SportsLine’s computer model has successfully predicted 15 majors since 2020 and now run 10,000 simulations, here’s how it sees the top 10 shaking out in Northern Ireland this week
Unpacking the odds leading into this week, Golf Digest picks their choice of the of the favorites to lift the Claret Jug come Sunday.
As part of their usual run-up to the majors, the Golf Digest team has done some research for you on the entire field to unpack the contenders from the long shots and the players who are just happy to be on the biggest stage in links golf!
Here is a handy reference of all the players who have qualified to compete in this year's US Open and how they managed to secure their spot.
Golf Digest knows what punters are looking for - to win their pool! They have teamed up with Betsperts to help you with your pick strategy at this year's PGA Championship.
Betsperts and Golf Digest have teamed up to dig into some of the long shots that have a chance to content with the favorites at Quail Hollow.
The entire field at the 2025 PGA Championship has been ranked by the Golf Digest team which will be a great help for anyone struggling with their lower bucket picks.
Editors at Golf Digest have helped to narrow the field to their view of the best 13 picks to take home the Wanamaker.
Golf Digest dives into the reasons behind Rory’s excellent track record at Quail Hollow. 4 wins and a playoff loss clearly indicates a love for this venue for the man who only recently locked in the career Grand Slam.
Punters looking to find value picks lower down the rankings should look to this advice on 5 players who can help deliver great scores at Augusta even if they don't end up flying home wearing the Green Jacket!
Golf Digest has run analysis on the entire field competing at the Masters and ranked them from those who are simply happy to be at the event to potential contenders for the Green Jacket!
The powers-that-be at Augusta National have never considered the course to be a finished product and are constantly tinkering and expanding the layout both in response to the ever-longer hitting of tour pros and - especially in the case of this past year - damage caused by natural events. Catch up on the latest changes to the evolving emerald gem on the eastern edge of Georgia.
Most golf fans will not need to use a supercomputer to arrive at the most likely winner for this years Masters or even the next most likely, but there are some predictions further down the board that go against the book makers and could indicate value for punters.
Golf Channel senior pundit, Brandel Chamblee calls the Masters Rory's nemesis given his torrid history of trying to claim the Green Jacket and thereby complete his career Grand Slam. Taming the demons of 2011 and many other near-misses (plus last year's US Open) will secure his name as one of the greatest ever. His game is as good as it has ever been heading into April. Is 2025 going to be his year?
Golf Digest makes its case for the favorites to don the Green Jacket at this year's Masters tournament!
GolfWeek looks ahead to this year’s Masters with some early thoughts on who we can expect to be favorites come Spring in Augusta.
With 158 players in the field, it can be challenging to narrow down your picks to those who really have a chance of making it to and through the weekend. Golf Digest has done a lot of the work for you and outlines the real contenders from those who are just happy to be there.
Golf Digest's team has picked their list of the top contenders to life the Claret Jug on Sunday evening.
Over 152 years, the winners trophy for the Open Championship has travelled around the world in the hands of a wide variety of characters who earned the privileged title of Champion Golfer of the Year and their hangers-on!
Sometimes referred to as the American equivalent to Scotland's St. Andrews, Pinehurst is a golf mecca and fitting repeat host to the US Open. The No. 2 course has had some time to grow into its redesign that was still fresh the last time it hosted the national championship and will play very differently from when Martin Kaymer ran away with the cup. The PGA has offered some interesting tidbits about the host town.
Coming into the tournament as the clear best player in the world and as the first player to head to the US Open with 5+ PGA Tour wins including a major since Arnie in '62, Scottie will be an overwhelming favorite and the real question is who else is going to shine this week, and can any of them outshine golf's current golden boy?
25 years since Payne Stewart's historic US Open win at Pinehurst - memorialized by the fist-pumping statue overlooking the course - the USGA looks back at the championship and the champion best known for his plus fours and charismatic play, and who the golf world lost to a tragic plane accident.
ESPN has done the work for you and ranked all of the players who will be taking on Valhalla and their peers this week. From the guy everyone is chasing (Scottie) to the guys just in it for the experience (including ~20 club pros).
JT made a big scene about taking the Wannamaker trophy wherever he went after claiming his first PGA. Organizers would have been comforted in their ability to track him on social media lest they saw a repeat of the time Walter Hagen almost lost the trophy during his celebratory tour in 1925!
As a local boy, Justin Thomas is all too familiar with the undulations and nuances of the Valhalla course in Louisville, KY. He will be looking to use every bit of this knowledge to his advantage as he tries to best the rest at lift (and sleep with?) the Wannamaker trophy once again!
Many a line of golf news has been written about Rory's unmet expectations in major golf. His dominant form in recent weeks sets him up as a favorite going into a major once again. Can he cast away the shadow of disappointment and silence the critics by winning another major this week?
Valhalla's holes are named with references to the Kentucky Derby which is held just down the road each year. These five holes could create the make-or-break moments that we all love as major championship spectators.
Once again, the Golf Digest team has picked their best 13 bets to win the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla. See if you like their favorites for your punts.
With two weeks until the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship gets underway at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., the full field for the second men’s major of the year is starting to take shape.
Now that the Masters is behind us for 2024, it's time to look forward to Valhalla and the 2024 PGA Championship!
