Live Golf Betting: Is Scottie Scheffler Worth a Look at Charles Schwab Challenge?

Following Thursday’s opening-round action around the globe, let’s take a look at some live plays on tours around the world.

Charles Schwab Challenge

It was John Pak who raced out to a 7-under 63 lead at Colonial, three shots clear of the next-closest competitor. It looked like Scottie Scheffler (+250) was going to mount his usual charge, but a 3-under start through two holes only led to a 2-under 68 finish. That’s just fine and while there’s barely a discount in the outright market, if you’re kicking yourself for not jumping on the game’s best player early, well, you can still get him at just two strokes behind those in second place right now and five back overall, which is hardly a bad place to be. He remains a worthy favorite with three rounds to play.

I don’t completely love Brian Harman (+2800) moving forward, but he’s just four back and already has a win in Texas this year. This is a place where he plays solid, if not spectacular, golf every year, though he owns just three top-10s in a dozen starts and only one since 2017. The price isn’t bad if you really want to add him to your card.

Of the twosome who won the Zurich Classic, I preferred Ben Griffin pre-tournament, but it’s Andrew Novak (+3300) who owns the better stats and odds right now. Griffin didn’t do anything wrong, posting a 4-under 66 and now having +1800 odds, but Novak is just one shot further back with the third-best iron game in the opening round, all despite losing 1.38 strokes on the greens. Between the two, I’d rather buy the player at twice the price.

Also with strong iron play and a balky putter, I’ll jump past Jordan Spieth at +3300 to offer Harris English (+4500) instead, following his share of runner-up honors at the PGA Championship and with a strong course history at Colonial.

And last but hardly least, maybe my favorite play on the board right now – if we can avoid Scheffler – is Aaron Rai (+8000), who ranked seventh tee to green and shot even-par 70, but that was largely because he was sixth-worst in the field on the greens. I don’t expect that to continue, so Rai makes a ton of sense at this number, as we hope that flatstick warms up a little in the next three rounds.

Soudal Open

Aaron Cockerill, Angel Ayora and Joost Luiten are tied for the opening-round lead with matching scores of 6-under 65, but there are plenty of players in shouting distance in Belgium. It’s tough to recommend Marco Penge (+1100), who’s one shot back, at his current number, but the man who was suspended for gambling on golf earlier this year looked like a stud at last week’s PGA Championship and is a player we should keep on the radar moving forward.

This is a course where big hitters should thrive and few hit it longer than Brandon Robinson-Thompson (+2200), who is two back after posting a 67. With six top-20s in his last nine starts, he’s on the verge of winning soon and he’s a player I backed before the tournament started.

Things have a way if moving in a hurry on the DP World Tour, so I don’t mind backing some talented players who are further back at the moment. Haotong Li (+15000) has been the best player on that circuit so far this year and Sam Bairstow (+20000) has been sneaking up on the winner’s circle. They’re each seven back after opening 1-over 72 totals, but they’re hardly out of it and could offer a massive return on investment with three rounds to play.

Senior PGA Championship

I’ve believed for a while now that Cameron Percy could be a very strong player on the senior circuit, but I’m certainly not willing to back him after racing out to the opening-round lead at Congressional. Instead, I’ll keep my plays chalky, as I think a big-time player is going to win this major championship.

Ernie Els won the 1997 U.S. Open on this course and finds himself just two shots back after the opening round. He’s still my pick to win this golf tournament.

If you give me two picks, then I’ll take Stewart Cink, as well, considering he still has enough game to at least compete with the flatbellies on the PGA Tour.

And I thought Angel Cabrera was wildly mispriced prior to the beginning of the tournament, following his major championship win last week. He’s five back, but owns enough offensive firepower to get back into the mix and win in back-to-back weeks.

Visit Knoxville Open

I’m only giving you one name for this week’s Korn Ferry Tour event and it’s the lone player I wagered on entering the week. Johnny Keefer has established himself as perhaps the biggest emerging talent on the developmental circuit and he opened with a 5-under 66 to stay just two shots behind Andrew Kozan and Ryan Hall. Betting the KFT will drive you mad if you try too hard, but sticking with a single player has some advantages and I’m sticking with Keefer until he steers me wrong.

Riviera Maya Open

There’s no Nelly Korda or Jeeno Thitikul or Lydia Ko in this inaugural event, which leads to a wide-open field and plenty of potential contenders on the LPGA. Hye-Jin Choi might be the class of this field and she opened with a 3-under 69, just one shot back of a quartet of leaders. With four top-20s in eight starts this year, it would hardly be a surprise to see her sneak up to the top of this board and perhaps even win by multiple strokes.

Kristen Gillman hasn’t quite lived up to her promise as an amateur, but coming off a T-8 result that was her best finish in nearly a year, I think she can hang around on this board for four days. She’s just three back after an opening 1-under 71.

While Carlota Ciganda might not be much fun to watch as one of the slowest players in all of professional golf, she’s very talented. At 28th in the world and with three top-10s in her last four starts, an even-par 72 puts her very much in the mix, yet with a decent price attached to her name.

Jabra Ladies Open

What, did you really think I’d forget about this week’s LET event? Moa Folke leads after a 7-under 64, but Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland has been one of the best players on this tour all season and is just three shots back after the opening round.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention Mimi Rhodes, who’s won three of her last four LET starts and owns a little star-power. She opened with a 2-under 69, which is just fine so far.

Emma Spitz seemingly plays every single week on the LET and usually plays well. She has five top-25s in eight starts so far and while she’s been more of a floor play than ceiling, at six shots back she has a chance to reverse that trend this weekend.