The golfers with plenty to play for on Open Championship Sunday

Sam Horsfield (England) (+200 for a Top 40) … When you’re talented, you’re talented. The 26-year-old from England took the title at the Soudal Open in Belgium on Sunday. He had been sidelined for two-and-a-half months with an injured back before returning for a T18 (with Matt Wallace) at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. A T21 at home followed two weeks later. It’s Horsfield’s third DP WORLD Tour victory but first of the last 21 months after he picked off a pair on what was the UK Swing immediately after the circuit’s shutdown in response to the pandemic. Does his best work with his putter. Although he’s still on the rise globally, he’s no stranger to the brightest lights having made five starts in majors previously. That includes going 2-for-2 in the set last year. Rikuya Hoshino (Japan) (+333 for a Top 40) … The five-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour is comin’ in hot. In his last five starts, all on his native circuit, he’s finished T6, T7, second, second and third. It’s been exactly one year since his last victory and he just turned 26. Performance always is relative, but no one has a better scoring average on the JGTO. He also leads in par-5 scoring, par breakers and scrambling. He’s been comfortable navigating the redwoods of the PGA TOUR with six paydays in 10 starts, including a career-best T26 at the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines where he ranked second in Strokes Gained: Approach-the Green and co-led in par-3 scoring. Bio Kim (South Korea) (+400 for a Top 40) … If the name rings a bell, it’s probably because you’ve been an avid PGA TOUR fan long enough to remember when he was the youngest member at the age of 20 in 2011. Now just three months from his 32nd birthday, the native of Seoul, South Korea, is making his PGA Championship debut as the fifth-best golfer from his homeland (at 115th in the Official World Golf Ranking). He’s fresh off a spirited run of performances on the Asian Tour, including his first victory on the circuit two weeks ago. It propelled him into the bubble for a special exemption at Southern Hills. Dean Burmester (South Africa) (+275 for a Top 40) … The very recent winner of the PGA Championship – OK, so it was the tournament of the same name on the Sunshine Tour in November, but it’s not wrong and no one ever can take it away from him – the 32-year-old representing South Africa has eight wins on his home circuit. He just closed out his second season of the last five as the runner-up on its Order of Merit. He’s also 6-for-8 on the PGA TOUR, including a 3-for-4 in the majors. He even had his own Tiger Woods-like, boulder-moving experience at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in late March. Sadom Kaewkanjana (Thailand) (+550 for a Top 40) … You’re familiar with his fellow countrymen, Jazz Janewattananond and PGA TOUR member Kiradech Aphibarnrat, but this 23-year-old currently is Thailand’s top talent at 118th in the Official World Golf Ranking. With three wins and a runner-up in a span of six weeks late in 2021, he was the Order of Merit leader on the All Thailand Golf Tour. That generated momentum onto the Asian Tour where he picked off a T2 and a T5 before New Year’s. In his second start of 2022, he prevailed at the SMBC Singapore Open and finished second on the Asian Tour’s OOM (behind Joohyung (Tom) Kim, who finished T17 at last week’s AT&T Byron Nelson after appearing as a Sleeper at +550 for a Top 20). Making the cut in his debut in the U.S. is the proper bet for Kaewkanjana (where you can find it), but with nothing to lose and everything to gain, he could be compelling early and certainly someone on whom to keep an eye moving forward. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM.

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We are down to two tournaments remaining in what is the last fall portion of the wraparound era. As the message in your Inbox on the PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live page states, the Cadence Bank Houston Open and The RSM Classic present two more opportunities to capture a piece of the weekly $5,000 prize fund. As always, Glass and Rob share their picks and argue for each below. Back in early play in Texas is R1 Leader, so they have it covered. Also, a Top 5 weeklong bet has supplanted the more familiar Top 20. Because odds are longer for the premium finish, it’s more likely that it will have a hand in determining who watches his or her bank account for the direct deposit on Monday. 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 … Adam Long (+10000) Hoo, baby! Nothing better than a live long shot who is also a Horse For Course. Long crashed and burned last week as a HFC in Mexico (MC; -2), so I’m expecting a nice bounce-back performance this week. Psst, if you’re not a fan of Will Gordon below, Long has opened 66 and 68 in his previous two visits here… Rob … Sahith Theegala (+4000) Welp, I nailed the opening odds for last week’s winner, +4000, but you may have noticed that Brendon Todd didn’t win. Russell Henley did. Bless my heart. A wise man once said that this is gambling after all. The paradigm in Houston favors a surprise – we haven’t had a first-time winner yet this season – but it’s still not worth reaching to the fringe for our purposes here. So, I’m doing both. Like any golfer, Theegala can be quantified, but he goes about his business in such a real-time and really timely fashion to succeed, so the belief here is entirely in the guy and his guts. We know that he’s going to get his at some point and won’t be 40-to-1 again soon after he does. He’s No. 13 in my Power Rankings. TOP 5 Glass … Matthew NeSmith (+1000) His last three starts on TOUR are T9-T2-T9, so at +900 I’m absolutely down to clown. Big ball-striker loves bermuda and opened here 66-67 last year before fading. Third time is SURELY a charm! Rob … Sam Burns (+320) I’ll call you SURELY anytime I want. The fact is, I love Glass’ selection here, but I’m concerned if or when this bet will unlock. A top-five finish is hard, and it requires some luck, so I’m keeping it simple and I’m still elated to get this kickback if it hits. TOP 10 Glass … Adam Schenk (+700) Had a nice peg here last week with David Lipsky (+1000), so I’m hoping to make it back-to-back longer shots. Schenk is 34-under in his last three starts, so form is not my worry. Cashed T29 here last year with 64 in Round 2. Speaking of early rounds, he’s opened 69, 65 and 63 in those last three events, plus goes off early from hole No. 1 on Thursday. Rob … Mackenzie Hughes (+540) The Canuck is No. 9 in my Power Rankings, so this is a no-brainer, but that’s not the only reason. If this bet refuses to become available while I’m paying attention, just like the Top 20 bet often does in the same space, then I’m thrilled to be getting this value if it’s a set-and-forget experience. R1 LEADER Rob … Sahith Theegala (+4000) Thursday’s weather should yield balanced scoring throughout the day, but I still want my charge going off the front. Both nines are par 35s, but it’s unfair to compare scoring because of how the routing plants an additional par 3 and par 5 on the outward side. Still, and strictly in relation to par, Nos. 10-18 are tougher overall, so let’s lean into the best greens on the easiest half of holes before his turn. Lo and behold, my outright goes off No. 1 in the third threesome. Glass … Will Gordon (+8000) I’ve pointed out two others above who you could slot in if you’re afraid of this big number. Gordon tees off on the front side, the easier of the two, and does so at 8:08 a.m. local time, so I’m not stuck. In five events this year, from earliest to last week, he’s rattled off 70, 66, 65, 68 and 62. I’m not going to overthink it at this value. And if I’m wrong, I’ll use the rules to my advantage and go back for more! 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.

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