As the best golfers in the world (sorry Talor) come together to compete for the Green Jacket, who has the best chance to come out on top and what great story lines will emerge?
Birdies are hard to come by around Augusta national if you don’t take advantage of the par 5s. Historically, those who have managed to tame the longest holes have posted the lowest scores and often gone on to don the green jacket.
With LIV golfers tumbling down the world rankings thanks to lack of OGWR points, punters have to look at other measures to see who are the best players to back to best the rest!
The PGA offers a few key pointers for fans to look out for ahead of this year's Masters tournament!
The clear winners from the battle between the PGA Tour and LIV have been the four majors, whose importance has only been made clearer through the whole debacle. Whatever shape professional golf takes when the dust settles, the majors will surely remain as the pinnacle of achievement for all pro golfers.
See who the Golf Digest editors think are the most likely winners at this year's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
Golf Digest has ranked the top 100 competitors in this year's Open Championship to help you refine your research as you consider your picks!
Check out who the fantasy experts are backing for this year's US Open. Hint: It's not Max Homa!
The USGA has put together some exciting pairings for punters to keep an eye on over the first 2 days of the US Open! Check out some of the best ones here.
Golf.com staffers put their heads together to choose who they think has the best chances to win the US Open. Take a look to help you make your top picks!
The third major of the year is already upon us and the Golf Digest team has done its homework to help you with your research into the most likely contenders at LA Country Club.
Here are the first and second round starting times for the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.
Golf Digest has done its usual job of ranking the top players competing at this year's PGA Championship. Check out the list to help you with your picks.
As you prepare your picks, take a look at the list of players who have booked their tickets to be in Rochester, New York for the 2023 PGA Championship.
Success in major championships is usually due to a combination of course type, player form, playing conditions (sometimes unfairly different across tee times), and something ephemeral that week which may be called, "the luck of the bounce". We can't predict the way the cards will fall for any players in a given tournament but we can look at how a course "fits" a player and each player's form leading into the championship. There are a few contenders that have shown strong form in the early part of the season and can be expected to do well at Oak Hill.
The weather forecast for this week's Masters is predicting lots of rain which will prove a challenge for players and patrons alike!
Odds & rankings don't ever tell the whole story. Golf Digest's punters have tried to sift through the noise and make their predictions for who will beat the bookies this week!
Golf Digest has opined on each player in the 2023 Masters field and ranked their chances of winning!
Here is the full list of players at this year's Masters, and how they were able to qualify (yes, even those LIV characters)
The panel of Golf Digest punters have offered their picks to help you make your selections for the 150th Open Championship
Kyle Porter from CBS has done his usual stellar job of outlining some of the best stories to look forward to as they unfolder during this week at the 150th Open Championship.
Ben Coley at Sporting Life has provided a detailed run-down of the players competing to have their names as the 150th one to be etched on the Claret Jug this weekend!
The top 100 players at this year's Open Championship have been ranked and analyzed by the Golf Digest team to help you select your picks right down the rankings!
Golf Digest has done the heavy lifting for punters once again by summarizing the top 100 contenders at this year's US Open. Go-to source especially for those players who are not household names.
Golf Digest has an early preview of some of the top contenders for the 2022 edition if the US Open to help punters start their preparations.
When hearing of certain big names defecting from the PGA Tour to compete in the LIV, many golf fans were worried we would lose these top contenders from future majors. We're all somewhat relieved by the news that the 2022 US Open at least will include those who have turned their backs on Jay Monahan & co.
Rory shook off his recent history of poor starts at majors to light up the course on Thursday morning and take an early lead that the afternoon chasers were not able to catch. Can he continue this form into Friday and through the weekend and end his major drought?
Golf Digest's data scientists have unpacked the odds and spreads for the 2022 PGA Championship field to provide insights and guidance up and down the rankings list.
Golf Digest has lined up the top 13 picks to lift the Wanamaker this weekend. No real surprises as the list is full of odds-leaders or major specialists (Brooks).
Ben Coley from Sporting Life has his eye on Jordan's return to glory, capping off his extended revival in form with a completion of the career grand slam. Article includes several other gems for punters to ponder as they consider their picks.
Golf Digest has got your research for the upcoming PGA Championships at Southern Hills Covered with this run-down of the top 100 contenders to lift the Wannamaker trophy!
Weather is likely to be a major factor at this year's tournament with early week rain likely to soften up the course, cooler temperatures through the first few rounds, and some weekend wind expected to keep things interesting!
Golf Digest has helped punters out again this year by ranking the full field of players at the 2022 Masters. Scroll down for help with those bucket 2 & 3 picks!
Golf Magazine staff make the arguments for their picks to win this weekend at Augusta. Specifically, can Justin Thomas convert on form, Masters experience, and some insights from his friend Tiger to don the Green Jacket come Sunday?
Even experienced punters can take some tips on who to back or fade at the Masters, especially as one goes deeper down the Official World Golf Rankings list.
Every year, the Masters field has legitimate contenders who need to bring out their best over the four days and hope that is better than any of the other power players can musters. There are also many in the filed that are really just there to experience being a part of the greatest show on grass and will be happy to go home with the memories from the event. The big question on everyone's mind is, which category does Tiger fall into?
