The DP World Tour heads to the Champions Course in Kentucky for the 2024 edition of the ISCO Championship. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 PGA Tour – DP World Tour
ISCO Championship
The Champions Course
12 – 15 July 2024
In June, the PGA Tour revealed that ISCO Industries will become the new title sponsor of what was formerly known as the Barbasol Championship (just in case anyone thinks this is some brand-new tournament).
This event celebrated its inception nine years ago, as it was brought in to replace the Sanderson Farms Championship (which itself was moved to an earlier autumnal spot).
It was originally played as the opposite-field event to the Open Championship. But that changed two years ago, as the tour decided to show some solidarity with their European counterparts in the face of LIV aggression.
The decision was made to co-sanction both the Scottish Open and these championships, playing them concurrently a week before the Open.
ISCO Championship
The ISCO Championship has essentially gone from being the opposite-field event to the Open to being the opposite-field event to an elevated Scottish Open.
Next Week’s Barracuda Championship – now the opposite field to the Open – was also granted co-sanctioned status. 50 spots were left open for European entrants this year but nowhere near that amount have decided to cross the pond.
The Champion’s Course
This will be the sixth renewal staged at Keene Trace Golf Club. The Champion’s Course was designed by Arthur Hills and opened 34 years ago.
This is a typical opposite-field event in that it is a simple, scorable layout. The bentgrass fairways are spacious and the bluegrass/bentgrass rough is extremely forgiving.
James Hahn flirted with a 59 in 2021, ultimately settling for a 12-under-par 60. Trey Mullinax birdied the 72nd hole to finish the 2022 edition with a 25-under-par scoreline.
Look for guys who find plenty of greens and scramble efficiently. A hot putter is often essential in these types of birdie fests. This event has also proven to be a haven for the more experienced campaigners, with the likes of Jim Herman and Aaron Baddeley capitalising on the big-name absentees.
The Contenders
This week will feature the usual rogue’s gallery of Korn Ferry players, fringe pros and grizzled veterans. Insanely, there is actually an amateur leading the markets this week!
This may be the first time that I remember seeing that. Luke Clanton has enjoyed some encouraging recent outings, finishing 10th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic before a T2 finish at last week’s John Deere Classic.
Hayden Springer shot a 59 last week and that should stand him in good stead on this low-scoring ‘test’.
Former Ryder Cupper Daniel Berger has been in freefall of late and he could do with a solid outing. Elsewhere, familiar names like Joel Dahman and Troy Merritt will look to capitalise in arguably (I would say undoubtedly) the worst field of the season.
Past Winners
2023: Vincent Norrman (-22) *playoff
2022: Trey Mullinax (-25)
2021: Seamus Power (-21) *playoff
2020: event cancelled
2019: Jim Herman (-26)
2018: Troy Merritt (-23)
To Win Outright:
Luke Clanton 16/1 | Michael Thorbjornsen 20/1 | Daniel Berger 28/1 | C.T. Pan 28/1 | Michael Kim 33/1
Value Bets
Jacob Bridgeman – To Win 45/1 | To Place 19/2
Jacob Bridgeman looks way too long at 45/1. Bridgeman has been quietly efficient this season, making the cut in 10 of his last 16 events (including five top-25 finishes).
He finished T14 at last month’s RBC Canadian Open and he looks ideally suited for success here. He ranks inside the top 25 on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting and Strokes Gained: Scoring Average. He looks like one of those guys who could take advantage of this weak field.
Chan Kim – To Win 50/1 | To Place 11/1
Chan Kin looks like he should thrive in this low-scoring affair. He won two tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour last season and has won his last three professional events with a combined score of -80!
He is just a birdie machine, currently ranking 11th on tour for Birdie Average.
Finishes of 6th at the Corales Championship and 8th at the Mexico Open highlight his ability to compete in hot conditions (temperatures should soar in Kentucky this week).
He finished 12th at last week’s John Deere Classic and I think he could tear it up at Keene Trace.
The Man to Beat – Mac Meissner – To Win 33/1 | To Place 7/1
I think that PGA Tour rookie Mac Meissner could represent the best value in the upper echelons of the market. He has competed well against much better fields this season, finishing T10 at the Valero Texas Open and T5 at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
He finished T20 last week, gaining 1.08 strokes on the field with his approach play. I think he will give himself plenty of birdie chances with his surgical iron shots.
