Officialsportsbetting.com Golf Betting Quick look at the WGC-HSBC Champions

Quick look at the WGC-HSBC Champions

THE OVERVIEW Can anyone beat Dustin Johnson or Hideki Matsuyama this week? Of course they can… but the pair have dominated the World Golf Championship scene of late and given both have tasted victory at Sheshan Golf Club in the past it is reasonable to suggest they can continue their incredible run in China. The last time a man not named Johnson or Matsuyama won a WGC trophy was the 2016 World Golf Championships – Dell Match Play where Jason Day was victorious. Since then the others have shared five straight, including Matsuyama’s breakthrough at the World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions last season where he dominated the field on the way to a seven-shot win. It was a period of sparkling golf to end 2016 for the Japanese star in which his worldwide results read 5-1-2-1-1-1-2 and he entrenched himself as a top-10 player in the world. He then added further victories in 2017 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational while also heavily contending at the U.S. Open (T2) and PGA Championship (T5). But the 25-year-old’s energy waned during the FedExCup Playoffs and while he started as the top seed he ended the season eighth on the points list. “To stay on top, to continue on top, I’m still learning how to do that, and that’s one of my goals, one of the things that I’m working on now is to be able to stay on top of my game,â€� Matsuyama said from China. A T5 finish at the recent CIMB Classic in Malaysia was a nice return to form for the five-time TOUR winner who became the first Asian to win a WGC event last year. “It is different, coming back as defending. I don’t want to put a lot of pressure or expectations on myself,â€� he said. “Just let the tournament come to me like it did last year. All I can do is just try to play my best and hopefully that will work out well.â€� Johnson is making his first appearance of the season and the world No. 1 is hoping to get something going early. His win here in 2013 has him confident any rust he’s accumulated in his short off-season can be offset. “I’m always excited to come here. I’ve had a lot of success in this tournament. It’s something I look forward to,â€� Johnson says. “The game, it’s getting there. I had three weeks off, so a little rusty. But hopefully I knocked all the rust off today. I hit a couple good shots.â€� Johnson, as he often does, spent some down time fishing but he also continued to work out away from the golf course. He believes his routine is a big part of why his only injuries have come in freak events like lifting jet skis or falling down stairs. “Knock-on-wood… I think obviously training is a big part of it. I don’t overdo it, either, as far as practicing or swinging. I’m not like Vijay hitting a thousand balls a day or practicing eight hours a day or anything like that,â€� he adds. “I think I’m really good at listening to my body, and when it tells me I need to stop, I stop.â€� The body or brain or any part of Johnson isn’t telling him to stop right now… it’s telling him to continue WGC domination. Of course lining up behind the pair are 76 more players who have designs on nailing down a huge win early in the season. Other world top-10 players like Jon Rahm, Day and Henrik Stenson are joined by the likes of Xander Schauffele, Marc Leishman, Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Brooks Koepka.  THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER Phil Mickelson – The veteran continues to threaten to break his long victory drought that now stretches back over four years. Won twice here before event took official WGC status. Jon Rahm – Rocketed up the world rankings last year and contended heavily in his first two WGC’s with a runner up and T3 finish.   Marc Leishman – Two-time winner last season coming off a playoff loss in Korea. Will no doubt be hungry to go one better. THE FLYOVER The par-5 18th at 538 yards sets up for plenty of drama should we get a close finish. It was just a few years ago Bubba Watson holed out for eagle from the greenside bunker on the way to his victory. With water down the right side and the bunkers guarding the left it takes a precision shot at a pressure moment to come out on top.  