PGA Championship 2016 Betting Predictions
Our own Tony George, one of the leading sports handicappers in the world, has some great PGA Championship 2016 betting predictions. Check out all his free picks at TonyGeorgeSports.com here.
All eyes in the golf world are on the PGA Championship and the final major of 2016 with the Wannamaker Trophy up for grabs. In the last major Henrik Stenson took control in an 18 hole epic battle with Phil Mickelson in The Open Championship at Royal Troon 2 weeks ago in an iron display like none other, a final round 63 on a tough course, and beat Lefty even though Phil shot a 65, which usually on Sunday will win you a major if you are in contention. I had Phil as a longshot pick at 66/1 and almost cashed a big ticket. Ironically the last time the PGA Championship was played here in 2005, Phil Mickelson won it at -4, and only 9 players finished Sunday under par for the tourney.
Baltusrol in Springfield New Jersey is a true test of golf, and the best of the best will be teeing it up this Thursday. Long ball hitters will be rewarded if they hit the fairway. If a player has distance and good driving accuracy, it will vault him up the leaderboard if he can hot these greens in regulation. I have my overall picks as well as a few head to head picks for the final score at Sundays end.
Here are the Top 5 and ties on the Odds Board (Courtesy of CG Technology in Las Vegas) – All familiar names and popular bets, and all with a chance although I think Jason Day will not repeat what he did last year at Whistling Straights. He looked in complete disarray last weekend in Canada and I feel is a very bad bet, and Jordan Spieth just simply does not have his A Game right now although he continues to be on top of any odds board in a major.
Dustin Johnson 8/1
Rory Mcllroy 9/1
Jason Day 10/1
Jordan Spieth 12/1
Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson 15/1
Here are my Top 5 Picks, plus 2 long shots, and my 2 best head to head picks for the entire tourney. It should be noted that all 3 Majors winners this season were all first time winners of a major, that could very well happen again this weekend, however veteran experience on a course like this will be an advantage come Sunday.
HEAD TO HEAD ** (player has to have the best final score in the tourney)
Dustin Johnson -130 OVER Adam Scott
Johnson contended all last weekend at the Canadian Open but Sunday just could not get it going, but he continues his good play and his length and iron play should produce dividends this weekend and a Top 5-10 finish. Adam Scott is not dialed in like Johnson and also the adjustment to the shorter putter version and new grip is still not bearing fruit. Pick: DUSTIN JOHNSON
Branden Grace -125 vs Brandt Sneadeker -105
Last week in the Canadian Open Sneadeker led into the final round before finishing in fifth place, somewhat of a disappointment but he brings momentum into the weekend none the less. He also has fared well in the PGA Championship with a 13th place finish in 2014, and a 12th last year. Brendan Grace has fared well in majors, including his meltdown when in contention at Chambers Bay in the US Open in 2015, but he is not good off the box, and this course suits Sneadeker vastly better. Pick: BRANDT SNEADEKER -105
Picks to win it all
Henrik Stenson 15/1
Could he go back to back? Rarely done on the Tour unless your name is Tiger back in the day, but his distance off the tee, and his iron play, and a decent showing last week after all the hoopla of winning in Scotland, the bottom line is you cannot count him out. The guy has been in contention in numerous tourneys all year and could in fact pull out a win here. His laser like iron shots if his tee ball game is better than average will have him in this tourney all the way.
Patrick Reed 40/1
I have been picking this guy to win a major in 2016 and he is a world class scrambler and that is huge around this course. He has made 18 out of 21 cuts on tour, made 9 Top 10’s and finished 12th two weeks ago at Royal Troon. Long shot with appeal, the kid is going to break through one of these days and I feel he could find some magic in New Jersey.
Sergio Garcia 25/1
Sergio has made 11 out of 12 cuts on the PGA Tour, finished 5th at Troon, and has won a tourney this year and had numerous high place finishes in big tourneys this year and was in contention on Sunday in the US Open this year as well. I like his game, he drives the ball well, and if he can get the putter going, he will be a factor. His game is in good shape and he is due.
Phil Mickelson 15/1
How can we count out the 46-year-old, who has won a major on this coursed in the past and is simply playing great golf right now and his experience on this course cannot be ignored. He did shoot a 65 on Sunday at Royal Troon, and 99 times out of a 100 that will win you a major. Cannot count out the savvy veteran with his A game fully intact and he has put in some extra playing time on this course to get ready.
Justin Rose 30/1
This guy has won a major, contended in others and played well at Royal Troon 2 weeks ago, and is in the top 10 in strokes gained tee to green. His injury is past him and he was in great form 2 weeks ago and this course is built for him. I think he is in one of the final 4 groups on Sunday
NOTE: I did not take Odds on favorite Dustin Johnson to win this, he is better suited in the head to head wager I have posted. Could he win it – Yes, but I did not see his putter working at all last week in Canada and that is his nemesis. Rory Mcllroy has failed all year in big moments, and in big tourneys, and I am not on his bandwagon although he won this major before.
THREE LONG SHOTS WORTH A HALF UNIT WAGER
Louis Oosthuizen 50/1
Tony Finau 100/1
Matt Kuchar 40/1
Check out Tony’s site, which boasts the top handicappers in the nation, all documented, and home of the Guaranteed Play. www.tonygeorgesports.com
