LPGA sets record winner’s purse for 2019 finale

After a great week of golf betting at The Open Championship, the PGA TOUR will head to Minnesota for the 3M Open. The field consists of three of the top-25 players in the world golf rankings, and it’s no surprise these three – Tony Finau (+1400), Hideki Matsuyama (+1600) and Sungjae Im (+1600) – have the best odds. With that being said, as of Tuesday at the BetMGM online sportsbook, bettors are flocking to a pair of PGA TOUR rookies. Davis Riley and Sahith Theegala are generating the most pre-tournament action. RELATED: Rookies to watch on the PGA TOUR Riley is pulling in the most handle (12.6%) and the second-most tickets (7%), while Theegala is just behind him with 10.1% of the handle and just ahead of him with 7.9% of tickets. Both players are seeking their first PGA TOUR win. Regarding their golf odds to win, both players are +2500, tied for the fifth-best odds in the field. TPC Twin Cities is a different course from the past two weeks in Scotland featuring tree-lined fairways, thick rough, and numerous water hazards. It will not be wide open and fast like the prior two weeks at The Reinassance Club and St. Andrews. Theegala, who was a late add for The Open Championship and finished T-34, nearly won the Travelers Championship (T-2) a few weeks ago and followed it up with a T-16 finish at the John Deere Classic. The 24-year-old, who is currently 38th in the FedExCup Playoff standings, also has a T-3 finish this season at the WM Phoenix Open. Riley’s closest call to winning came in a playoff loss to Sam Burns at the Valspar Championship, but he’s compiled nine top-25 finishes, which have him ranked 23rd in the FedExCup. The 25-year-old will enter the week fully rested, having not played in the last three weeks. With a relatively weak field compared to most other PGA TOUR events, this could be the right time for one of these rookies to pick up their first career win. Current Handle & Tickets Handle 1. Davis Riley – 12.6% 2. Sahith Theegala – 10.1% 3. Tony Finau – 6.7% 4. Sungjae Im – 5.1% 5. Cam Davis – 5.1% Tickets 1. Sahith Theegala – 7.9% 2. Davis Riley – 7% 3. Hideki Matsuyama – 6.3% 4. Tony Finau – 6.2% 5. Cam Davis – 4.5% Finau is another popular play. He’s had some solid showings at the event, including a T-3 finish in 2020. Davis (+2500) is also a player bettors like this week, likely because of his recent form. He enters the week with two straight top-10 finishes. Cameron Champ (+5000) is the defending champion, drawing 2.7% of the tickets and 4.1% of the handle. * Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. BetMGM is available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IN, IL, LA, MI, MS, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Paid in free bets. Free bets expire in 7 days from issuance. Minimum deposit required. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, DC, LA, NV, WY, VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (IN, NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA) or call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), call or text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN) or call 1-888-777-9696 (MS). Sports betting is void where prohibited. Promotional offers not available in Nevada.

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So even if Tiger Woods isn’t threatening at tournaments so far this year, that doesn’t mean he’s not positioning himself well for Augusta National.

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LA QUINTA, Calif. — When it comes to his thought process on the course, Jon Rahm likes to keep things simple. That means getting the yardage, wind direction and club selection from caddie Adam Hayes. Nothing more, nothing less.  Before Hayes was on the bag, Rahm went through the same pre-shot process with Tim Mickelson, his former head coach at Arizona State, who managed and caddied for the 23-year-old before taking over the bag full-time for brother Phil Mickelson.  “Because Tim was my coach at (Arizona State), I didn’t need much,” Rahm said of their pre-shot routine. “It was, ‘OK, it’s 120, this shot, right?’”  Asked what it’s like being privy to the player-caddie pre-shot conversations between the Mickelson brothers, Rahm, who played a practice round with Phil on Wednesday at the CareerBuilder Challenge, said they are on the opposite end of the spectrum.  “With Phil, it’s like, ‘Oh, this shot, the moisture, this is going on,’” Rahm said. “They’re talking about one mile per hour of wind sideways, it’s going to affect it 1 yard. This green is this, this trajectory. They’re thinking and I’m like, ‘I’m lost.’ ‘I’m like, God, if I do that thought process, I could not hit the golf shot.’” Of course, Mickelson’s extreme attention to detail doesn’t end with full shots. Rahm said it also extends to the putting green as well.  “He gets to the green and it’s the same thing,” Rahm said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s a foot right?’ And he goes, ‘OK, it’s 1.8 degrees of slope here.’ And I’m listening and I’m like, ‘Man, I hope we’re never paired together for anything because I can’t think like this (laughs).’ I would not be able to play golf like that. “And then you hear me and Adam (Hayes) talk — 180, a little breeze into, OK, hard 6. And it’s just the extreme opposite.” Despite being polar opposites when it comes to the way they navigate the course, Rahm appreciates having the opportunity to glean as much as he can from the five-time major winner during their practice rounds.  “It’s just fun to hear it, to hear what he does,” Rahm said. “But I tried to learn as much as I can from that guy, I always like to try to pick his brain a little. Again, great guy to be out here with.”

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