With the PGA elite migrating to the hallowed links of Portrush, the PGA Tour looks to keep the assembly line turning with this week’s opposite event. The Barbasol Championship debuted in 2015 as the Open Championship appetizer.
The first three editions of the event took place at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Alabama. This will be the second edition of the event since its move to Kentucky. This will only be the second staging of a PGA Tour event in Kentucky – not including Majors – since 1959.
2019 US PGA Tour | The Barbasol Championships
Keene Trace Golf Club, Nicholasville, Kentucky
Thursday 18 July – Sunday 21 July 2019
One sight that we will be blessed with this week is that of John Daly and his golf cart. He has received a special exemption to utilize the cart due to his chronic injury concerns. The Open denied him the privilege. Heartless aristocrats.
Set six miles south of Lexington, Keene Trace Golf Club is cut into the rolling hills of Kentucky. It is a parkland-style course that will be very vulnerable to low scoring. It is not heavily bunkered and features little in the way of water. Looking at last year’s statistics, five players finished at 20 under or better. So what that ultimately amounts to is a target golf course that will offer plenty of opportunities. Look for the scramblers and putting experts to thrive this week.
Of the world’s top 100 players, only one will be in attendance this week. The ever affable Jhonnattan Vegas is the current World Number 99 and will be hoping to find some form in his flagging game. The winner here doesn’t automatically qualify for the Masters, but they do earn a two-year exemption and PGA Championship exemption. Russell Henley was electrifying last Sunday and he almost captured the John Deere. Defending champion Troy Merritt is in attendance while perennial underachiever Aaron Baddeley will look to thrive this week. Some players may be able to better express themselves knowing that the eyes of the golfing world will be fixated on Northern Ireland.
Past Winners
2018: Troy Merritt (-23)
2017: Grayson Murray (-21)
2016: Aaron Baddeley (-18)*playoff
2015: Scott Piercey (-19)
Outright Betting (To Win)
Russell Henley (22/1)
Jason Dufner (28/1)
Martin Laird (28/1)
Sepp Straka (28/1)
Jhonnatton Vegas (28/1)
Value Bets
Shawn Stefani
To Win (50/1), To Place (11/1)
These events present a particular opportunity for players to capture that elusive 1st PGA title. Shawn Stefani is a player that falls into that bracket and looks very appealing at 50/1. Stefani is ideally suited this week because of his penchant to perform in weakened fields. Stefani managed a 6th place in the Puetro Rico Open. He also possesses a 7th place in the Sanderson Farms. He also managed a 13th at the far more illustrious Wells Fargo Championship. He is a solid lower-tier player with the ability to capitalize on birdie-fests.
Peter Uihlein
To Win (90/1), To Place (19/1)
Formerly a patron of the European Tour, American Peter Uihlein is actually not in the greatest vein of form. He ended 2018 at 82nd in the World Golf Rankings. He currently sits at 157 following his exploits at the John Deere. He was actually disqualified following an incorrectly filled-in scorecard. But Uhilein will know that 99 of the world’s top 100 players will be absent this week. He also sits inside the top 10 in the field for putting and scrambling. Those should prove vital stats in what is likely to be a birdie extravaganza.
The Man to Beat
Russell Henley
To Win (22/1), To Place (48/10)
It’s not very often that you get to back a favourite at 22/1. Especially just after a runner-up finish the week before. But that’s the beauty of these opposite events. Henley was runner-up in the John Deere, punctuated by a blistering final round of 10 under. Henley is an accomplished PGA Tour professional, with three victories to his name. So you have a man with PGA Tour pedigree in fine form. That makes him a steal in this decimated field.