WEATHER CHECK The outlook calls for clear sunny skies throughout the tournament with temperatures in the early and mid 60s. The humidity is hovering around 60percent for the week and we have just a 10percent chance of rain, allowing for potentially firm and fast conditions. Winds should be mild over the opening two rounds before it kicks up to somewhere between 13-17 miles per hour on the weekend. For the latest weather news from Shanghai, China, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I’m really honored to be here participating at the WGC-HSBC Champions this week representing China which is a great honor for me and also Chinese players. It’s very exciting for us to be competing this week as PGA TOUR Members now in what will be our first full season in 2017 to 2018. ODDS AND ENDS 1. Home-field Advantage: There are seven Chinese players in the field, including Zecheng Dou and Xinjun Zhang, who become the first Chinese players to play in the event as official PGA TOUR members having graduated from the Web.com Tour. Yanwei Liu, Yi Cao, Wenchong Liang, Ashun Wu and Haotong Li are also teeing it up. News also broke that PGA TOUR – China will return in 2018 giving more pathways to the PGA TOUR. 2. Win and In: Seven of the top 10 from last season’s FedExCup is in the field with the knowledge that all but one of the winners of the last 16 World Golf Championships events have qualified for the TOUR Championship with the lone exception being Shane Lowry, who won the 2015 Bridgestone Invitational as a non-member. 3. Rahm Ready: Jon Rahm is – as always – in a winning mood. Making his debut in the event Rahm has shown he doesn’t need history at a course to be successful. He was T3 on debut at the WGC – Mexico Championship. Runner up at the WGC – Dell Match Play. He cannot be counted out. “I focus on winning. I guess I’m just hard-wired: When I like doing something, I like doing it the best I can. I don’t think in failure. I try to look towards the success, and that’s where I think it comes from, the competitiveness,â€� he said. “I love the feeling of competition, and I love the little butterflies when you compete and you’re in the moment to win, and you have a chance.â€�

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Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Hank Lebioda+2000
Johnny Keefer+2000
Alistair Docherty+2500
Kensei Hirata+2500
Neal Shipley+2500
Rick Lamb+2500
S H Kim+2500
Trey Winstead+2500
Zecheng Dou+2500
Seungtaek Lee+2800
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Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Jeeno Thitikul+900
Nelly Korda+1000
Lydia Ko+1400
A Lim Kim+2000
Jin Young Ko+2000
Angel Yin+2500
Ayaka Furue+2500
Charley Hull+2500
Haeran Ryu+2500
Lauren Coughlin+2500
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Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry+350
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama+1200
J.T. Poston / Keith Mitchell+1600
Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre+1800
Billy Horschel / Tom Hoge+2000
Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala+2200
Nicolai Hojgaard / Rasmus Hojgaard+2200
Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore+2200
Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman+2500
Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak+2800
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Tournament Match-Ups - R. McIlroy / S. Lowry vs C. Morikawa / K. Kitayama
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry-230
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama+175
Tournament Match-Ups - J.T. Poston / K. Mitchell vs T. Detry / R. MacIntyre
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
J.T. Poston / Keith Mitchell-130
Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre+100
Tournament Match-Ups - J. Svensson / N. Norgaard vs R. Fox / G. Higgo
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Ryan Fox / Garrick Higgo-125
Jesper Svensson / Niklas Norgaard-105
Tournament Match-Ups - N. Hojgaard / R. Hojgaard vs N. Echavarria / M. Greyserman
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Nicolai Hojgaard / Rasmus Hojgaard-120
Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman-110
Tournament Match-Ups - M. Fitzpatrick / A. Fitzpatrick vs S. Stevens / M. McGreevy
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Sam Stevens / Max McGreevy-120
Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick-110
Tournament Match-Ups - W. Clark / T. Moore vs B. Horschel / T. Hoge
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Billy Horschel / Tom Hoge-130
Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore+100
Tournament Match-Ups - N. Taylor / A. Hadwin vs B. Garnett / S. Straka
