Pebble Beach Golf Links is regularly voted the best course in America. It has hosted six Major championships as well as playing host to what the organisers aim to make the best Pro-Am tournament in the world.
The course is set in a bay and offers a genuine links challenge including the iconic 18th hole. As well as the links course, the first three days of the tournament will be held at Spyglass Hill and the Shore Course at Monterey Golf Club. Some of the best golfers in the world will be competing in the latest tournament in California including Jim Furyk who is making his first appearance of the season. Also teeing it up (and trying to not look too out of place) will be Huey Lewis, Michael Bolton and, of course, Bill Murray.
None of the three courses that host this year’s tournament rank as the longest on tour. The Links Course (6,816 yards/par 72), Spyglass Hill (6,953/par 72) and the Shore Course (6,867/par 71) are challenging in other respects however. It will take a great deal of concentration and patience to win this tournament as is always the case in tournaments set over more than one course. Knowing when to attack and when to take par and move on is crucial.
The outright market is headed by two in-form golfers. Last week’s winner of a play-off at the Farmers Insurance Open, Jason Day, is joined by leader of the FedEx Cup (and defending champion) Jimmy Walker. They are both available to back at around 8/1 generally and you can make a good case to back both players. If you fancy a bigger price, Ladbokes are offering 40/1 that the players will finish as the top two. Alternatively, you can wait until Sunday and all of the players are playing Pebble Beach. This is especially the case for Jason Day who can attack from behind as he showed last week.
2013 champion, Brandt Snedeker, stands out as decent value for another win at 25/1 generally. The Nashville-born multiple winner can place high up in a tournament on the back of indifferent form and has a good record of finishing in the top five early on in the season. As Snedeker is 5/1 to finish in the top five it is worth taking the 25/1 for him to win at each-way terms. Another player to add to the arsenal at each-way terms is Ryan Palmer. He has improved his finishing position in each tournament he’s played so far, culminating in a second place at the Phoenix Open. He also placed 10th in the Humana Challenge which was played over a similar format. Coral go 28/1 for Palmer to win which is the best price available.
The last player to look at this week is Dustin Johnson. He wasn’t at his best last week as he returned from six months out. However, he finished as runner-up at the National Pro-Am last year and is playing with his father-in-law Wayne Gretzky. He will enjoy the event and is very capable of finishing in the top 10 which he is 11/8 to do with Ladbrokes.