Wyndham picks to win: Who the experts and a gambler are betting on
At this week’s Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club, whom do the journalists and betting analysts like? Or the caddie? Or the old-school gambler? Gimme the facts, storylines and trends. Gimme that inside-the-ropes look. Gimme your gut feeling.
You bet, bettor.
Welcome to GOLF.com’s gambling advice column, where we’ve assembled a panel of those aforementioned experts to make three “best bets.” A real-life professional bettor here will then heed that advice, add his acumen and wager his own cash. It’s not unlike what you do through texts and Google searches — except now it’s all in one place.
Now, on to information on where to bet, some facts, the expert picks and the bettor’s best bets.
Where to bet the Wyndham Championship
Looking to make a (legal!) wager yourself? We teamed with BetMGM, and the online sportsbook is offering a “Bet $20 Win $100” promotion regardless of your wager’s outcome, as well as a “Risk-Free First Bet” up to $1,000.
The facts
This week’s tournament: Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
TV (all times Eastern): Thursday, 3-6 p.m., Golf Channel; Friday, 3-6 p.m., Golf Channel; Saturday, 1-3 p.m., Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m., CBS; Sunday, 1-3 p.m., Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m., CBS
Weather (weather.com): Thursday, partly cloudy, 93 degrees, 7 mph WSW wind; Friday, partly cloudy, 93 degrees, 7 mph SW wind; Saturday, PM thunderstorms, 91 degrees, 6 mph SW wind; Sunday, scattered thunderstorms, 83 degrees, 6 mph ENE wind
Defending champion: Jim Herman
Top 10 in odds (via BetMGM): Hideki Matsuyama, +1,200; Webb Simpson, +1,200; Louis Oosthuizen, +1,400; Patrick Reed, +2,200; Jason Kokrak, +2,500; Brian Harman, +2,800; Will Zalatoris, +2,800; Sungjae Im, +3,000; Russell Henley, +3,300; Gary Woodland, +4,000; Si Woo Kim, +4,000; Kevin Na, +4,000; Kevin Streelman, +4,000; Shane Power, +4,000.
Expert picks
Nick Piastowski, GOLF.com, @nickpia
Bet 1: Kevin Kisner, to-win, +4,000. Finished tied for third here last year, and the course fit is great.
Bet 2: Hank Lebioda, to-win, +6,600. One of the hottest players in golf this summer returns after having to withdraw from the 3M Open due to a family emergency.
Bet 3: Rickie Fowler, to-win, +5,000. I’m going with three to-wins bets this week. Rickie makes a push to get into the playoffs.
Brady Kannon, host, Vegas Stats and Information Network (VSiN), @lasvegasgolfer
Bet 1: Webb Simpson, to-win, +1,000. 10-12 to 1 is what I am seeing in the market now, but I was able to get 14-1. I think 12-1 or better is a good bet. Webb had been in shaky form ever since withdrawing from the Wells Fargo, but he’s had back-to-back top 20 finishes, and there is no better course in the world for him to find his game, as he is a former winner and a top 5 Finish machine at Sedgefield CC. The course is perfect for his game, and I expect he’ll be in the mix once again come Sunday.
Bet 2: Russell Henley, top 20, +120. Henley has been playing really well and even had a real shot to win the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines a couple of months ago. He also finished top 10 at Harbour Town earlier this season, which I feel is a course that can indicate success at Sedgefield. He drives it straight, is good on approaches, and he can putt. One of the best on Tour in those categories, and that’s what you need here this week.
Bet 3: Ryan Armour, top 20, +400. Armour has three top 10 finishes in the past two months. He is one of the most accurate drivers on Tour, ranks 20th in par-4 scoring and is 36th in SG: Putting. Everything you need to flourish at this course.
Wes Reynolds, host, Vegas Stats and Information Network (VSiN), @WesReynolds1
Bet 1: Charl Schwartzel, to-win, +5,000. Schwartzel should come to Greensboro refreshed from three weeks off, which followed him posting his best finish of 2021: a tie for second at the 3M Open. While not a regular participant at the Wyndham, Schwartzel has finished third and 14th over his past two appearances at Sedgefield. The South African ranks seventh in this field in Strokes Gained: Putting on fast bermuda grass greens in his past 24 rounds.
Bet 2: Russell Henley, top 10, +275. Henley rates third on the PGA Tour this season for SG: Approach and is eighth in this field over the past 24 rounds. He has a good record at Sedgefield, making three of four cuts, with a best of ninth last year. Henley also has been in good form of late, with finishes of 13-19-11 before a missed cut at the Open Championship last time out.
Bet 3: Brendon Todd, top 20, +225. Todd has had a down season and likely just hangs on inside the top 125. However, he has posted his best season performances tee-to-green in two of his past three PGA Tour starts. The best club in Todd’s bag is always the putter, and he rates No. 4 in the field for SG: putting on bermuda grass over the past 24 rounds.
Four experts on how to bet on PGA Tour golf like a professional gambler
John Rathouz, PGA Tour caddie and Caddie Network contributor, @rathouz
Bet 1: Russell Henley and Will Zalatoris, both top 10, +1,100. Sedgefield is a perfect course for Henley, an ultra-reliable ball striker who can putt, and who makes his home in the South. He had his best finish here last year — a top 10. We all know the story on Zalatoris, and I love that he has a new putter in the bag after switching last week. He’s got a great demeanor and so many great memories this season to manage the moment.
Bet 2: Webb Simpson, top 10, -125. This is a major for Webb Simpson. Though he hasn’t won the thing in 10 years, in his 12 tries, he’s finished in the top 10 eight times — third, second, second and third the past four years. That’s quite often, so it’s pretty clear that not only is the course a good fit for him, but he and caddie Paul Tesori have a playbook that they execute very well. His final-round 64 in Memphis is icing on the cake.
Bet 3: Zach Johnson, top 20: +260. Johnson, 45, has plummeted to 107 on the FedEx list and 125th in the world rankings. Many people would find that understandable, but not Zach Johnson. To move up the points list, he’ll play with his hair on fire, on a course that will feature his strong suits. In his four career starts here, he has two top 10s, including last year.
The “old-school” gambler, an “old-school” gambler, @notthefakeW
Bet 1: Si Woo Kim, top 10, +750. A win and three top 10s in the event. And you’re giving me these odds?
Bet 2: Hideki Matsuyama, top 10, +110. My man Matsuyama is prolly gonna win this. But I’ll give him a little leeway and guarantee myself a modest payday.
Bet 3: Kevin Na, to-win, +4,000. Na is at a place in his career where he can pick his spots. This is a spot where I happen to like him, against a less-than-A-list field, on a gettable course.
The professional bettor’s best bets
Erick Lindgren. Lindgren, the 2008 World Series of Poker Player of the Year, has won more than $10.5 million in poker tournament earnings and is an avid sports bettor. @EdogPoker
Bet 1: Hideki Matsuyama, to-win, +1,200. Two near-misses in a row for Hideki. This third time is gonna be the charm.
Bet 2: Rickie Fowler, to-win, +5,000. Rickie’s just outside the FedEx playoff bubble. He needs this. He’s also rested and rounding into form.
Bet 3: Si Woo Kim, to-win, +5,000. Never mind the 13 he made on a par-3 last week. Kim has a killer track record here. Horses for courses and all that.
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