Svensson has career day to lead Sony Open in Hawaii

The 3M Open drops at a time when none of the most notable in its field is playing its best. It’s also not a replicate of the Mexico Open at Vidanta that had an overwhelming favorite in Jon Rahm to deliver on the most challenging task – victory. Of course, this is also golf, so it’s not to say that any of the short list of names that the most casual of fans might know won’t be holding the trophy at TPC Twin Cities on Sunday, but the more knowledgeable among us have reasons to be skeptical. PointsBet always is open for business, but toying with the possibilities in PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live this week extends an enhanced experience throughout the chaos of the uncertainty. For gamers of a certain age, it’s like any of the Choose Your Own Adventure books that were so popular 25-40 years ago. We all begin on page 1 and none of us ever takes the same path. Embrace the process because your choices just might lead you to the promised land. Register for PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live here and monitor Rob’s and Glass’ progress as Influencers. For a broader explanation of the format and FAQs, click here. TOURNAMENT TO WIN Glass … Harry Higgs (+20000) As I noted in Horses for Courses, all three winners of the 3M Open opened at +12500, so starting on the fringes and working back is, again, the angle this week. Higgs has admitted he needs to put it gear as he looks to build on his T11 last week near Lake Tahoe. If lightning is NOT caught in a bottle, I’ll shake the dice again as the week moves on. Rob … Brice Garnett (+12500) I bettered Glass at St. Andrews but I deferred this week’s opening kickoff because his narrative deserves top billing. The 3M Open is a platinum opportunity for us. The extremely gradual rise on the outrights board eliminates everyone at +6000 and shorter until the 36-hole cut falls. Keep scrolling. I’ll also stick with the trend at TPC Twin Cities. Garnett has made very little noise all season, but he’s fresh off a T16 at the Barracuda Championship where he was the only golfer in the top 30 to lose point – one point to be exact – in the final round. When he’s on, it’s all about piling up scoring opportunities, and that’s the ticket this week. He’s 3-for-3 in this tournament with a pair of top 25s and a scoring average of 68.25. TOP 10 Rob … Cole Hammer (+2000) I’ll retake the honor here, thank you. So, even though PointsBet had a market for top 10s ahead of the finale of The Open Championship, the bet didn’t unlock on this page, so I was stuck with Joohyung Kim and his T47. That’s the common experience for the Top 20 bet where I will continue to play it safer, but now it’s fair to wonder if it’s going to happen again in this lane. (I was up until 2:00 a.m. PT on Sunday when the 2-balls were uploaded.) All of that is to say that, while I want to see what the kid can do, he’ll be on a pitch count. Former University of Texas teammate Pierceson Coody already is a winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, but Hammer beat Coody on the KFT last week, T7-MC, so he arrives with some momentum into Minnesota. He’s one of my Sleepers. As bananas as it seems for Hammer to convert on this target, consider that Matthew Wolff also has just turned pro before he broke through for victory in the inaugural 3M Open in 2019. Glass … Austin Cook (+1500) Thankfully I have an early alarm bell on Saturday for TRAVEL SPORTS so I should find the sweet spot to reload, if necessary. Cook has snapped off five paydays in his last five events and can get the putter hot on command. It doesn’t hurt that he’s 14th in fairways hit with tough short grass to find. TOP 20 Glass … Scott Gutschewski (+600) Sometimes you need a map and a compass when searching for value. I’m going to start with a guy who picked up his first top five on TOUR last week. Let’s find hot, stay hot and maybe get hotter! Rob … Cole Hammer (+900) Keeping it simple in piggybacking the Top 10. When courses aren’t terribly difficult, the inexperienced have a better chance to contend, and I’m relying on his strong week in Illinois as a springboard. ROUND 1 LEADER Rob … Adam Svensson (+6000) This likely is the first time that the No. 1 in my Power Rankings goes out in the first threesome of the day, so that prevents me from overthinking it. (Despite rumors, there’s no truth that I arranged this.) By the time I’m awake and alert, he’ll be on his inward side, so I won’t hesitate to pivot. Thursday will present the age-old debate about whether you want your charge to go out on the easier side when the wind is down and come home on the harder when it freshens, or the opposite. Relative to par, the back nine of TPC Twin Cities is easier, but that’s in part because two of the three par 5s on the course are Nos. 12 and 18. Svensson begins on No. 1. Conventional wisdom suggests that you want your guy on the easier side when the breezes are up, but this course isn’t challenging enough to make a significant difference. My philosophy always has been to tilt toward playing the easier side when the wind lays down because he’s more likely to go lower in the meantime and hang on (at worst) on the rest. Sure, some will prove that wrong, but you’ll get a subset of guys on the opposite side of the course also disobeying the intent. Either way, commit to your shot and learn from it. Glass … Sungjae Im (+3300) Fairways, greens and putts for birdies. I’m riding a simple formula with a guy who, when he’s in the mood, has no problem racking up par breakers. Tee 10 at 7:23 a.m. CT doesn’t hurt my angle. It also gives me all morning/afternoon to jump to a hotter horse. If necessary. NOTE: While Glass and Rob typically stick with their selections as detailed in Pick ‘Em Preview, they are allowed the right to make changes at any time.

