By Eric Cohen
The PGA Championship might be in two weeks but this week’s
field at Quail Hollow in Charlotte rivals the 2017 PGA
Championship played at that same venue (and won by Justin
Thomas).
Bryson, Rahm, JT, Schauffele, Rory, Webb, Cantlay, Reed,
Hovland, Finau, and Zalatoris. That’s an A+ strength field in my
eyes.
So when handicapping a week like this, it’s fine to analyze key
metrics and statistics and what not. But the real question is: with a
field this strong, is it smart to take the Max Homa’s of the world,
who despite having a great 2021, is a notch below the top
players?
My advice: More often than not, a player amongst the top-20 or so
betting choices wins. Correct me if I’m wrong – but only Billy
Horschel at the WGC Match Play and Max Homa at the Genesis
Invitational won in stellar fields from below the top-20 in pre-
tournament odds.
Don’t blame me for taking some chalky picks here based on that
logic, including a 19-1 Rory McIlroy, who despite being in poor
form owns a ridiculously good record on this course. If he’s going
to break out of his mini-slump, Quail Hollow is as good a venue as
any to do it!
One more bet to think about this week and for this one, I’ll set the
line. Brother Bri still hasn’t broken his maiden (horse racing term)
as far as picking a golf winner on Best Bet Corner picks. I’ll say
he’s +160 to do so before July. Which side are you taking?
Once again the rules: each picker will get a simulated $200 to bet;
$100 of which will be on win bets and another $100 on top-5, top-
10, and top-20 bets only. The kicker this time is that the money
can only be spent on a maximum of three golfers in each
category. Picking winners has never been so difficult.
Here are this week’s plays for the Wells Fargo Championship:
(Odds courtesy of Draft Kings Sportsbook)
The Parlay Kid
Last Week’s Results: +$200
Total ROI: +$3880
Winners Picked in 2021: 4 (Reed, Berger, Morikawa, Thomas)
$50 to WIN: Rory McIlroy (+1900)
$25 to WIN: Will Zalatoris (+3000)
$25 to WIN: Corey Conners (+3300)
$50 on Top-10: Patrick Reed (+260)
$50 on Top-10: Will Zalatoris (+275)
Eric:
Last Week’s Results: -$70
Total ROI: +$507.50
Winners Picked in 2021:2 (Berger, Thomas)
$50 to WIN: Justin Thomas (+900)
$25 to WIN: Bryson DeChambeau (+1500)
$25 to WIN: Rory McIlroy (+1900)
$100 on Top-10: Tony Finau (+250)
Producer Michael
Last Week’s Results: -$100
Total ROI: +$218.75
Winners Picked in 2021: 2 (DeChambeau, Spieth)
$50 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+2000)
$30 to WIN: Will Zalatoris (+3000)
$20 to WIN: Joel Dahmen (+13000)
$50 on Top-5: Webb Simpson (+400)
$30 on Top-10: Will Zalatoris (+275)
$20 on Top-10: Joel Dahmen (+1000)
Harry
Last Week’s Results: -$200
Total ROI: +$98.75
Winners Picked in 2021: (Spieth)
$50 to WIN: Jon Rahm (+1000)
$25 to WIN: Rory McIlroy (+1900)
$25 to WIN: Corey Conners (+3300)
$75 on Top-5: Jon Rahm (+225)
$25 on Top-20: Adam Schenk (+550)
Brother Bri
Last Week’s Results: -$230
Total ROI: -$605
Winners Picked in 2021: 0
$50 to WIN: Jon Rahm (+1000)
$50 to WIN: Will Zalatoris (+3000)
$100 on Top-20: Joel Dahmen (+500)
Find more of Eric’s sports opinions and predictions on Twitter at
@CohensCornerAZ.