Australia’s long-fabled ‘Summer of Golf’ kicks off its two week high watermark at Royal Queensland this week with Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Cameron Davis and Adrian Meronk leading a crack field for the Australian PGA Championship.
Best Bet
PGA Tour winner and former Australian Open champion who currently ranks 44th in the world. Finished 7th here last year and posted eight Top 10s in his 29 events played this season and comes in hot with six Top 12 finishes in his last seven PGA Tour starts including a 12th at the Zozo at his most recent event. Finished 4th in the PGA Championship this year. Ranks 17th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee and 26th in Driving Distance while his approach game is strong enough. If he putts well – a worry as he ranks 123rd in Strokes Gained: Putting – he will be well in contention come Sunday.
Mid-Tier Bet
If one shot summed up the fight young Japanese golfer Ryo Hisatsune it was his last putt on the 72nd hole of the DP World Tour Championship last week with a PGA Tour card on the line. He put a 15 footer in the back of the cup to claim the last spot. He is all quality, probably the best product to come out of Japan since Hideki. He claimed the Open de France in September and has three win on the Japan Challenge Tour – and he turned 21 this September. He was runner-up here last year. Ranks 17th in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee, 15th in GIR, 30th in Scrambling and 10th in Strokes Gained: Putting so has a bulletproof game.
Value Bet
Young Victorian David Micheluzzi comes into his first season with a DP World Tour card in hot form with a come-from-behind win in the Vic PGA last week. It was a highly impressive win for a player who was part of two majors this year. Played in the last two Australian PGA Championships here and finished Top 10 in both.
Longshot Bet
Talented Scot who has a DP World Tour win as well as three wins on the Challenge Tour and two on the Korn Ferry. Has a game to suit here. Ranks Top 10 in Birdies while he is 15th in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee and Putting Average. Can absolutely challenge here.
