Written by @Matt_Cee for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
The Frys.com Open | Thursday 09 October – Sunday 12 October | Silverado Resort & Spa
This week sees the PGA Tour head to California for the Frys.com Open and despite the terrible timing of the Tour’s opening event of the season, a pretty decent field has assembled to tee off at Silverado Resort & Spa. Generally when thinking of resort courses, the first thought that comes to mind is that they’re going to play easy, but a bit of research shows that this may not be the case. Word on the street is that there are a lot of trees and some very strategically placed bunkers and with the number of water hazards featured, the risk of dropping shots is very real. To be honest, when I searched for images of the course I did see a number of trees but the fairways looked pretty generous and it looked like it would take some pretty awful driving to get into trouble. Conflicting reports are probably not all that helpful but as well as examining how the course is laid out, there are other ways to find winners. Let’s have a look and see which of these guys poses a real threat this week.
To Win Outright
Matt Kuchar 12/1
Jimmy Walker 14/1
Hunter Mahan 16/1
Hideki Matsuyama 22/1
Brandt Snedeker 25/1
VALUE BETS
Cameron Tringale (45/1 a win, 99/10 a place)
Cameron Tringale is the first participant in this field to stick out and at 45/1 looks to be a great value bet in a field that, whilst including a handful of big names, does not seem impossible to beat. He looked great on a few occasions last season and closed up well with a T2 at the Barclays and a fifteenth at the Tour Championship against stiffer competition than he faces here. If Tringale can replicate some of that form this week, he could be a real contender. Get on while the 45/1 is still available.
Brandt Snedeker (25/1 a win, 11/2 a place)
The designer of this golf course has been quoted as saying that the course looks and plays like Augusta and that the greens rival those found at the home of the Masters. Whilst the cynic in me finds this tough to be believe, if this is the case then Brandt Snedeker looks like he may be a great bet this week. He has the ability to put well on quick greens and has shown time and time again that he can shape shots to handle doglegs that go in opposite directions. There aren’t many players in this field who can say the same, so Snedeker has to be included this week.
Kevin Streelman (70/1 a win, 15/1 a place)
Like Snedeker, Streelman looks like he has a real chance this week based on his ability to handle courses that feature doglegs going in opposite directions. He proved this when he won at TPC River Highlands and again when he finished strongly at TPC Sawgrass, which showed that victory was no flash in the pan. Streelman is also said to be a great putter on quick greens so if Johnny Miller’s claims are even half accurate, Streelman has a real chance this week.
TOP BET: Lee Westwood (35/1 a win, 77/10 a place)
Lee Westwood let me down time and time again last season but I have a feeling that he’s going to arrive in California eager to ensure that he puts that poor form behind him and gets things off to a good start. He will tee off this week with fond memories of his success at the Ryder Cup and knowing that, on his day, he is as good if not better than anyone in this field, which is evidenced by his performances at the Masters and the Players. I can’t believe that he is available at such a large price and am looking forward to spending my winnings recklessly. You should too.
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