Woods finds a consolation prize without contending at Torrey

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Former world No. 1 and reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler is commanding a large portion of the handle at the BetMGM online sportsbook as he looks to break a near eight-month win drought in his home state Texas this week. After claiming his first four PGA TOUR wins in a six-event span last spring, a run that included the Masters title at Augusta National and a World Golf Championship in Austin, Scheffler has gone winless in his previous 14 starts as he lines up for the Cadence Bank Houston Open. Despite losing top spot in the world to Rory McIlroy a few weeks ago, Scheffler has still played solid golf during his “drought”. He has five top five finishes over that span, including a T3 last week in Mexico. This has ensured he remained a favorite each week in golf betting and that is once again the case as early action at BetMGM suggests bettors like his chances in Houston. As of Tuesday, Scheffler has the most handle (22.3%) on the third-most tickets (6.7%). He has the best golf odds to win at +600, which makes him a massive betting favorite, with Sam Burns having the second-best odds at +1400. The 26-year-old’s T-3 finish at the Worldwide Technology Championship at Mayakoba last week featured a final round 62 giving him significant momentum. He also enjoys playing at Memorial Park, not just because he’s back in the state where he went to college (University of Texas) and now resides, but also because of past results. Scheffler has made the cut both times the event has previously been played at the course, including a T-2 a year ago when he shot a second round 62. A year prior he settled for a T32 but shot a 65 in the final round. There’s no question he should have good vibes at a course that won’t yield as many birdies as the other events this fall. A win sends him back to world No.1. Tony Finau is another popular player ahead of the event, drawing the most tickets (10%) and third-most handle (10.3%). At over 7,400 yards for a par-70, Memorial Park is a much longer course than players have faced of length and should be a place where Finau can use his distance off the tee to his advantage. Current Handle & Tickets Handle Scottie Scheffler – 22.3% Sam Burns – 16.2% Tony Finau – 10.3% Hideki Matsuyama – 6.8% Keith Mitchell – 6.4% Tickets Tony Finau – 10% Sepp Straka – 7.8% Scottie Scheffler – 6.7% Taylor Pendrith– 4.7% Keith Mitchell – 4.7% With the second-best odds, Burns is pulling in the second-most handle at 16.2%. He had a strong showing at his event a year ago, finishing T-7. With a longer course, sharp runoffs around the greens, and the potential for windy conditions, don’t expect super-low scores this week. In fact, in the two years this event has been played at Memorial Park, the winning scores have been 13 and 10 under. * 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, KS, 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. 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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PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Russell Knox shot a 6-under 65 on Thursday at breezy and wet El Camaleon Golf Club to take the first-round lead in the PGA TOUR’s Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN. RELATED: Leaderboard | Niemann playing with extra motivation The 35-year-old Scot birdied five of the last six holes on his opening nine, then played the final nine in 1 under with a bogey on the par-4 second and birdies on the par-5 fifth and par-4 sixth. "Took me a few holes to kind of settle into my round, but when I did, I had six or seven very good holes," Knox said. "I hit the ball well, drove it in the fairway, and with lift, clean and place, I could be fairly aggressive. Par was good today." Chile's Joaquin Niemann was a stroke back with Argentina's Emiliano Grillo and American Tom Hoge. Niemann is donating his entire prize money and $5,000 for every birdie and $10,000 for an eagle to help pay for a drug for his 2-month-old relative in Chile. "I'm playing for Rafita, that is one of my cousins that was diagnosed a couple days ago with a really rare disease," the 22-year-old Niemann said. "All the guys here on tour are being really nice, using the little ribbons we're having to support Rafita. He's fighting now in Chile, so we've got to work our way to help him." Niemann also finished on the front nine, making birdies on Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 7. "It was tough," Niemann said. "It was hard to adjust myself into the wind early, but I'm really happy the way I played. Took me a couple holes to like figure it out a little bit with the wind. I'm really happy the way I played and the way I finished." Knox has two victories on the PGA TOUR. He lost in a playoff at Mayakoba in 2016. "I guess it's the tequila and tacos," Knox said. "Obviously, I love the course. It sets up well for me. I mean, historically, my driving accuracy and iron play's been my strength, so that's kind of the key things that this course brings out in you." He liked the wind better than the rain-softened turf. "I always kind of want it to be a little windy," Knox said. "I feel like I can flight my ball well at times. But it's so soft out here, it's the opposite of like links golf. No, I'm thrilled with that and look forward to trying again tomorrow." Carlos Ortiz, the Mexican star playing for the first time as a PGA TOUR winner, was two strokes back at 67. He won the Vivint Houston Open a week before the Masters and did not play at Sea Island. "When I made like a 60-footer for eagle on 5, I knew it was going to be a pretty good day," Ortiz said. "I was in control of my game. It's one of those where you hit a good drive, it kind of sits down in the fairway and you feel like you're going to get a flyer and it's going to come out soft, but I'm really happy the way I played." Defending champion Brendon Todd also was at 67 with Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Aaron Wise, Nate Lashley, Akshay Bhatia and Michael Gligic. Former U.S. Amateur champion Andy Ogletree, the low amateur at the Masters, had a 69 in his pro debut. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker also shot 69. Rickie Fowler had a wild round of 70 with eight birdies and quadruple and double bogeys. He played the final six holes in 4 under to get under par. "This has to be the lowest I've shot with a quad," Fowler said. "That doesn't happen a whole lot." Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka had a 71. Justin Thomas shot 72. At No. 3, he’s the only player from the top 10 in the world in the field.

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