Familiar names fill the sheet of Golf Digest's best bets for the 2022 outing of the Masters. Punters need to decide if they will back one of the in-form youngsters or go with Masters pedigree for their picks this year.
The PGA Tour's fantasy team have lined up some long-odds candidates they think have a strong chance of contending for the Claret Jug this week!
Some exciting storylines to be expected this week at Royal St. George's with battles between the current greats of the game a guarantee and the near-certainty of at least a great showing from an unexpected contender!
Royal St. George's has a recent history of players outside of the leading OWGR contenders raising their hands to grasp the Claret Jug while the current form players fade away. Is this another year for an unexpected winner or will the best in the world show their mettle on the English links?
The Golf Digest team has done your research for you by putting together a summary of all of the top 100 players at this year's Open Championship. Will be especially helpful as you work your way into the third bucket!
The Open Championship represents the last chance to win a men’s major in 2021, and it also will likely be the most difficult of the four to predict. That’s because golf’s oldest event returns to Royal St. George’s, which was the scene for two of the most unlikely winners in the game’s modern history: Darren Clarke in 2011 and Ben Curtis in 2003. Could we see another longshot winner in England this year or will it be one of these favorites?
As always, there is so much intrigue heading into a major championship and this week will have several great stories to follow and even more that emerge as play gets going. We can't wait to watch them unfold!
The majority of the Golf Digest expert panel has picked Brooks to recapture his major-winning form and dominate his nemesis, Bison, and the rest of the field to claim another US Open title!
With the US Open on his birthday weekend (as per usual) and at his local track , can Phil ride the wave of confidence after dominating at Kiawah to bag another major in his 50s?
156 players will be teeing it up at the 121st United States Open Championship on the South Course at Torrey Pines come June 17 and Golf Digest has unpacked the top 100 of those to help you find the diamonds that will shine for your picks!
Heading into this year's US Open it feels like this major is almost anyone's for the taking. Veterans are showing signs of peak glory with young guns hitting fine form. Golf Digest picks the 13 top centenders.
Phil Mickelson defied the odds and biology to beat out the world's best golfers at one of the world's most demanding tests of golf and become the older man to hoist the Wanamaker, or take any major championship. Phil hit bombs to match the longest young guns and showed his deft touches and wisdom around the course. Can he do it again next month in his back yard - the same week he turns 51?
South Africa has a proud history of punching above its weight in the global golfing arena and the 11 South Africans in this year's PGA Championship are continuing that tradition.
Get to know the Ocean Course and Kiawah Island and what to expect from this course we last saw as a major host in the fall of 2012. A different time of year and changes to the course will create a new challenge even for experienced pros and the wind can be expected to play its part in creating chaos up and down the leaderboard!
The PGA of America has lined up some tasty pairings for our viewing pleasure including groupings of previously successful major contenders and groups that have repeatedly fallen just short of major glory.
The experts at Golf Digest have published their picks to win at the 2021 PGA Championship and 3 out of 7 have predicted that Jordan Spieth will complete his career Grand Slam this weekend!
Once stuck at the end of a long season with set ups that were not seen as testing the best golfers in the world to a major level, the PGA has seen a resurgence in major relevance since being moved back to its new May window and matched that with some of the toughest layouts in golf! We couldn't be more pleased about that.
Another list of 10 players who everyone is talking about as contenders for the 2021 PGA Championship!
Sir Nick Faldo is never one to shy away from speaking his mind but he doesn't often make all out winner predictions. This time he has expressed his conviction in backer the punter favorites, Rory and Jordan. Are you going to follow his sage wisdom or bet against the 6-time major champ?
Check out the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 PGA Championship right here.
As with every major, there are several story lines to watch and punters will be looking on with anticipation.
Some of the story lines from the last time we saw major championship golf at the Ocean Course point to some more exciting viewing for golf fans.
Golf Digest has run through the top 100 players heading to Kiawah this week which should be an easy first stop in your picks research.
Who has a chance to actually win the 2021 and who is just coming along for the ride? The ESPN golf team breaks it down for us.
The panel at Golf Digest has your picks research covered with predictions on the favorites to back, the dark horses who will perform, and the players to fade.
The Weather Channel currently lists chances for storms on three of the four tournament days in Augusta, Ga. Will rain make the course play easier, disrupt play, or create a tee-time advantage during the tournament?
PGA Tour has given some insight into potential sleeper picks that might help you fill out your lower ranked buckets!
The number crunchers at Golf Magazine are picking a potential first-time major winner will break through at this year's Masters. Who are you going to back?
Golf Magazine staff have put their bets on the line to help punters with some of their expert insights. Unfortunately, none of them can really agree!
As if the Masters wasn't enough of a story in itself, there are several sub-plots to that will keep golf fans glued to the action all week.
After recent knee surgery, it was not clear if the major-specialist, Brooks Koepka would be ready to compete at this year's Masters. He is in Augusta, playing practice rounds and talking a big game!
To help save you on some homework for your picks, be sure to check out the full field ranking from Golf Digest!
Golf Digest breaks down the recipe for a Masters winner which boils down to: Recent form; Augusta National experience; precise iron play; going low on Thursday & moving day; and taking advantage of par 5s. Who will have the right mix of ingredients to win in 2021?