Click here to read the full article…

Will Gordon (+400 for a Top 20) … Y’all remember this guy! He’s played membership bingo for four years. After achieving Special Temporary Membership deep into the 2019-20 PGA TOUR season, he was fully exempt via the non-member top 125 conduit in 2020-21. The season didn’t pan out as planned and he lost his card. That led to his rookie season on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour on which he picked off a victory to open the Finals a month ago. It was among six top 10s overall, including consecutive T5s to conclude the regular season. Now back in the big leagues in the graduate reshuffle category, the 26-year-old also returns to Silverado where he finished T61 in his only appearance in 2020. He finished T8 on the KFT in ball-striking, precisely the skill set required to fulfill this prop and improve on his previous performance. Mark Hubbard (+300 for a Top 20) … He limped to the finish line and missed the cut in the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs to end his season, but he’s had a month off to rest and recharge. For the five months prior, he was regularly lurking on leaderboards on both the PGA TOUR and the Korn Ferry Tour, totaling nine top 15s, including a 3rd-4th fortnight across the opposite events in July. The 33-year-old also is no stranger to Silverado. His last two paydays (in 2019 and 2021) were top 20s. Exceptionally well-balanced and elevated among others in the field. Michael Gligic … The 32-year-old from Canada connected almost identical records in the last two PGA TOUR seasons, but he’s needed the Korn Ferry Tour Finals to regain fully exempt status both times. Although it’s not the preferred method, it’s nice to convert on the lifeline and its timing is invaluable for his prospects this week. With the series as the nearest object in his rearview mirror – he went 3-for-3 with top fives in the last two stops – he has momentum. Given the option, it’s the obvious choice, but it’s also a bonus, especially since he’s 3-for-3 at Silverado with a T14 two years ago. Scott Harrington … After spending two seasons on the PGA TOUR, the Northwestern product regrouped and regained his card via the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022. Now 41 years of age, he slots as the model of what Silverado rewards – the veteran ball-striker. In fact, he’s 2-for-2 on the par 72 with a T23 in 2019 and a scoring average of 69.50. Finished 11th on the KFT in total driving, 16th in greens hit and T8 in ball-striking. Also popped for a T4 in the first leg of the Finals just four weeks ago. Zac Blair … The veteran of 147 PGA TOUR starts sat out 19 months after having surgery to repair two tears in his right shoulder. Proving that you never can return too late, he paid off the patience by going 5-for-5 in his Korn Ferry Tour rehab this summer. Each went for a top 35, two were top 25s. Boom. Now 32 years of age, he’s making his seventh start at Silverado where two of his four paydays include a T12 in 2014 and a T4 in 2019. He’s equipped with a season’s slate of 24 starts on a Major Medical Extension, so the pressure remains off to perform sooner than later. Just how he likes it. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM.

Click here to read the full article…

Click here to read the full article…