Welcome to Virtual Insanity for OTB, where we spend virtual money to try and win virtual money on golf betting. It's that simple!
It's going to be a successful 2022 for Virtual Insanity.
Last week was a close call, as headline tip Rasmus Hojgaard, advised at 28/1, finished second in the Open de France.
So the virtual pot for 2022 is at €1332 from €1000.
After various recommendations this year won at 80/1, 66/1, 25/1 (twice) and 16/1 (twice), profit stands at 33.2%. It will be guaranteed profit for the year, to add to last year's final profit tally of 46.5% for 2021.
This week's tournament of focus is the Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour in Mississippi.
Played at the par 72 Jackson Country Club, scores are often low in this tournament, but there is no identikit winner from past evidence. So all facets of a player's game will need to be on - drives will have to be smashed, irons sharp and putting as good as radar. The greens are Bermuda. It's acceleration all the way.
The tournament starts at 12.45pm Irish time on Thursday.
Be sure to shop around, with bookmakers such as Paddy Power, Boyle Sports, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfair offering 1/5 the odds for your pick to get into the top eight places. Other bookmakers are offering better prices, but lesser each way terms. I will mark the recommended price and applicable terms beside each selection.
Our headline selection is Sahith Theegala for €7 each way at 18/1. (1/5 the odds the first 8 places, Paddy Power, Boyle Sports, William Hill, Betfair, Ladbokes, Coral).
Natural talent is such a significant determining factor in winning on the PGA Tour, and 24 year old American Sahith Theegala has the artistry to become a household name in golf. He had chances to win in Phoenix and Connecticut last season and made the top 30 in the Fed Ex Cup standings, clinching his place in all of the major championships next year. He started off this season with a tie for sixth at the Fortinet Championship and was the 54 hole leader in this event last year. He's the headline pick to make the breakthrough this week.
Our second selection is Denny McCarthy for €5 each way at 25/1. (1/5 the odds the first 8 places, William Hill).
The best putter in America on Bermuda greens is Denny McCarthy, who has been four times in the top twenty and twice in the top ten on his last four appearances at the Sanderson Farms Championship. As he approaches 30, ex-Walker Cup player McCarthy is playing the best golf of his life - he was 37th in the Fed Ex Cup standings last season having been 100th the season before. He had five top tens last season and started this campaign with a tie for 25th at the Fortinet Championship, an event he previously had a poor record in. Twelve months ago he was only a shot off the 54 hole lead in this tournament and he's primed to win his first PGA Tour title now. There's a good chance it will be this Sunday.
Our third selection is Byeong-Hun An for €2 each way at 66/1. (1/5 the odds the first 8 places, Ladbrokes, Coral).
Korea's Ben An once won the BMW PGA Championship, the flagship tournament on the DP World Tour, by six shots. His early years on the PGA Tour were solid, but he then lost his form and had to play on the secondary circuit - the Korn Ferry Tour. He won on that Tour last year and his 13th place standing saw him regain his PGA Tour card. He began the season with a tie for fourth spot at the Fortinet Championship and he has past form at Jackson Country Club - where he was third back in 2019. So with renewed confidence, the 31 year old may contend again.
Our final selection is Hayden Buckley for €2 each way at 125/1. (1/5 the odds the first 7 places, Betfred).
From neighbouring Tennessee, Buckley caught many people's attention with his fine performance at the U.S. Open back in June. In his rookie season on the PGA Tour, he recorded two top ten finishes, including a tie for fourth in this event. He missed the cut at the recent Fortinet Championship, but he topped the strokes gained statistics off the tee, so it was poor putting which saw him miss the weekend. On a different surface this week, if the putts drop, he could out run his odds based on a strong tee to green game. He's only 26 years old and one of the more lively outsiders in my view.
So that's €32 wagered virtually on this week's golf. Make sure you bet less at home!
Please gamble responsibly, never bet more than you can afford, and good luck!
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