World #1 Dustin Johnson won the 2020 Masters, the first to be held in the fall, in empathic fashion. He barely seemed to break a sweat and only for a moment looked to falter at the start of his final round before pressing on his advantage and winning by a record-breaking score and margin.
So much amazing stuff has gone on already in this one-off fall Masters and it's poised to deliver even more excitement as we head into the weekend!
Quality ball-striking lead the day on the first round of the 2020 fall Masters. Can Paul Casey keep up the intensity and convert on the green jacket after so many close calls over the years?
The fantasy panel at Golf Digest have crunched the numbers and made some calls on who they think you should back - including a few dark horses - and who to fade. A must read for any punters looking for new insights.
Bleacher report has lined up its top 10 favorites for the Masters. No real surprises with just a couple of multiple green jacket holders outside the OWGR top 15 on their list.
Fuzzy Zoeller was the last first-time contender to win the Masters back in 1979, setting a mark that no tournament rookie has been able to match in 40+ years. Is this the year that a debutant gets to slip on the green jacket? There certainly are some super-star young-guns lining up to claim it and it would be very much like the rest of 2020 to go against the usual trend of history!
For the first time since 2013, the Masters is making a change to its traditional cut rule of anyone within 10 shots making it through to the weekend. This year, only the top 50 and ties will make the 36-hole cut. Will this mean a great weekend come-from-behind victory is less likely?
Bryson, Tiger, Rory, Brooks, DJ, Jordan, Phil, and more have the potential to make history this week and it wouldn't be 2020 if we didn't have to talk about COVID and the lack of crowds. But it also wouldn't be 2020 if we didn't have some great twists & turns that no one expects!
The top few players on the PGA Tour rankings mirror the OWGR but further down the table is where the value lies for your picks!
Golf Digest has done some great legwork for punters by ranking the entire 2020 field. Great help especially for those looking to fill out their third bucket!
Rory probably has a larger collection of demons from the Masters than any of the top contenders this coming week, but he has the game and the confidence to turn things around and maybe even slip on the green Jacket come Sunday.
Golf Digest has given us a nice summary of the odds-on favorites to win the Masters but if 2020 has taught us anything, there are surely a few surprises in store in the race for this year's Green Jacket!
Punters should be keeping a close eye on this week's CJ Cup at Shadow Creek, looking for some hints as to who is in the right kind of form to compete at this year's Masters. Many of the pros see this course as having a number of similarities and acting as a good practice venue heading towards Augusta.
The image of Bryson staring deeply into his notebook, or furiously scribbling notes, is a common site around the PGA tour and majors. Its clearly an important part of his game management and his detailed analytics of every aspect of the game, and particularly of green speeds and undulations is another pillar to the strength of his game currently. The Augusta rule banning these books could take away some of the advantage that he enjoys and maybe give 'feel' players a leg up.
The 2020 US Open at Winged Foot was historic in so many ways - some of which no one predicted - but it was great to watch history being made even if we didn't have the exciting roller-coaster finish that US Opens promise us.
It wasn't the exciting finish fans expected but Bryson will care nothing for that as he basks in the glory he has worked so hard for. Changing his life, his body and his game over the past 12 months has certainly paid off with the major silverware he so badly craved!
The broadcasters will be pulling out all the stops at this first fan less US Open to make this major memorable for more reasons than just the changes enforced by COVID-19!
As with any major, there are a lot of story lines to get excited about heading into this 120th United States Open. The brutal conditions laid out by the USGA is an almost certain star of the show but will any one play outshine the media coverage of deep rough and slick greens?
Narrow fairways, deep rough and firm greens us a recipe for zero margin for error and shot-making is going to be key as players navigating around the West Course at Winged Foot. Have a look at some of the toughest shots facing the pros.
By sitting out this week's major due to injury, Brooks has left the door open for an in-form DJ to add to his "only one" major title. Odds-makers have put DJ a firm favorite to do just that but there is a chasing field who will also be looking to take advantage of the major-specialist's absence.
Winged Foot's main defenses against the best golfers in the world will be firm, fast greens, narrow fairways, and - of course - deep, thick rough!
Hosting its 6th US Open this week, Winged Foot is the 3rd most popular venue for the USGA's marquee tournament. Golf Digest offers some insight into what makes the club and course so special.
Golf Digest has dug through the list of the top 100 contenders taking each other on at Winged Foot. Some great research for punters as they fill out their pick sheets.
Unsurprisingly given recent form and relatively strong showings at TPC Harding Park, the bookies are backing Brooks Koepka and Bryson de Chambeau as the leading contenders to win the US Open in September. Still lots of golf to be played with the FedEx Cup playoffs kicking off so the odds are likely to change but not many would bet against the majors specialist or the Bulk at this stage!
In sharp contrast to the rest of 2020, this year's PGA Championship was won for the ages. Exciting to the last with a worthy and humble champion crowned after a magnificent display down the closing stretch. Golf Digest, as always, has a nice wrap of the week so you can catch up on anything you missed!
Tour Rookie, Collin Morikawa, put his stamp on the world of major championship golf by shooting ahead of the jam-packed PGA Championship leader board with an incredible eagle on #16 and holding on for the final 2 holes to get his hands - and name - on the Wanamaker trophy!