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Nick Taylor / Adam Hadwin-120
Brice Garnett / Sepp Straka-110
Tournament Match-Ups - A. Rai / S. Theegala vs B. Griffin / A. Novak
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala-120
Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak-110
Tournament Match-Ups - J. Highsmith / A. Tosti vs A. Smalley / J. Bramlett
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Joe Highsmith / Alejandro Tosti-130
Alex Smalley / Joseph Bramlett+100
Tournament Match-Ups - A. Bhatia / C. Young vs M. Wallace / T. Olesen
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Akshay Bhatia / Carson Young-120
Matt Wallace / Thorbjorn Olesen-110
Mitsubishi Electric Classic
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Steven Alker+700
Stewart Cink+700
Padraig Harrington+800
Ernie Els+1000
Miguel Angel Jimenez+1200
Alex Cejka+2000
Bernhard Langer+2000
K J Choi+2000
Retief Goosen+2000
Stephen Ames+2000
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Major Specials 2025
Type: To Win A Major 2025 - Status: OPEN
Scottie Scheffler+160
Bryson DeChambeau+350
Xander Schauffele+350
Ludvig Aberg+400
Collin Morikawa+450
Jon Rahm+450
Justin Thomas+550
Brooks Koepka+700
Viktor Hovland+700
Hideki Matsuyama+800
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PGA Championship 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Xander Schauffele+1400
Jon Rahm+1800
Justin Thomas+1800
Collin Morikawa+2000
Brooks Koepka+2500
Viktor Hovland+2500
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US Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1200
Xander Schauffele+1200
Jon Rahm+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Brooks Koepka+1800
Justin Thomas+2000
Viktor Hovland+2000
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The Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+550
Xander Schauffele+1100
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Jon Rahm+1600
Bryson DeChambeau+2000
Shane Lowry+2500
Tommy Fleetwood+2500
Tyrrell Hatton+2500
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Ryder Cup 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
USA-150
Europe+140
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Tiger Woods wins the Masters in dramatic fashionTiger Woods wins the Masters in dramatic fashion

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The roars were never louder. Tiger Woods won his fifth Masters on Sunday in dramatic fashion, taking the lead on the 15th hole and sending the patrons at Augusta National into a frenzy as they witnessed one of the game’s greatest players of all time claim his 15th major championship. “It’s overwhelming, just because of what has transpired,” Woods said. “Last year I was lucky to be playing again. At the previous year’s dinner, I was really struggling. I missed a couple of years not playing this great tournament. To now be the champion … 22 years between wins is a long time. It’s unreal to experience this.” Woods had never come from behind to win a major. Until Sunday. It was also Woods’ 81st PGA TOUR victory and his first since winning the TOUR Championship to end last season. Here’s a hole-by-hole look at Woods’ final round. RELATED: Final leaderboard | What’s in Tiger’s bag? | Tales of Tiger’s equipment Tiger hole-by-hole (Round 4) ROUND 4 STATS: 10 of 14 fairways hit, 15 of 18 greens in regulation, 32 putts 18 (465 yards, par 4): Tiger fits his tee shot between the trees, and it leaks just into the second cut. He has a two-shot lead, so he only needs a bogey to win. His second shot knicks a tree limb, though, and falls short and right of the green. He’ll have to get down in three from about 50 yards away. He pitches safely to 10 feet and his par putt just slides by the hole. The stage is clear for Woods, and he taps in for his 15th major championship and fifth Masters title. It’s also his 81st PGA TOUR victory, leaving him one short of Sam Snead’s record. (Overall: 13 under, winner)   17 (440 yards, par 4): Tiger is in complete control. Another tee shot down the middle of the fairway and an approach shot safely onto the green. Woods hit his approach shot to 10 feet, then two-putted for par to take a two-shot lead to the final hole. (Overall: 14 under, solo leader) 16 (170 yards, par 3): Tiger, now the solo leader of the Masters, takes advantage of the traditional Sunday hole location, hitting an 8-rion within 3 feet of the hole. He makes the birdie putt. TWO. SHOT. LEAD. (Overall: 14 under, solo leader) 15 (530 yards, par 5): Tiger’s strong driving continues with