Golf Tips: Australian Open, Hero World Championship, Nedbank Challenge best bets

• Steve Rawlings previews and will provide weekend in-play blog

• Dave Tindall's recommends his each -way tips for the Hero

• Check out Steve's outsiders to back at 100/1 and bigger 

• Andy Swales brings course info and form players

• It's Safer Gambling Week - bet at your best with Betfair's SG tools

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Hero World Challenge tips and predictions 

The Punter's Preview: Scheffler the straightforward selection at 7/4

Steve Rawlings: Having been a 6.6 chance when winning the title for a first time two years ago, and a 5/2 chance 12 months ago, punters need to decide whether there's any juice in the price for the world number one, Scottie Scheffler, at around 13/8 as he bids to rack up the hat-trick.

Early exchange players have snaffled up all the odds available at 2.7 and above (matched at a high of 2.88) and he's now trading at around 2.6. That's a short price but the field isn't as strong as it's been in previous years and with exceptional course form numbers that read 2-2-1-1, it's very hard to envisage Scheffler not contending.

He won by three strokes two years ago and he hacked up by six 12 months ago, so he clearly loves him annual trip to the Bahamas. Although short for a golfer pre-event, anything around 6/4 is more than fair so I was more than happy to get him onside at the Sportsbook's boosted odds of 7/4.

Each-way Picks: Back Hideki to hit the heights at 18/1

Dave Tindall: Hideki Matsuyama lifted the trophy here back in 2016 when shooting 18-under to win by two from Henrik Stenson, the champion in 2019. The Japanese star was also fifth here in 2017 when defending and this will be his first start in the event since 2018. Add in a superb record (two wins and a second) in the Phoenix Open at Scottsdale - a course that correlates well - and he can flourish when the scenery is open.

But what gets him firmly in the crosshairs is current form. In September Matsuyama was 13th at Wentworth, October brought 20th in the Baycurrent Classic in Japan and seventh in the Genesis Championship in South Korea while a couple of weeks ago he took fifth at home in the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament.

His short game looked sharp in that latter event and will serve him well on this course. Matsuyama, who started 2025 by shooting 35-under to win The Sentry in Hawaii (on another windy, exposed layout), looks to be playing his way into form and that extra sharpness over many of his rivals could be a big factor. Back him each-way at 18/1 (1/4 Odds, 4 Places).

Course and current form stats

Current Form Pick:

If anyone is going to stop the defending champion then the Betfair market reckons it is the Scottish player. He finished seventh here last year and arrives in 2025 off the back of consecutive top 10s. It is only two months since he won the Alfred Dunhill Championship. 

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Australian Open tips and predictions

The Punter's Preview: Marvelous McIlroy a great bet at 6/1

Steve Rawlings: Given how well links form holds up here and that the cream appears to rise to the top around this wonderful layout, I was a bit surprised to see Rory McIlroy open up at as big as 5/1. I'd have happily taken anything over 4/1 so I simply had to back him at the boosted 6/1 on the Sportsbook and I'm confident he'll contend.

He was a bit disappointing at Wentworth, where he finished 20^th a week after winning the Irish Open, and he didn't get going at the India Championship in October but after a third place finish in the Abu Dhabi Championship and a runners-up finish in the DP World Tour Championship last month, it would be a surprise if he didn't figure here given how well the venue should suit.

It's now 12 years since he won the title for a first time at Royal Sydney, but he hasn't been a frequent visitor. This is his first appearance since he failed to defend the title in 2014, having sat second and just one adrift at halfway (finished 15^th, beaten by 15!), but he's arrived nice and early this week and he should be raring to go by the time he tees off on Wednesday night UK time.

Australian Open:  First Round Leader Tips

Dave Tindall:  Curtis Luck is a familiar name that pops up at this time of year as those not close to the Aussie circuit wonder if the former amateur World No 1 can really kick on. Maybe he can; Luck is still only 29.

He did actually qualify for the Open Championship back in the summer, missing the cut although shooting a decent round of 70 on day two.

But he's still worth a look on home soil, especially after finishing runner-up in this event at nearby Kingston Heath last year. That, like Royal Melbourne, is a sandbelt course so hopefully he can show off his same skills here.

While 48th in the Aussie PGA last time was underwhelming, he made the top eight in two Western Australia events in October.

As for good starts, he was 11th after the opening lap last week and second through 18 holes in two of his previous four events. Wind back further and he was first-round leader on the first of his three starts in the Australian Open in which he's made the top 15 in all of them.  

Back Luck, who starts at 07:15 from the 1st, at 70/171.00 (1/5 Odds, 5 Places). 

Australian Open: Form stats

Current Form Pick:

The Spaniard's triumph at last week's Australian PGA Championship did not come from nowhere, after finishes of 12 and 14 in his previous two appearances, as well as a top 10 at the Open de Espana in October. He will be raring to go again in Melbourne. Could we see back to back victories for the 23-year-old? 

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Nedbank Challenge tips and predictions

The Punter's Preview: Hot Higgo sole Sun City selection at 17/1

Steve Rawlings: This is Higgo's first appearance in the Nedbank, but this is his fourth visit to the venue. He missed the cut in the South African Open in both 2020 and 2021, but he won the Sun City Challenge here on the Sunshine Tour in his first start since winning on the Big Easy Tour in 2019.

He wasn't in great form before either of his South African Open appearances so given he's the type to telegraph a victory, I'm happy to overlook those two performances at the track and take the 17/1 available on the Exchange.

After a quiet spell following his win at the Corales Puntacana Championship in April, Higgo has followed a missed cut at the Wyndham Championship in August with a seventh place finish in the Procore Championship, a runners-up finish in the Sanderson Farms Championship and two fourth placed finishes in-a-row, at the Baycurrent Classic in Japan in October and in the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico in November.

Fina Me a 100 Winner: Migliozzi fancied to go well

Steve Rawlings:  The four-time DP World Tour winner, Guido Migliozzi, has been steadily shortening up all week in the Nedbank Golf Challenge market and I can see why.

As highlighted in the tournament preview, form at Le Golf National in Paris holds up well at the Gary Player Country Club and he won the third of his four titles there two years ago.

With form figures here reading 21-44-31, at first glance, it doesn't look as though it's a venue that suits the 27-year-old Italian, but he shot 67 on the first occasion he played the course, in 2019, to sit third after round one, and he did the same thing three years later on his second visit.

Migliozzi is an in-and-out performer, but he knows how to win if he does get into contention and there have been a few signs lately that he may just spark into action.

We haven't seen him since he finished tied for 30^th in Korea so it's almost impossible to gauge his wellbeing but I'm happy to chance him here at a juicy price, given how prolific he is and how reliable he is in-contention.

Place order to lay 8 Us @ 10.09/1 and 12 Us @ 2.01/1

Course and current form stats

Current Form Pick:

After not hitting a top 10 since July's BMW International Open, Canter has gone close to winning in two of his last three events. First up was a tie for second at the Genesis Championship in Korea and then a tie for third at the DP World Tour Championship. In between was a near top 20 at the Abu Dhabi Championship. Can more globetrotting yield another high finish?

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