West Virginia bettors have an interesting choice regarding the Wells Fargo PGA Championship.
What’s more enticing, big names or recent form?
That comes together for this tournament, which runs Thursday-Sunday at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC, one of the longest courses on tour at 7,521 yards.
TV schedule:
- Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. EST (Golf Channel)
- Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. EST (Golf Channel) and 3-6 p.m. EST (CBS)
Here was the original betting lineup at DraftKings Sportsbook West Virginia:
Justin Thomas is the favorite at +900 to win, +200 for Top 5 and +110 for Top 10.
Jon Rahm is +1000, +225 and +110 across the board.
Bryson DeChambeau, always a long-ball striker, is +1500, +350 and +164.
Xander Schauffele was listed at +1800, +350 and +164.
Rory McIlroy, the popular player still trying to get untracked, is +1900, +400 and +200. He has finished in the Top 10 here seven of nine times.
Bettors embrace those big-name players, who often perform well. But then there’s recent form.
Defending champion Max Homa delivered a nice sixth-place finish last weekend at the Valspar Championship. He is +3500, +750 and +350.
Viktor Hovland, who was fourth last week, came up +2000, +400 and +175.
For momentum bettors, these are attractive considerations, based on the theory that whoever is playing well will continue to do so.
Wells Fargo Championship betting at WV sportsbooks
Some good values lurk underneath the surface.
Homa is +175 to finish in the Top 20. So is Sungjae Im.
The Top 20, Top 30 and Top 40 bets, when they go up, are an excellent hedge, especially if they are above even money.
“This week’s tournament is going to be bet heavily,” Johnny Avello, the director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, told PlayWV. “Two weeks ago, we had a partners tournament, which I don’t think the bettors cared for too much. Last week, we didn’t have all the big names.
“This week, we do. This is when betting is at its peak. Everybody can’t be the favorite; there is so much talent in this field.”
Avello continued:
“Last week, you also had the Kentucky Derby and some other events going up against it. That’s not the case this time.”
Books have a slew of nationality props, head-to-head tournament matchups and the score on upcoming holes. That’s why bettors who miss the first round can still participate all weekend long.
Although most holes end in par, some are candidates for birdies and bogeys, which can deliver nice payouts.
Good Birdie Chance: Hole 7, Par 5, 546 yards
Many pros will reach it in two, think eagle and settle for birdie. But they can also get too aggressive on the second shot and find trouble.
Bogey Threat: Hole 17, Par 3, 221 yards
A long par 3 over water without much landing area.
Par is a good score here, but bogeys are a strong possibility. Figure these dimensions into your handicapping.
Pressure Cooker: Hole 18, Par 4, 494 Yards
On the tee shot, players must avoid a bunker on the right, as well as a creek that meanders along the entire left side of the narrow fairway. An uphill second shot must avoid hazards on both sides of the green, which is deep and sloped.
If a player must birdie this hole to win the championship, he will definitely have his hands full. This may also make him more aggressive on 16 or 17.
