The Frys.com open is held in the Napa Valley, California. The field features an interesting mix of seasoned Americans and Web.com Tour graduates all looking to make a fast start in the FedEx Cup.

While the field is not the strongest, there will be plenty of interest in how the Rookies get on. It’s also worth checking to see if anyone can make a Jimmy Walker-esque start to the season.   Notables in the field include Ryder Cup players Lee Westwood, Jimmy Walker, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan; champion cancer survivor Jarrod Lyle; and youngsters Chesson Hadley, and Carlos Ortiz.

It’s not fair to suggest the field is weak. That simply does not happen on the PGA Tour. However, all things considered, this a great opportunity for players to grab some cheap points (500 on offer for the winner).

This week’s Frys.com tournament is being held at the Silverado Resort, unused on the PGA TOUR since 1980. The par-72 North Course will play 7,203 yards; it is a favourite of commentator Johnny Miller. Not only did he win two titles here, he also helped redesign it.

Players have the winning score somewhere between 10 and 12 under. Lee Westwood saying “there’s a decent bit of rough and the greens are very quick and severe in places. … I think it’s a difficult test.”

Top Picks

Picking a winner on the PGA Tour is never easy. Here’s a look at some of the players who I expect to be there or thereabouts come Sunday.

Hideki Matsuyama – $21 – Unibet

Cameron Tringale – $26 – Unibet

Brooks Koepka – $15 – Totesport

Matt Kuchar – $17 – Sportsbet

Sang-Moon Bae – $26 – Bet365

If I had to stick my neck out and pick a Frys.com winner, I would go for Sang-Moon Bae. Good odds; had a win in 2013, and six top 25’s last year.