Pat Perez has thoughts, on the PGA Tour’s possible return, Tiger Woods and more

Click here to read the full article…

Our guys take very different directions for the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, but both have merit because of the construct and quality of the field. Pick your poison. So as not to generate confusion, only their TOURNAMENT picks as presented on the interface at the time they filed are provided below. Like you, they are unaware of which bets will be offered in ROUND 1 and beyond. 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 Rob … Brendon Todd (+4000) When a favorite wins, I’ve been left behind. This happened (again) last week in Bermuda where had I opened with Seamus Power at +2000 like the majority (I got him at just +185 late on Sunday), I’d have finished inside the top 10 overall. So, perhaps the final piece of this puzzle is to stop reaching because we can and compromise with a pick more likely to convert. The field at Mayakoba is considerably deeper than the one that Power – I’m going for it, you know me – overpowered, so there’s a greater likelihood that a similarly strong week with 3-balls – and 2-balls if offered – won’t require the favorite to fare better. Yet, I’m tickled by the value of this kickback for the 2019 champion of the tournament. He’s added a T8 and a T11 since, and his scoring average in his last dozen rounds around the place is sub-67. So, I’ll start here, but I plan to finish here, too. Glass … Danny Lee (+20000) Saddling up a HORSE FOR COURSE on one of his favorite venues. Recent form suggests 200-1 is just about right, but the light goes on when he lands at Mayakoba. Start on the fringes and work your way back to the chalk as the event moves forward. TOP USA PLAYER Glass … Aaron Wise (+1800) Going a bit more conservative here as I don’t have time all weekend to wait for windows to open or close. Wise has gone close here before and he’s teeing it up for the seventh time. He’s won a shootout before (Trinity Forest) where 23-under was required to win. T6 last time out at Congaree. Should have the flight plan for takeoff. Rob … Brendon Todd (+2500) Sure, I could hedge, but doubling down on my outright is more fun. Despite this mild kickback, 10 other Yanks open with shorter odds. So, because the board is relatively flat, those who win the direct deposit likely will have connected with this prop. Remember, only the outright stays open during competition. If this bet opens, it would be late in the evening and during the overnight hours in North America. TOP 10 Glass … David Lipsky (+1000) Two top 10s in 2022, both on paspalum. One was at Vidanta, a Greg Norman design just like El Camaleón. The other was at Corales. Sweet spot at age 34. Here’s where the gambling begins as we need to be on our toes to catch the window as the event rolls on. If necessary, of course. Rob … Brendon Todd (+400) It’s not customary to bury a link to my Power Rankings this deep on the page on which I’ve endorsed Todd throughout, but it’s most relevant to direct you to it here. Why? Well, he’s No. 8 in it and I’m more likely to stick with this bet than I am Top USA Player if that unlocks. 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. Responsible sports betting starts with a game plan. Set a budget. Keep it social. Play with friends. Learn the game and know the odds. Play with trusted, licensed operators. CLICK HERE to learn more at HaveAGamePlan.org.

Click here to read the full article…

PACIFIC PALISAIDES, Calif. – Blockbuster venue. Blockbuster host. Time for a blockbuster finish. The Genesis Invitational looks set for a Hollywood worthy conclusion at Riviera Country Club after three former PLAYERS champions jostled their way into a tie for the lead with 18 holes to play. Reigning FedExCup champion and PGA TOUR Player of the Year Rory McIlroy (3-under 68) was joined by former event champion Adam Scott (67) and first and second round leader Matt Kuchar (70) at 10 under to set up an enticing final three-ball on Sunday. Combined, the trio have 40 PGA TOUR wins and 161 top-5s. In Los Angeles, the stars always come out. Riviera was once the playground of Ben Hogan who dominated for a period by winning this event in 1947 and 1948, while also claiming the 1948 U.S. Open at the venue. Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Phil Mickelson and Tom Watson are just some of the plethora of stars on the former Riviera winners list. Related: Leaderboard | TOUR pros: My first time with Tiger It has long been a coveted place to win. Just ask tournament host Tiger Woods who fell out of contention with a 5-over 76 on Saturday. No other course has repelled Woods like the one where he made his PGA TOUR debut as a 16-year-old. Yet he continues to press to fill the “gapâ€� in his resume. Strangely enough, Jack Nicklaus never won here either… but almost everyone else of note has. “There’s not a PGA TOUR event you wouldn’t want to win, but there are a handful that are extra special, have a great list of past champions, have a great golf course. This one’s one of those,â€� Kuchar says. “You chalk it up as one of those sort of extra special TOUR events that you really hope to put your name as a past champion.â€� Kuchar is chasing TOUR win no. 10, hoping to become just the 116th player in history to hit double digit wins, joining both Scott and McIlroy. The American typically has not fared well at Riviera having never finished inside the top 5 in 12 previous appearances. Scott has fared well at Riviera before. In 2005, he won the tournament, yet it does not count as one of his 13 official wins. Back then, torrential rain hit the course and it was shortened to 36 holes – although Scott had to win in a playoff. He seeks to join Bruce Crampton with the third most wins by an Australian on the PGA TOUR behind Greg Norman (20) and Jim Ferrier (18)… even if he feels he already has. “That is just a bit of motivation for me to win tomorrow here and have an official victory at Riviera and the Genesis Invitational… that would be extremely satisfying for me,â€� he said. The 39-year-old is in his first TOUR start since early November although he did play in the Presidents Cup in December and won the Australian PGA Championship the week after being part of the loss to the U.S. at Royal Melbourne. That was his first win of any kind since going back-to-back at The Honda Classic and the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship in consecutive weeks in early 2016. Scott spoke earlier in the week of purposely starving himself of competition until he had the urge to come back, making sure he is always competitively sharp. He has two runner up finishes to go with the win at Riviera and was in the final group a year ago. “I almost feel like I know what I’m doing after 20 years of having a season and having a break and coming back out. I know what this course kind of demands of you,â€� Scott said. “If I can replicate today for 18 holes tomorrow, I’ll be very pleased no matter what happens, but I’ll definitely be giving myself a chance at it.â€� And then there is McIlroy. Recently reinstated as world No. 1, the two-time FedExCup champion is looking for a 19th TOUR win, which would also likely move him to the top of the season long standings. He has been inside the top 20 in his previous three trips to Riviera, including a T4 finish a year ago. The Northern Irishman is wary of his Sunday playing partners, but also knows this is far from a race in three. Just a shot behind the lead trio sits Russell Henley and Harold Varner III, while Dustin Johnson and Joel Dahmen are two back. Nine others, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Hideki Matsuyama are within four of the lead. “You just have to worry about yourself, concentrate on what you’re doing, do it well, set yourself a target, don’t think about anyone else and if that’s good enough at the end of the day, then great,â€� McIlroy says. “If not, then someone just played better than you and hats off to them.â€�

Click here to read the full article…