another high fade into the fairway. He hit the middle of the green with a 217-yard approach. The two-putt gives Tiger Woods his first solo lead of the week. He’s 13 under, one shot ahead of three players. (Overall: 13 under, solo leader) 14 (440 yards, par 4): A high power-cut finds the fairway, leaving Tiger just 157 yards to the hole. He hits it 15 feet left of the flag, just left of a slope that would have funneled his ball closer to the hole. Woods watches as the slick birdie putt slides by the hole, but he taps in for par to stay in a share of the lead with Xander Schauffele and Francesco Molinari. (Overall: 12 under, tied for the lead) 13 (510 yards, par 5): Tiger is tied for the lead! He slips at impact, but his tee shot still finds the fairway. He’s left with just 161 yards. He misread the wind, but he’ll have a 30-footer for eagle. He two-putts for birdie to reach 12 under and tie Xander Schauffele and Francesco Molinari for the lead. (Overall: 12 under, tied for the lead)  12 (155 yards, par 3): After his par on 11, Tiger is second up on the 12th. They have to wait for the group ahead of them to putt out, though. Woods hits his tee shot safely on the left side of the green after Molinari’s tee shot hits into the bank and rolls into the water. Tony Finau follows Woods into the water. After a lengthy wait while they took their drops, Woods lags his 51-foot birdie putt about 6 feet short of the hole. Woods makes it to tie the lead for the first time this week. There are seven players separated by a shot. (Overall: 11 under, tied for lead) 11 (505 yards, par 4): Tiger blasts driver well right of the trees, but he has a clearing through the trees. He blasts a low draw onto the green from 178 yards, leaving himself a downhill, 30-footer putt. He burns the edge, but two-putts for par. A good recovery. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 10 (495 yards, par 4): Woods starts the second nine alone in second place, just one stroke behind Francesco Molinari. He takes fairway wood off the tee, trying to bend a draw around the corner. Woods leaves his shot out to the right, though, and his ball comes to rest in the pine straw. He’s 213 yards from the hole, but his ball is behind a magnolia tree. Pitching out is his only option. He still has 170 yards remaining for his third shot, which he hits to the back fringe. He two-putts for just his second bogey on the back nine this week, ending a streak of 19 straight bogey-free holes on that half of the golf course. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) FRONT 9 STATS: 4 of 7 fairways hit, 8 of 9 greens in regulation, 16 putts 9 (par 4, 460 yards): Tiger’s 288-yard drive is nicely placed, down the right side of the fairway, leaving him a nice angle on the dogleg left hole. From 168 yards, his approach brings a smile – of disgust – as his ball ends up at the back of the green on a front pin. Length of his birdie putt? 70 feet. No worries, as he judges it perfectly, aiming it right toward the fringe and letting it roll down toward the hole. A tap-in par and a sigh of relief. Molinari follows with another critical par to maintain the lead at the turn. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 8 (par 5, 570 yards): His 310-yard drive is drifting right, but crisis averted as it finishes in the second cut with a nice lie. Much better than Molinari, who landed in the bunker. From 258 yards away, Tiger pulls the 5-wood and it comes out hot. “That may be on the next tee box,â€� he jokes as the ball rumbles past the green. From behind the green, near a camera tower, Woods chips back onto the green, leaving him 7 feet for birdie. But before his attempt, Molinari rolls in on his own birdie. Tiger matches him to stay within reach. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 7 (par 4, 450 yards): The winds start to gust as Tiger steps up to the tee, so he backs off to reset. It’s a wise move, as his drive travels 296 yards and split the fairway. With 146 to the pin, Tiger’s approach is perfect – above the pin, with the ball rolling back and just missing the hole on the right side. It’ll be an easy 2-foot birdie, and with Molinari off the green and short of the right bunker, this could be a pivotal hole. When Molinari misses his 11-foot par save, it’s the first time in 50 holes he’s suffered a bogey (the second longest streak in Masters history) and the first time in 20 attempts all week he’s failed to successfully scramble. Tiger then taps in for birdie and the two-shot swing. (Overall: 11 under, one