PGA Tour moves forward with new 8-event series for international-tour members

Through two rounds at The Open Championship, Cameron Smith leads by two strokes, highlighted by an 8-under 64 in Friday’s second round. But there are plenty of top players right behind him, which will make for a great weekend of live golf betting. There are plenty of options this weekend for golf betting at the BetMGM online sportsbook, including some special prop bets for some leaders heading into Saturday’s third round. Smith (-13) leads Cameron Young (-11) by two shots and then Rory McIlroy (-10) and Viktor Hovland (-10) by three shots. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (-8) sits five shots back after back-to-back 68s. Let’s break down the numbers on the props to see if there’s value to be found. Birdie the first hole: Rory McIlroy (+275), Cameron Smith (+275), Scottie Scheffler (+275) The par-4 first hole played slightly over par in the first two rounds, yielding 55 birdies to 37 bogeys and 45 scores of double-bogey or worse. Specific to the three players, McIlroy and Smith made one birdie against one par on the hole in the first two rounds, while Scheffler made a bogey in Friday’s second round after making par on Thursday. To shoot 68 or lower: Rory McIlroy (+110), Scottie Scheffler (+120), Cameron Smith (+130) Shooting 68 or lower means going 4-under or better at St. Andrews. All three players have done this through the first two rounds so far this week. In third-round scoring this year, Smith and Scheffler have the advantage over McIlroy. Scheffler ranks third on TOUR this year in third-round scoring, Smith is eighth and McIlroy is 115th. To make an eagle: Rory McIlroy (+900), Cameron Smith (+900), Scottie Scheffler (+900) With only two par-5s at St. Andrews, there are limited eagle chances. Some of par-4s are drivable depending on wind direction, but the par-5 fifth hole and par-5 14th hole will be the best opportunity. There have been 26 eagles in the first two rounds, 12 of which came on the fifth and 14th holes. Smith is the only one of the three players to make an eagle this week (14th hole on Friday). 6 or more birdies/eagles: Rory McIlroy (+100), Scottie Scheffler (+105), Cameron Smith (+110) McIlroy and Smith have accomplished this in both rounds this week, while Scheffler has made five birdies/eagles to one bogey in both of his rounds. For the year, all three players rank high in birdies per round. Smith ranks second (4.7), Scheffler third (4.66), and McIlroy sixth (4.39). Bogey free: Rory McIlroy (+900), Scottie Scheffler (+1000), Cameron Smith (+1100) Smith is the only player of the three to have a bogey-free round this week, which came on Friday. Scheffler has made one each day, while McIlroy made one Thursday and two on Friday. In bogey avoidance this year, Scheffler is 18th, McIlroy 24th, and Smith T-57th. * 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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Jordan Spieth will make his first start of 2019, and first start as a married man, at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week.  The 2015 FedExCup winner and former world No. 1, who is trying to rebound from his worst season as a pro, wed longtime girlfriend Annie Verret last November and admitted Wednesday he expects to see some rust in his game at Waialae Country Club this week.  “This tournament was up in in the air, given I wasn’t in Maui this year,â€� said Spieth, who finished 31st in the FedExCup last season and missed the TOUR Championship for the first time in his six-year career. “I decided that I really wanted to come down here. I like the golf course a lot, the hospitality is fantastic, and the weather is perfect. “Really could come down and try out the very little work I was able to put in, but at least knock some rust off and gather some information about where I am at and hopefully make some adjustments going forward into the season.â€� Spieth slipped to 123rd in Strokes Gained: Putting in 2018, from 39th the year before and 2nd in 2016. He also struggled with his swing and said he wasted time working on the wrong thing. The result: His five top-10s in 23 starts were the fewest of his career. “I was certainly frustrated with last season results-wise compared to previous seasons,â€� he said. “It was also something I kind of embraced as an inevitable at some point in the career. “I almost took ignorance as bliss in a lot of parts of my game,â€� he added, alluding to the torrid start of his career, when he won 11 times, including three majors, all before turning 25. “I did things well, but I didn’t know why. I just did them. Then they got off, and so I had to figure out why I did them well and how to train it back.â€� Spieth said he’s now working on the right thing, but finding the time to get it grooved has been another matter. The off-season saw him spend less time on his game than on his wedding in Dallas and honeymoon in the Caribbean. As a result, he said, he’s not sure what to expect at the Sony. He was 3rd in 2017 and T18 a year ago, but returns to Waialae after “limited work.â€� “I think that was good for me,â€� he said. “I needed some time away from the game after being off and having to play through it at the end the season, and then in the fall kind of the same thing.â€� In a departure from his usual scheduling, Spieth finished T55 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, and missed the cut at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in the fall. He comes into this week at 191st in the FedExCup and 17th in the Official World Golf Ranking. “I’m a little bit behind,â€� he said, “which I can play catch up, I think, pretty easily.â€� One adjustment: What to do about that new wedding ring when gripping the club? “I’m fine with playing with it,â€� Spieth said. “It’s just my putting; when I’m cross-handed kind of jams into my grip.â€�  As a result, he said, he probably will take it off when he’s inside the ropes. “Unfortunately,â€� he said, “that means I’ll probably lose some rings, but I don’t think — as of now I don’t think I’m going to start playing with it on. Just it was putting that was the reason. Kind of odd.â€�

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler were the biggest names among the contenders Sunday at The Honda Classic. Vijay Singh was the oldest – and most decorated. In the end, the trio came up short to Keith Mitchell – whose birdie from 15-1/2 feet on the final hole made him a first-time PGA TOUR winner — but each of the three left PGA National feeling upbeat about the rest of their seasons. Koepka and Fowler, local residents who live a short distance from each other, tied for second at 8 under after some late heroics gave them hope for a playoff. Singh, the 56-year-old World Golf Hall of Famer seeking to become the oldest winner in PGA TOUR history, was in the mix until an errant tee shot at the 17th found the water. “It’s always exciting to be in the hunt, no matter where you play,â€� said Singh, who shot an even-par 70 playing in the final group of the day with 54-hole leader Wyndham Clark. “Something’s going on. You’re excited. Something’s going to happen. … It’s exciting.â€� Very exciting, to say the least. Ryan Palmer, who teed off more than four hours ahead of the lead group, posted the number to beat at 7 under after a sizzling 63 moved him from T-39 to the clubhouse lead. That stood up for two hours until Lucas Glover joined him after his 66. Koepka, though, was three groups behind Glover and was deftly navigating the treacherous Bear Trap – hole Nos. 15, 16 and 17 that often decide the outcome at The Honda Classic. He birdied the par-4 16th, then eliminated Palmer and Glover from consideration with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 18th. But when he walked toward the scoring area, he feared the worst. “I had the same feeling I had at Valero when Kevin Chappell won [in 2017 with a finishing birdie],â€� Koepka said. “It just wasn’t going to be enough.â€� Fowler was next to finish at 8 under, thanks to three birdies in his last four holes. It was a sizzling stretch for the 2017 Honda champ, who won the Waste Management Phoenix Open last month. But like Koepka, he was worried he might’ve come up one short. “I thought 9 was good,â€� Fowler said. “I thought 8 might have a chance. … Obviously with a jam-packed leaderboard, you knew it was going to come down to the last hole with five or six guys or so up there.â€� Neither Koepka nor Fowler had their “Aâ€� games this week, but they still found a way to contend – a sign of good things as the TOUR heads into its run of big events the next few months. “I’m proud of the way I kind of fought through things,â€� Fowler said, citing lost shots at the ninth and 10th holes that could’ve proved the difference. “I didn’t drive it quite that well today but hit some quality golf shots when I needed to, and nice to finish with three birdies in the last four.â€� Said Koepka: “I didn’t hit the ball particularly well all week. I putted very well – that’s what I’m pleased about, coming into Augusta and THE PLAYERS, trending nicely. That was one thing that I felt like was missing. … “I don’t need my ‘A’ game to be in contention. I feel like as long as I do one thing really well – whether it’s iron play, putting this week – I’m going to be in contention. I’m going to give myself a chance at a win come Sunday with nine holes to go, and that’s all you want to do.â€� It’s been a while since Singh was in contention on the PGA TOUR on the back nine – the last of his 34 TOUR wins came 11 years ago – but he impressed just by hanging tough. Of course, that shouldn’t be a surprise, given his work ethic and success rate. Singh has gradually shifted his playing schedule for more starts on PGA TOUR Champions, although he’s scheduled to play the next two TOUR events – including THE PLAYERS Championship, thanks to his win last year at the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship. Asked if this week’s outcome might cause him to reassess his playing schedule beyond that, Singh gave a little grin. “I’m pretty set with it. It’s pretty hard work out here,â€� he said. “I’ll see what happens in the next two weeks. If I’m still playing the same, I’ll think about it.â€�

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