With such a tight leader board there are still so many potential winners for the 102nd PGA Championship. This tees up for an exciting Sunday finish.
Jason Day won the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits by 3 strokes and looked to be on track for a multiple major-winning careers. Things have gone awry since then but he is back on top form with a share of the round 1 lead at TPC Harding Park. Can he press that advantage and get back onto the major championship pedestal?
Punters will be eagerly eyeing the cut line on Friday afternoon to see if the need to start thinking about subs. The rule states: “Following the first 36 holes of play, the field of 156 players will be reduced to the low 70 scores and ties. Those players will advance to complete the final two rounds.”
Tiger Woods took the first major of 2019 when no one really gave him a chance and while some are discounting him in the lead-up to the 2020, that win, his affinity for Harding Park, and the many other amazing achievements of his career will be in the back of everyone's minds this week.
ESPN breaks down the field to predict the players who have a strong chance to lift the Wanamaker, those who could pull off an upset, and those who will just enjoy a couple of days walking the beautiful fairways of TPC Harding Park!
Bookmakers have placed Brooks Koepka on top of the betting odds table, no doubt putting aside some poor from in the early post-COVID tournaments and rather looking at his strong performance last weekend in Memphis and his phenomenal track record at major championships. Can he really pull off the three-peat?
Harding Park will see almost all of the top 100 golfers in the world compete for the Wanamaker trophy in one of the strongest fields of any major. Some of the best have bowed out due to COVID-19 and travel concerns but fans will still get to enjoy a STACKED major championship field. On TV, of course.
Brooks will be looking to rebound from an iffy start to the post-COVID season and claim a 3rd successive PGA Championship title. Can he be the first man since Walter Hagan to lift the Wanamaker 3 years in row? He sure has the major pedigree and laser focus to pull it off but there are great players in peak form doing anything they can to stop him!
With the coronavirus still running rife around the US, a number of international players are opting out of the upcoming PGA Championship due to concerns over exposure to the virus.
With the first major of this strange 2020 golf season just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about your picks and these 13 favorites are a good place to start.
The change in major schedule has created a lot of debate this year but there will not be many who look back on the 2019 major run and not think that it all worked out pretty well. The run of a major every month keeps up the intensity of the stretch, gets players to really focus on their own schedules and preparations, adds some early interest in the oft-forgotten PGA, and allows us to end on the climax that is the Open Championship!
It's been an exciting major season full of ups and downs. It will probably be remembered as the year that Tiger was really back, Brooks was in dominant form, and Rory disappointed.
Caddies are the unsung heros on the pro golf circuit and Bo Martin clearly did more than most for Shane Lowry over the past year to help get his hands on the Claret Jug. Their on-course chemistry made it clear that he's not just the FaceApp version of the Champion Golfer of the Year.
Another great year of major championship golf is behind us but we are always looking ahead and excited for next year and the timeless views of Augusta National with the guarantee of more epic golf! Invitations are already going out and Lee Westwood can be looking forward to receiving his in the mail after his T-4 finish at the Open.
In this age of the golfer-athlete, Shane Lowry has often been overlooked as a talented player of the wrong era . He's had a close look at times but always fallen short of major glory. He finally came good at the Open Championship in Ireland and his resounding victory will leave little doubt as to the deep talent that this "little fat lad" possess. Good on ya, Shane-o.
The golfing world was Irish for an afternoon as one of the Republic's golfing sons strolled to Open Championship victory on home soil. The Irish fans from both sides of the border made the happiness known and the Guinness was surely flowing for many hours of celebration.
Shane Lowry has certainly put himself in a great spot to win the 148th Open Championship but he's held the 54-hole lead at a major before but had a horrible final round and had to watch Dustin Johnson lift the 2016 US Open trophy. He'll no doubt be trying to put that memory out of his mind or using it to motivate himself to close the deal this time.
Moving Day lived up to its name at the Open but many players will feel they were running on a treadmill while Shane Lowry just sprinted out ahead of them.
81 major starts without a win. That's the record Lee Westwood holds - the inauspicious title of Best Player to Never Win a major that Sergio Garcia shrugged off with his 2017 Masters win. He is looking really good this week, with his girlfriend on his bag, and many will be cheering for him to get the major monkey off his back.
It's not unusual to see Shane Lowry's name atop a major leaderboard after round 1. He seems to have a great ability to start hot but usually fades away as the tournament progresses. This time looks and feels different and the whole of Ireland will be willing him on to keep it going through the weekend.
Another Major Championship another round in the 60s for Brooks Koepka. His consistency of performance at this level is super-human, and his ability to focus and deliver low scores in variable conditions is truly remarkable. His presence on leaderboards in majors is having the same effect that Tiger had in the 2000s and rightly so. Who is going to stand up and post a 72-hole score that Brooks can't catch?
TL;DR - If you like your news in bite-sized chunks then this summary of the first day of the 148th Open Championship is for you.
If you hadn't already heard, tournament favorite and local hero, Rory McIlroy, had a disaster start to his quest for the Claret Jug on home soil. He hit his first drive out of bounds and then proceeded to hack his way to a snowman with his second ball. Finishing with a 7 on the last didn't help his scorecard and leaves him a lot of work to do on Friday.