shot behind) 6 (par 3, 180 yards): Tiger gets a much-needed spark with a terrific tee shot that hits short of the pin and stays on the shelf, giving him a look at birdie from 11 feet. But his putt dies off to the right, and after he taps in for birdie, he stares at the hole and the lost opportunity. With Molinari successfully scrambling again for par, the potential two-shot swing turns into a par push. (Overall: 10 under, three shots behind) 5 (par 4, 495 yards): In each of the first three rounds, Tiger’s drive at this renovated hole found the left-side bunker, setting up bogey each day. This time, it’s a little victory, as his 278-yard drive stays in the fairway this time while both of his playing partners scatter the gallery on the right. Tiger leans on his approach from 219 yards but his ball stays right, finding the green but on the other side of the ridge from the pin, 39 feet away. It’s a difficult birdie putt, and Tiger’s ball finishes 11 feet away past the pin. His par save slides by on the left, and he suffers his fourth bogey of the week at this hole. Meanwhile, Molinari successfully scrambles for the 18th time this week to extend his lead to three shots. (Overall: 10 under, three shots behind) 4 (par 3, 240 yards): His tee shot is on-line but is a club short and ends up rolling off the front of the green, with the pin in the back 31 yards away. Tiger’s chip leaves him 10 feet short of the pin, and his par putt clips the right side. The bogey gives back the shot he gained on the previous hole and halts the momentum. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 3 (par 4, 350 yards): Like Molinari, Tiger opts for a long iron off the tee to take the bunkers out of play. His downhill wedge shot from 126 yards draws cheers, as it stops pin-high left, 8 feet away. He’s the only one of his group to find the green in regulation, and it pays off, as he buries the tricky fast birdie putt to move within one shot of Molinari’s lead. “It’ll be an interesting chess match to see who blinks first,â€� says CBS’ Peter Kostis of Tiger vs. Molinari. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 2 (par 5, 575 yards): Tiger’s first use of driver on the day doesn’t go well, as his 245-yard tee shot sails into the pine straw on the left side under the trees. Perhaps a bit fortunate, he’s got an uphill opening to punch out into the fairway, leaving him 217 yards for this third. He asks for it to get up “a littleâ€� but it’s about a yard short of optimal. The ball bounces onto the green, but he’s left with a 59-foot birdie putt. His lengthy attempt offers a wide berth around the left side of the hole, and he rolls in the 6-footer to save par. With Molinari and Finau missing their birdie attempts, Tiger must feel like he got away with one after the poor drive. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 1 (par 4, 445 yards): Tiger tees off last in his group, and not surprisingly draws the biggest cheers. With 3-wood again off the tee – he wants to avoid the bunkers on the right – his 277-yard drive ends up on the left side of the fairway. His second finishes 27 feet on the front part of the green, but his aggressive birdie attempt slides by on the left side. A stress-free par start. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) Tiger pre-round notes A few fun facts entering Sunday’s final round: Woods enters his round at 11 under. Each time he’s been 11 under or better through 54 holes at Augusta National, he’s won (2005/-11, 2002/-11, 2001/-12, 1997/-15) His 205 score (11 under) marks his best opening 54-hole total since 2005 (74-66-65—205), his last of four Masters wins. Seeks his fifth Masters title and 15th major championship victory while chasing Jack Nicklaus’ record in both (Masters/6, Majors/18). A win Sunday would be his 81st on the PGA TOUR, one shy of Sam Snead’s all-time record. At No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he’s the highest-ranked former champion in the field At 43 years, 3 months, 14 days on Sunday, would become the second-oldest winner: Jack Nicklaus/1986 (46 years, 2 months, 23 days) Would become the seventh player in his 40s to win the Masters (Jack Nicklaus/46/1986, Ben Crenshaw/43/1995, Gary Player/42/1978, Sam Snead/41/1954, Mark O’Meara/41/1998, Ben Hogan/40/1953) Ranks T2 in Greens in Regulation with 43/54 behind Thorbjorn Olesen (45/54). Best finish in five starts this season came in last start – T5/WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.  

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