Women’s Olympic Golf Best Bets, Picks, Predictions

Last week’s Men’s Olympic Golf Competition might’ve wound up being the most dramatic, entertaining tournament we’ve witnessed all year, with hard-charging Scottie Scheffler chasing down the leaders on the back nine, then bawling on the medal stand after receiving the gold.

It might be asking too much for the women’s competition to match that level this week, but it will surely be riding a wave of massive momentum.

Also being played at host venue Le Golf National, this one similarly features a field of 60 that should be more than a little top-heavy, with some relative unknowns filling out the bottom part of the entry list. That leaves some short prices at the top, but we don’t have to peruse too far to find some more alluring numbers. 

Let’s take a look at my favorite of these selections.

Women’s Olympic Golf Best Bets, Picks, Predictions

Lilia Vu (+900)

Reigning gold medalist and current No. 1-ranked player Nelly Korda will get most of the pre-tournament attention this week – as well she should – but if I have to choose one American player at short odds, I’ll take Vu at double the number. The world’s second-ranked player returned from injury two months ago and immediately won; she’s since added a runner-up and nothing worse than T-26 in three starts. Don’t discredit the idea that missing time could leave her both fresher and hungrier at this point in the year.

Leona Maguire (+2500)

Consider me a sucker for Maguire wagers at this type of number, because she’s the type of player who’s got that dog in her – think Brian Harman with an Irish lilt. While her major championship record isn’t what it probably should be, she’s won each of the previous two years on the LPGA and just claimed a victory in the Aramco Team Series event in London last month. I’ve been waiting for that career-defining triumph for Maguire and wouldn’t be surprised if it comes this week.

Patty Tavatanakit (+2800)

This is a tantalizing price for Tavatanakit, who had back-to-back wins on the LET and LPGA earlier this year and finished solo third in her most recent start at the Evian Championship. All told, she owns a half-dozen top-10s this year and at 12th on the driving distance list, should have plenty of power to give her shorter clubs into the greens than many of her fellow competitors here.

Lydia Ko (+3300)

She’s not the first name on this list, but that’s only because we’re going in ascending order of price. The reality is, Ko was my first click this week. She’s standing at the intersection of a couple of Narrative Streets, having already claimed silver and bronze medals in the last two Olympics and will cement her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame with a victory.

She’s also playing well, though. The 27-year-old New Zealand native started the year with a win and three top-fives in her first four starts and while she hasn’t kept up that pace, a T-8 in her most recent start should give her plenty of momentum entering this week. 

Maja Stark (+5000)

I tend to lump Stark and fellow Swedish Olympian Linn Grant together, as both players have power off the tee and a lofty ceiling on any given week. But with Grant at 16/1 and Stark more than three times longer, it’s an easy decision on how to separate them here. With three top-threes in her last nine starts, I’ll readily admit that she might be better suited for a top-five play than an outright.

Aditi Ashok (+8000)

Three years ago in Japan, it was Ashok who was a major storyline if not a big winner, finishing in fourth place, one spot out of medal contention. As I wrote prior to the men’s competition last week, the intangibles are going to play a big part at this one. Give me a player for whom this means everything – and Ashok, representing a growing golf society in India, should certainly qualify.

Perrine Delacour (+12500)

Last week, we watched Victor Perez of France hit the opening tee shot on Thursday, then launch a furious charge on Sunday to nearly claim a medal. I like the idea of sticking with that home country momentum. Celine Boutier seems overvalued at just 18/1, but I love the idea of playing Delacour for a small outright and finishing position bets.

She won on the LET just two months ago and is fresh off a T-5 in her last start. Granted, she’s struggled a bit in LPGA-sanctioned events, but she’s thrived in LET starts and this one might feel a little like the latter on home soil.