There was much talk about a potential Irish winner at the first Open Championship in Ireland of our generation leading up to the tournament. All the chatter was about Rory, with mentioned of GMac and DC with even some comment on / from Paddy Harrington. Funny how not much was said of perennial hot starter in the Majors, Shane Lowry who now sits on top of the championship leaderboard. Can he maintain his (sort-of) home ground advantage and keep the momentum going through the weekend? Irish eyes will be smiling if he does.
The people of Northern Ireland and around the golfing world have made it clear with their wallets that an Open at the Dunlace Links is long overdue. With record crowds expected (237,750 tickets sold) and the best players in the world in top form (some of them with home-field advantage), the 148th Open Championship is lining up to be one of the best!
Golf Digest has lined up some thoughts on their 13 favorites for the 148th Open Championship for your consideration. Who are you going to pick in your crucial Top 15 bucket?
Winning at majorpunter often comes down to finding value in the lower ends of the world golf ranking. Picking the players outside of the favorites or top 15 that will contend and score well even if they don't win. Golf Digest has some thoughts on the value bets at the Open which may help you uncover some picks to help you win.
Golf Digest looks at the contenders for the Open Championship and their odds to break down the chances of of winning / contending this week. Maybe you can find some diamonds in the rough from this analysis.
PGA Tour website has you covered with all of the additional bits of info you need for Open Championship week.
Great summary of all you need to know about this week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush to help you with your research!
Being a new addition to the modern Open rotation (last featured in 1951), not many players or golf fans would be familiar with this great Irish links. Golf Digest has you covered with a hole-by-hole overview.
10 of the last 12 major winners on a new championship venue (at least within the previous 2 decades) have been in the top 15 of the OWGR leading into the tournament. Will Royal Portrush change this trend? Stats indicate that your pick in the first bucket will likely be the pick for a winner!
Gary Woodland silenced his doubters on Sunday and held off the charge of major-dominator, Brooks Koepka to lift the US Open trophy on the 18th green at Pebble Beach!
Gary Woodland showed the rest of the field how to cope with the pressure and conditions of the US Open at Pebble Beach to post a 65 on Friday and sit on top of the half-way leaderboard with a handy 2-shot cushion. There are far too many birdies, eagles and bogeys out there to make him feel too comfortable. Lots more action to come this weekend!
There are a handful of pros who just play well at Pebble Beach. Will this history of performance stand up under the pressure of a US Open? There are a number of potentially great story lines that will emerge this weekend - even from just this group of Pebble Beach top-performers.
The PGA Tour Fantasy editors have compiled their list of form players leading into this week's US Open. No real surprise that the man who has dominated the majors over the past couple of years is on top of their list.
There are many reasons why Tiger might win this week - and a lot of people will be shouting for him out at Pebble Beach and through their TVs - but a few reasons why he may fall short. Either way, the world will be watching.
This article will make some tough reading for Phil fans who have seen their man come so close to winning the coveted US Open title and fall just short six times. Others will be hoping for another hit of schadenfreude as they watch him fall short again in what is likely his last really good chance to lift the trophy.
Jim Nantz will be enjoying this year's US Open from his front porch rather than the media centre and he is hoping for a story for the ages to play out before his eyes. He picked a winner based on what he thinks would be the best story. Spoiler alert: Jim's pick went and aced the hole in his back yard this past week.
Golf Digest has done punters a solid by providing some thoughts and analysis on value picks for the US Open that may have been overlooked by odds-makers and other punters.
The PGA Tour has produced a nice summary piece to give an overview of Pebble Beach as the host of this week's US Open. Some great data points in there to influence your picks.
Rory showed some amazing all-round play over the last weekend at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club to romp to a comfortable Canadian Open title. Will this convert to contending once again under the significantly greater pressure of a major and at a course as challenging and variable as Pebble Beach? The Golf.com experts have some views.
Rory certainly laid his claim as one of the favourites going into the US Open at Pebble Beach. He has shown that he has the skills to win this tournament but his form in recent years has not held up against other young champions. Does this win in Canada mean he is back to major-winning form?
The Golf Digest team has picked a few names outside the book-maker favourites who could show well as this week's event at Pebble Beach.
Dave Tindall looks at the common themes across US Open winners for the past 10 years and concludes that Hideki and Jordan are great value picks to win the US Open.
Will this years, US Open be the one where he finally lifts the trophy and completes the career Grand Slam, or will it end in tears like has seemed to be his destiny in this tournament? His love of the Pebble Beach course and track record on the links point to the former outcome and maybe this will be his final roll of the dice before he hits the half-century mark.
With so many great players teeing up at Pebble Beach on Thursday, it's hard to know what to watch. The team at Golf Digest have filtered the pairings to highlight some of the most intriguing groups to look out for. Rory + Rahmbo + Leish is a threesome that could produce some fireworks!
Punters will not be shocked to see the lowest odds looking ahead to the US Open are next to the new World #1, Brooks Koepka. Can he make it back-to-back majors and three US Opens in a row? There is a long list of players who will be trying to prevent that truly historic achievement from happening, including his good friend that he displaced from the top of the OWGR.
John Feinstein argues that the "wobble" Brooks Koepka had in the middle of his back 9 on Sunday at Bethpage Black will have hardened his already world-beating ability to close out a major on a Sunday and avoid the dreaded "choke".
