Golf tips and free bets: Three picks for the Hero World Challenge as the top players meet in the Bahamas
The best players in the world have gathered in the Bahamas for one last holiday – sorry, tournament – before putting their clubs away for the festive period.
The 20-man field includes eight of the top 12 golfers in the world, headed by Collin Morikawa, who can knock Jon Rahm off the top spot if he follows up his Dubai triumph with another victory.
Morikawa is disputing favouritism with Rory Mcilroy, who looked the likely winner in Dubai until he lost his head after an unlucky bounce off a flagstick in the final round, and shredded his shirt in frustration.
That was a reminder that Rory can still be a bit flaky at times, and Morikawa has to hit the wall some time. So the value seems to be elsewhere.
Hot shot: Jordan Spieth – 12-1.
Almost back to his best after a few years in the golfing doldrums, and showed his liking for the Albany course by finishing in the top five three years in a row from 2015-2017.
He is playing more like THAT Jordan than the one who slumped to 92nd at the start of this year, before suddenly remembering that he was a three time Major winner before he turned 24.
The swagger was back at the Ryder Cup, and the next 12 months could be huge for Spieth.
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Mid price: Justin Rose/Patrick Reed – both 25-1.
With no cut and just 20 starters, the only player priced at more than 33-1 is Henrik Stenson, a total no-hoper on current form even though he won this in 2019.
You would be better off backing him to be Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup captain, but the odds on Rose and Reed look tempting in such a wide open event.
Rose spent almost a decade living in the Bahamas before moving back to England this year, so this is a virtual home game for him. He has played every World Challenge since it moved to Albany six years ago.
Rose found his form too late to make the Ryder Cup team, although top tens in the Masters and the USPGA Championship showed he still has plenty of game. A closing 65 on his most recent start, two weeks ago, is added cause for optimism.
Reed is the only other golfer to play every year in the Bahamas, and it is a surprise he has not improved on his runner-up spot back in 2015.
He was a strong fancy for the DP World Tour Championship, but was not helped by the uncertainty of whether he would be allowed to play, as he had not made enough European Tour starts to be eligible.
After being granted a special invitation he only flew into Dubai the night before the event began, it was no surprise to see him start with a couple of sluggish 72s.
But he played the next 36 holes in six under par despite a few uncharacteristic putting lapses, and will definitely not be under-cooked this time.
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