Live Golf Betting: Options Besides Scottie Scheffler at The Memorial, More

With one round in the books on most of the world’s major professional golf tours, let’s take a look at some live betting options for each tournament.

The Memorial Tournament

In most cases, a player fresh off victory who posted the low number of the opening round by two strokes would easily be the live favorite on the board, but this isn’t most cases. Despite Ben Griffin racing out to a 7-under 65, it is (of course) Scottie Scheffler (+250) whose price has shortened by about a half-point from pre-tournament, even though he trails by five shots.

I like the idea of fading Griffin, who gained nearly nine strokes on the field Thursday, but was just about field-average with his approach play. I’m often in favor of fading winners – at least, the non-superstar winners – during the weekend of the following event and the fact that he didn’t do his damage with the irons should be a slight cause for concern.

I do not, however, like the idea of fading Scheffler. This is the usual Scottie Scheffler Conundrum that we discuss so much – his price is too short to get excited about backing him, yet he’s too proficient to get excited about anyone else, either.

If I have to, though, the two names with the most appeal for their current odds are Shane Lowry (+1600) and Keegan Bradley (+1800). They opened with matching totals of 3-under 69 and ranked second and fifth, respectively, in SG: Approach.

U.S. Women’s Open

Of the half-dozen players tied for the overnight lead at Erin Hills, I wrote about two of ‘em in my pre-tourney preview, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t again mention Yealimi Noh (+1100) and A Lim Kim (+1200), even though the prices are 3-4 times short of where they started. If I can only add one, I’d go with Kim, a past champion who’s really blossomed this year.

I think this event is due for a ton of volatility over the next few days, so even though we have some accomplished players at the top, don’t be afraid to add someone who’s 6, 7, even 8 strokes back with 54 holes to play.

Miyu Yamashita (+3000) is only three back, and the world’s 15th-ranked player has made a pretty seamless move to the LPGA, posting four finishes of 11th or better already this year.

My favorite plays are even longer on the board. One of them is Ariya Jutanugarn (+5500), another past winner of this tournament who’s just four back and reached last month’s playoff at the Chevron.

I was very bullish on Ingrid Lindblad (+8000) before the opening round and while a 3-under start through five holes dissolved into an even-par 72, her price is only 10 points shorter than where it started the week and she has the game to shock some people here.

The problem with most of the “name” players who are several shots back is that their odds largely haven’t drifted to the point where they’re easy buys. That said, can I sell you on a two-time winner of this event and current defending champion at a number too ridiculous to fathom? Thought so. Check out Yuka Saso (+60000), who hasn’t been great since last year’s win, but I mean, come one, there are a lot of worse things you could do with a couple of bucks than spend it on her at 600/1.

Austrian Alpine Open

I’m not sure if weirder things happen on a regular basis on the DP World Tour or the Korn Ferry Tour, but they each added to their respective case last week. At the Soudal Open, Kristoffer Reitan entered the final round trailing by nine strokes, then posted a 62 that was four shots better than any other score and won in a playoff, cashing what would have been a ticket well into the triple-digit prices on Sunday morning.

Not to suggest that we’ll see a repeat performance, but I’m certainly not chasing early leader Marcel Schneider (7-under 63) or anyone else near the top of this board. Being played at Gut Altentann GC for the first time in decades, the sub-7,000 yard course is playing longer due to recent rains, which should only help add to the confusion.

I don’t love the number, but I’ll start my recommendations with Jayden Schaper (+2500), who’s been all-or-nothing recently, with four missed cuts in his last nine starts, but each made cut a top-25, including three top-10s. The 24-year-old South African is four shots back and still seeking his first career professional win.

Matthew Jordan (+2500) has been knocking on the door for a while now, with five top-20s in his last eight starts. A longtime DP World Tour stalwart, he might need a victory at some point to put himself in position for one of 10 cards on the PGA Tour, which should serve as continued motivation. He opened with a 2-under 68.

OK, time to have a little fun. Please know that any or all of these plays might only last you until mid-afternoon on Friday, but for anyone still feeling some Reitan FOMO, you understand the risk/reward of playing some guys further down the board.

Let’s start with Wenyi Ding (+10000) after a 1-over 71 left him eight shots back. The 20-year-old is not only wildly gifted, he’s in form, with five top-20s in his last seven starts.

Yannik Paul (+25000) is also eight shots back, but hardly out of the mix. I’m buying talented players with massive prices and he fits the profile.

Same goes for Dan Bradbury (+27500), who earned his second DP World Tour title last fall in France. Admittedly, he’s done almost nothing since then, but he’d also been doing nothing before then, so he’s a candidate for an out-of-nowhere contention.

And then there’s my favorite play on the board. I watched Elvis Smylie (+40000) a bit at the PGA Championship and despite faltering on the weekend, the kid showed he belongs. It was a brutal start for the lefty, who was 5-over through eight holes, but he played the last 10 in 4-under and should be bringing some momentum into the second round. It feels like the oddsmakers never adjusted as he climbed the leaderboard on his back-nine, so take a chance on him at this eye-popping 400/1 number.

UNC Health Championship

Alright, now let’s get to the Korn Ferry Tour’s entry into last weekend’s Fantastic Finishes. On the final hole of regulation in Knoxville, Johnny Keefer rolled in a birdie from what must have been at least 50 feet to force a playoff, only to watch Pontus Nyholm make eagle from about the same range to win.

As you might recall, I recommended one of them in last Thursday’s write-up. I’ll save you the Google search: It wasn’t the guy who won.

That said, when betting KFT, I’m a fan of sticking with a small group of players that you like on a regular basis. I suppose that could be a strategy for betting any tour, but it seems more applicable to the developmental circuit than any other. With that in mind, I’ll stick with Johnny Keefer after he opened with a 3-under 67 that left him four behind Samuel Anderson.

Dylan Menante not only finished T-3 last week, thanks to a third-round 60, he finished his storied collegiate career at UNC, which is playing host to this week’s event. He posted a 2-under 69 on Thursday.

And another guy who was top-five last week is Sudarshan Yellamaraju. He’ll be playing catch-up after a 1-over 71, but he’s got the firepower to get back into this.

Principal Charity Classic

Unlike the previously listed tourneys, this week’s PGA Tour Champions event hasn’t started yet. With no Stewart Cink or Steven Alker in the field, this one feels ripe for a longer play, if we can avoid favorite Padraig Harrington, defending champion Ernie Els and back-to-back major winner Angel Cabrera.

That might be asking too much, but I like the idea of playing both/either Miguel Angel Jimenez (+1200) and/or Retief Goosen (+1600), each of whom has shown a penchant for hanging around leaderboard this season.

As for those with bigger prices, but some win equity, I still believe K.J. Choi (+3500) can become a force on the senior circuit, though he’s only showed brief flashes so far.

Ken Tanigawa (+10000) was top-10 here last year and the other pros who play regularly with him at Whisper Rock swear that he’s got as much game as anyone.

And if you want a big longshot for whom you don’t mind rooting all weekend, take a stab at Boo Weekley (+20000), who hasn’t played his best golf this year, but still swings it nicely and could reap the benefits if that trio at the top doesn’t have their best stuff.