Brooks Koepka totally dominated the daunting Bethpage Black course and showed the world what a special golfing talent he is. His name is surely going to be first on the list of most punters as we head into the next two majors!
Brooks Koepka looks unflappable and in control as he cruises to what many believe to be an inevitable victory of historic magnitude. Or will there be a twist in the tail that sees a historic victory from 7+ shots behind? Either way, we'll be watching.
The current world #1 has had to sit back and watch his buddy Brooks dominate the majors over the last few years. DJ has put in some great performances but doesn't seem to be able to kick into that next gear needed to really close out the win - something Brooks has show he is especially good at in the majors!
Brooks has put in a dominant, record-setting performance at Bethpage Black. Can anyone else find some of that form to make things interesting this weekend?
Those that managed to scrape through to the weekend have the daunting task of trying to catch Brooks Koepka. Can anyone challenge his ascendency?
With his dominating performance on day 1, and general recent form in majors, it's easy to think that the engraver has already started to copy the 2018 entry on the Wanamaker trophy. We're hoping that the chasing pack goes out to find some of those birdies that came so easily to Brooks today!
Clearly Brooks paid to heed to the Bethpage Black warning sign as he showed no nerves on his way to an almost flawless 63. Golf Digest runs down some other interesting stats that sum up Thursday at the PGA.
Golf fans are probably all getting tired of seeing posts and pictures of Bethpage Black's ominous Warning sign this week but it does add to the excitement and allure leading up to the tournament. There's a certain schadenfreude joy experienced by golf fans watching the best players in the world hack around like they do on weekends. It certainly makes for great entertainment as Amen Corner on Sunday and almost any US Open layout can attest!
Golf Digest's experts have given their input on who they think with take home the Wanamaker on Sunday and they don't seem to be getting caught up in the 'Tiger Slam' hype. Justin Rose is coming out as a consistent favorite with some interesting other picks thrown in for your consideration!
The ESPN team has taken a magnifying glass to the field of players in the PGA Championship and tiered out the list from potential winners and contenders down to those who will celebrate simply making it to the weekend, and others who are just happy to be teeing off on Thursday and Friday.
Vegas bookmakers have cooled on Tiger somewhat and moved him into a joint favorite position with world #1 Dustin Johnson and seeming major specialist, Brooks Koepka. No doubt, Tiger will still be the fan favorite with roars following him around Bethpage!
The move to May by the PGA has caused players to adapt their season strategies to accommodate the more compressed majors calendar. It seems they may also be taking the PGA more seriously this year after a number of years when it was a bit of an afterthought. Will fans also have renewed enthusiasm for this no-longer-fourth major?
Featured grouping has the last three major winners, all of whom were in contention on Sunday at Augusta last month but only one came out on top. How will the Tiger effect impact Brooks and Moli in those crucial first 2 rounds at Bethpage?
Bethpage sits in the minds of most golf fans as a typical US Open course which delivers on the extreme challenge and above-par scoring averages favoured by the USGA. Will the PGA be able to tweak it to be a bit more forgiving and promote red numbers, or will its ominous warning sign prove prophetic this week?
Here are some interesting options for pros outside of the in-form top ranked players that may perform at Bethpage to help you fill out the second & third buckets of your picks.
Golf Digest has some early ideas for who will win the PGA Championships. Mostly going with the bookies' odds without a lot of surprises. Time to start thinking about your picks.
If history is anything to go by, its crucial to score well over the first 36 holes in order to set up for victory over the weekend. Only Padraig Harrington has successfully won the tournament coming from outside the top 25 going into the weekend, and he had to shoot back-to-back 66s. 71% of champions in the last 60 years have been in the top 5 after Friday's round.
So much to look forward to just around the corner at the PGA Championship! Bethpage Black's ominous warning will be looming in the minds of the pros as they start to gear up for the next major!
We've barely taken a breather from that historic Masters and, with the new tour schedule, the PGA Championship is just around the corner. The SportsLine model has crunched the data and doesn't predict another Tiger win but expects JDay to continue his resurgence!
Morning final round makes it hard to compare the interest that this Masters drew from viewers relative to previous years but compared to other tournaments aired in the morning in the US (The Open) it smashed the record!
If anyone is as happy as Tiger Woods today, it's the guy who bet $85,000 on him and won a $1.2 million payday. William Hill bookies will be less than chuffed with this, their biggest ever loss!
By claiming the Green Jacket and his 15th major, Tiger has made a statement that he is back on track to chasing down the 18 majors record set by Jack Nicklaus. This is something that many golf fans thought impossible just a short while ago.
He has the talent and seems to be in control of his emotions but can the Human Phenom do enough to beat off the best in the world and put his name in the storied history books of Augusta National and the Masters?
We have seen Moli at his best to claim the Claret Jug. Is the Green Jacket going to be the next addition to his trophy room?
Odd makers predicting that Moli has an edge over Tiger. Some wishful thinking perhaps? The Italian is playing like a man with high confidence in his ability to win at this level. Will the Big Cat breathing down his neck throw him off, or push him to greatness?
Some big potential payouts if Tiger wins again today! Bookies will be on the edge of their seats - with the rest of us!
