Welcome to Virtual Insanity, where we spend virtual money to try and win virtual money on golf betting. It's that simple!
For the fourth week in a row, we were in the money for this feature as Christiaan Bezuidenhout, advertised at 70/1, finished seventh at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
So the virtual pot is at €1004 from €1000 entering this week's tournament of focus, The Players Championship on the PGA Tour in Florida.
The Players Championship is played at the Stadium Course at the TPC of Sawgrass, a par 72 that tests every facet of a golfer's game.
It's known as the 'fifth major' as the field is very strong - the only notable absentee this week is the injured Brooks Koepka.
It's a parkland course with water and the signature hole, the par 3 island 17th, guarantees drama all four days.
The event has been moved back to March from a position in the calendar in May, and with a fair weather forecast ahead, conditions should be receptive, which plays into the hands of the big hitters and tee to green specialists.
From an Irish perspective, 2019 winner Rory McIlroy, Open champion Shane Lowry and former US Open champion Graeme McDowell are in the field.
The tournament starts at 11.30am Thursday Irish time.
Be sure to shop around, with bookmakers such as Paddy Power, Betfair, SKY Bet, Betfred and Boylesports offering 1/5 the odds for your pick to get into the top 10 places. Other bookies are offering terms of up to eight and nine places but with more generous outright odds. We'll allocate what I see as the best price and each way terms for the respective recommendations.
Our headline selection is Patrick Cantlay for €4 each way at 20/1. (1/5 the odds the first 10 places, SKY Bet).
When you are in good tipping form, sometimes you see things clearly. American Patrick Cantlay is a strong fancy for me this week. An upset stomach and dehydration meant he missed the recent WGC Championship at the Concession, but hopefully he's fresh and raring to go now. Cantlay is one of the best golfers in the world, but his quiet style and unassuming nature means he is often underestimated. Ninth in the world rankings, he's second in the Fed Ex Cup standings. He's won the Memorial Tournament and stared down Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas to win the ZOZO Championship last October. His form on the West Coast of late was excellent and when one looks a little deeper into his performances at Sawgrass, one can see Cantlay was tied fifth at halfway in 2017 and tied second at halfway in 2018. He faded on both occasions, but he's a different animal now. Cantlay has spoken of his fondness for Sawgrass and is currently up at the top of the strokes gained statistics. With no real weaknesses to his golf game, I believe he is primed to win a marquee tournament like this one on Sunday.
Our second selection is Hideki Matsuyama for €2 each way at 30/1. (1/5 the odds the first 10 places, Paddy Power, Betfair, SKY Bet, Boylesports).
Last year's Players Championship was cancelled after round one due to the onset of the pandemic. Japan's Hideki Matsuyama was the first-round leader following a nine under par round of 63. It was further evidence of his love for Sawgrass, where he's finished five times inside the top 25 from six starts, and in two of those years he was inside the top 10. Matsuyama hasn't won on the PGA Tour since 2017, but he certainly has the talent. An excellent tee to green player, his chance is related to the behaviour of his putter. As regards current form, he is hovering when it comes to contending, finishing tied 18th and tied 15th in the last two weeks. A five time PGA Tour winner, including at two WGC events, Matsuyama knows how to get it done and his return to the top echelon of the game may be on the cards this week.
Our third selection is Scottie Scheffler for €2 each way at 45/1. (1/5 the odds the first 8 places, Bet 365).
The rate of progression of American Scottie Scheffler is notable - twice a winner on the feeder Korn Ferry Tour in 2019, the 24-year-old big hitter had a brilliant rookie season on the PGA Tour last year. He finished seven times in the top ten, ended fifth in the Fed Ex Cup standings and posted top fives at the PGA Championship and Tour Championship. He opened with a 68 in last year's ill-fated Players Championship. He's in form, with a fifth at the WGC event at the Concession on his last start which followed a tie for seventh in Phoenix. Scottie Scheffler is a birdie machine, can capitalize on the par fives and I don't think this tournament is beyond him.
Our fourth selection is Will Zalatoris for €1 each way at 70/1. (1/5 the odds the first 8 places, Bet 365).
Young American Zalatoris is one of the most in-form players around; not bad for someone brand new to this circuit who has secured his card for next season already. He was the top player on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020 and this season on the PGA Tour he's finished inside the top 25 nine times in 12 starts. On five of those weeks he's been inside the top 10, including at the US Open and last week at Bay Hill. One looks on the surface and sees that Zalatoris has never played in the Players Championship before, but he has experience of Sawgrass, where he finished tied for sixth at the adjacent Valley Course on the Korn Ferry Tour last year. A long hitter and a good iron player, I like Zalatoris' golf game and he can get on the first page of the leaderboard.
Our final selection is Jhonattan Vegas for €1 each way at 200/1. (1/5 the odds the first 10 places, SKY Bet).
Of the outsiders, I like Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas at a decent price of 200/1, which is 40/1 to finish in the top 10. That's exactly what he did in 2019, when he was tied for third behind Rory McIlroy, closing with a 66. He also finished in a tie for seventh at Sawgrass back in 2012. On his last start, Vegas bounced back to form with a runner-up spot behind Branden Grace at the Puerto Rico Open. He's won the Canadian Open twice in his career and may reward each way support this week. He could be paying for a trip to Vegas, in 2025!
So that's €20 wagered virtually on this week's golf. Make sure you bet less at home! A euro each way will do!
Please gamble responsibly, never bet more than you can afford, and good luck!
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