Valspar Championship: In-form Hatton a fair price in Florida
The PGA Tour takes in the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook and Steve Rawlings is back with his comprehensive preview...
Steve says: "The last five winners here have averaged 34.2 for Strokes Gained Off the Tee, with three of the five having a negative strokes gained figure, and that tells you all you need to know.
"We've seen big and short hitters win here and we've seen straight and wayward winners too. The driving stats can be largely ignored, and this is a second shot course. Finding the smaller than average greens is usually the key to victory and the last five winners have ranked an average of 6.6 for Strokes Gained on Approach and 4.2 Tee to Green.
"Last year's winner, Sam Burns, only ranked 35th for Greens In Regulation and Paul Casey, when winning the title for a first time, only ranked 30th for GIR in 2018 but the next three on the leaderboard ranked tied eighth, tied eighth and tied second for GIR and he ranked a much improved fifth in 2019...
"For now my only selection is Tyrrell Hatton. He missed the cut here on his only previous visit in 2019 but he shot 69 in round one before a disastrous 81 on Friday saw him miss out on the weekend and he looks primed to win again with 2022 form figures reading 6-4-28-2-13.
"He proved two years ago when winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational (second again two weeks ago) that he's more than capable of winning around a tough track and he's putting too well to ignore."
Steve's bet: Back Tyrrell Hatton @ 34.033/1
Valspar Championship Each-Way Tips: Bradley can claim Innisbrook win
Dave Tindall has three each-way tips for the action at Copperhead starting with the man who finished runner-up last year.
Dave says: "Keegan Bradley's tied fifth place at last week's weather-hit Players Championship looks impressive enough without adding any extra details. But when we consider that he came from the unlucky part of the draw and suffered a two-stroke penalty on Friday when the wind blew his ball on the green, the American's Sawgrass display was even more impressive.
In fact, take off his bogey-double bogey finish and give those two penalty shots back and he wins by a shot! Okay, sport doesn't work like that but regardless of the ifs, buts and maybes, Bradley played an excellent tournament in Ponte Vedra last week.
"Notably, it didn't come out of thin air. He's made six cuts out of six since the calendar flipped to 2022 and that includes tied 12th at the Sony Open and tied 11th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill two weeks ago.
"Although he went low in the Sony, Bradley's natural habitat is a venue where ball-striking means plenty and there isn't an over emphasis on the putter. Welcome to the Valspar Championship where the winning score has been between 7-under and 10-under in five of the last seven editions."
Dave's bet: Back Keegan Bradley each-way @ 51.050/1
Valspar Championship First-Round Leader Tips: Kizzire fits the Patton
Next up for Dave are three selections in the first round leader betting in Florida including an American who's made a habit of strong starts recently...
Dave says: "Patton Kizzire doesn't waste much time finding a rhythm and this season he has plenty of quick starts.
"The American was fourth after 18 holes at the Sony Open and he's finished day one inside the top 12 in each of his latest three events, including last week's Players Championship where he opened with a 68 to sit ninth after round one before ending a solid tied 22nd.
"A closing 67 at Sawgrass will hopefully give him some momentum to ride here. In last year's Valspar Championship, Kizzire completed his first circuit in just 66 blows and that was good enough for second place.
"With his putter hot - Kizzire was 7th for Strokes Gained: Putting at the Players Championship - he looks primed to go well early and a tee-time of 08.46 completes the case for him.
Dave's bet: Back Patton Kizzire each-way at 81.080/1
Valspar Championship 2022: Course and current form stats
Andy Swales provides the key course information for this week's PGA Tour event and, based on the players' form, picks his four to watch.
Andy says: "Opened in 1974, Copperhead was given a facelift seven years ago when greens, tees and bunkers were all re-built. During the 2015 renovation, greens were reseeded with TifEagle Bermuda, while the gently undulating tree-lined fairways were all re-grassed with Celebration Bermuda.
"Although putting surfaces were slightly enlarged during this upgrade, in order to accommodate a greater number of pin positions, they remain about average size for PGA Tour events. A number of bunkers were repositioned, while the pros will be tested by a handful of subtle dog-legs on fairly tight fairways. Water comes into play on seven holes.
"Abraham Ancer, who was tied-fifth last year and has the game to prosper at Innisbrook Resort."
Andy's Player to Watch: Back Abraham Ancer @ 38.037/1
Steyn City Championship: Home hero George a very worthy favourite
The DP World Tour remains in South Africa for another brand-new event - the Steyn City Championship - and Steve Rawlings previews the action...
Steve says: "Last week's playoff featured two Spaniards and an Englishman, but South Africans fare well at home for obvious reasons and four of the last six DP World Tour events in South Africa have been won by a South African but it's also worth looking at form at other Nicklaus designed tracks that are used on the DP World Tour.
"Prior to last week, the last two Nicklaus designed tracks used on the DP World Tour were Mount Juliet, which hosted the Irish Open, and the London Club, which hosted the Cazoo Classic.
"These sorts of low-grade affairs tend to produce plenty of drama and taking on anyone that goes odds-on often pays dividends on the DP World Tour. All three playoff protagonists went odds-on last week so taking on the favourites in-play proved profitable once again...
"George Coetzee tends to telegraph his victories and he must be backed at 24.023/1 given his exceptional record in his homeland. The first of the experienced Pretorian's five DP World Tour events was the Joburg Open in 2014 and that was the first of four DP World Tour victories in South Africa.
"Coetzee's only DP World Tour success outside of his homeland was the Portugal Masters two years ago so he's one to swerve on the road and one to follow at home."
Steve's bet: Back George Coetzee @ 44.043/1
Steyn City Championship Each-Way Tips: Fab Zanotti can enjoy the good life
Matt Cooper has three selections for the tournament in South Africa with the Betfair Sportsbook paying seven places...
Matt says: "Fabrizio Zanotti is on an excellent run of consistent form at the moment, playing all four rounds in 15 consecutive events, a run that stretches all the way back to July last year (he was also bang in the hunt for the win at the recent Dubai Desert Classic until the final round).
"What the two-time DP World Tour winner needs is something to turn relentless golf into winning golf and another Nicklaus test might be it. His first win at this level came at the Golden Bear's Gut Larchenhof design and he got off to a decent start last week at Pecanwood with a 65 for tied ninth.
"After that, his approach game deserted him which really hasn't been happening for a long while and, moreover, he was stellar in that part of his game on his previous Nicklaus start at Mount Juliet last summer. If he can rediscover his mean form with the irons he can capitalise on that excellent run of results."
Matt's bet: Fabrizio Zanotti 1pt each-way @ 67.066/1
Steyn City Championship 2022: Course and form stats
Andy Swales provides the key course information for this week's DP Tour event and, based on the players' form, picks his four to watch.
Andy says: "The Steyn City Championship is a new co-sanctioned event and, for the second week in a row, a largely identical field will test their skills over another Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
"Sand and water is a major feature of the officially titled The Club at Steyn City, which opened for business on April 1st, 2015. The holes are laid out over gently rolling terrain, with a number of changes in elevation along the route. The Club at Steyn City will be hosting a Sunshine Tour event for the second time.
"Englishman Marcus Armitage has made a solid start to the calendar year without finding his way into the top five or six - yet. This week's field will be similar in strength to the Porsche European Open which the 34-year-old won last June."
Andy's Player to Watch: Back Marcus Armitage @ 36.035/1