Golf Digest breaks down who you can expect to make a charge this weekend! Who are you going to add to your team?
The excitement of having Tiger on the prowl just behind the leaders is palpable. Are we about to see Sundays be Great Again?
Who's going to miss the cut? Who's going to make a weekend charge? PGA stats team has some ideas...
Day 1 performances have given the bookies a few things to chew on and update their numbers. How does this influence your thinking on subs?
The Economist's statisticians have aimed their quant models at the Masters. Great way to track the probabilities of your picks as the tournament progresses!
Quick overview of stats & data on players, the weather and the course as we head towards the start of the Masters.
PGA Tour number crunchers have been hard at work to help you make your picks for the Masters. The data points to a few serious contenders, but who is your pick?
ESPN's golf experts weigh in on who they think will be taking home the Green Jacket on Sunday. Mostly the usual suspects but one or two dark horses.
Here are your tee times for the first 2 rounds of the 2019 Masters. Some tasty groupings will lead out the field and take the rear charge on both days. So many possibilities...
PGATour.com has had a look at every player in the field to give you some insights on who you can expect to perform at the Masters!
Kyle Porter from CBS Sports (worth a twitter follow: @KylePorterCBS during the Masters) has outlined the 9 main story lines for this week. But certainly there will be more that none of us could expect as the week plays out!
100 qualified to play and 13 previous winners opted to hold their heads high from the grandstands so 87 of the best golfers in the world will battle it out on the fairways and greens of Augusta National this week. See the full list of everyone who is playing at the Masters this year and how they got their invite.
Another one for those who like to let the data do their picking for them. Apparently this model knows its stuff!
Here's a great guide to each hole at Augusta National to make sure you don't get lost while watching the Masters (in person or on TV).
Pinnacle has done a dive into the narratives and data that make for a Masters winner. Might save some analysis for you golf data nerds out there.
Canadian Corey Connors snatched a last-minute place at the Masters by winning the Valero Texas Open for his first PGA Tour win. Amazing effort to win as a Monday qualifier which has only been done a handful of times in PGA Tour history.
The previews are flying off the shelves faster than hot dogs at the baseball, but what defines the best from the rest. Strokes gained tee to green is a good measure for a win or a top 10 at Augusta. The man leading that category this year - Rory Mc. And by a considerable margin. Next in line: Hideki and JT. For the past 7 years, the winner was in the top 10 in this category. Ignore it at your peril.
Early in his career, Tiger was a dominant force at the Masters. Much ink has been spilled detailing the dramas of his journey off the path to historic greatness that Jack Nicklaus predicted back in 1996. This article digs into some of the underlying stats behind that wayward journey. Maybe this is the year for the "new" Tiger to once again find that path to greatness and slip on the Green Jacket he made his own during his youth.
Some interesting tidbits here. If you thought Masters winners had free reign of the course. Not so! “Masters champions can only bring a guest to play without a member present on the Sunday before the Masters.”
With only 86 invites secured, this could be the smallest field for the Masters in years. One more up for grab potentially this weekend in Texas!
Can Spieth overcome his deep cold patch to contend at his favorite venue or will one of this year's form players shine through to take the green jacket?
It is difficult to see or understand the extreme changes in slope and elevation that the players content with at Augusta National without physically standing on the course. This feature from Golf.com does a good job of showing some of these undulating challenges that the course presents even before players have to contend with some of the most difficult greens in the world.
Golf Digest has some thoughts on who will be fitted out for a new Green Jacket in a couple of weeks. Nice bit of research as you start thinking about your picks.
There are always so many great story lines leading into the Masters and this year is no exception! It will be particularly sad to see Freddie Couples in his last outing but no doubt he will be competitive to the end! Getting close...
More than a few people will be looking forward to seeing Patrick Reed pass on the mantle of the right to wear the green jacket out & about for the year ahead. Plenty of players will still be green with envy that he gets to wear it at all!
This is the unofficial list but gives you an idea of who you will be playing and how they qualified (or could qualify).
With 6 top-10s out of 9 starts in 2019 it's hard to argue that Jon Rahm is in form. His mental melt-down at the Players cost him his 7th top-10 (and probably more) and shows his psychological make-over is still a work-in-progress but watch out for this man when he gets his head straight for good!
No shortage of confidence from Brooks: "That's what I love about going to a major. Half the guys you've already beat them by the time you've stepped on the first tee."
Rory will be chuffed to see the Open return to the venue where he lifted the Claret jug in 2014. Easty has a trip to Liverpool already marked down on the calendar!
50% prediction rate! In golf! Punters should probably pay attention to what this model is spitting out.
Rosie enlisting his home course to speed up the greens as much as possible ("pretty much brown out and 50 percent kill") tells you how fast the greens are at Augusta National!
Tiger is certainly drawing in the bets for this year's Masters. Plenty of pros will be doing their best to see this punter lose his $10k!
The Bear Trap at PGA National Golf Club gave pros some preparation for the 2nd toughest stretch in golf - under what will be much more stressful conditions!
Seems like all the golf news this year has centered around the new golf rules - and their implementation. Players are making a lot of noise about it - what can be done to fix it before a Major is decided on a bizarre ruling?
Ricky Fowler needs to be on the receiving end of one of these congratulatory handshakes at a major in 2019!