“You’d be an absolute fool not to look at Jimmy Walker at Pebble.” – Golfstradamaus 2/4/14
Guess who’s back in the winner circle, ladies and gentlemen? That’s right, Golfstradamaus. And not only back, but back with a vengeance after picking not only the winner but the runner-up as well at last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Hopefully, you all listened and had Jimmy Walker on your card. Otherwise, as I noted before, you’re an absolute fool.
Fool or not, you’ve got another chance to be a hero this week as the PGA Tour heads to Los Angeles for the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club, and as usual, I, Golfstradamaus, have selected a couple mortal locks for your betting pleasure… if you’re smart enough to listen. Ready? Go!
Northern Trust Open
Riviera Country Club – Pacific Palisades, California
February 13 – 16, 2014
ODDS to Win:
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Dustin Johnson | 12/1 |
Webb Simpson | 15/1 |
Jordan Spieth | 20/1 |
Hunter Mahan | 20/1 |
Graham DeLaet | 20/1 |
Jimmy Walker | 20/1 |
Matt Kuchar | 20/1 |
Justin Rose | 25/1 |
Keegan Bradley | 25/1 |
Bubba Watson | 25/1 |
Bill Haas | 25/1 |
Hideki Matsuyama | 30/1 |
Ryan Moore | 30/1 |
Harris English | 30/1 |
Jason Dufner | 35/1 |
Charl Schwartzel | 35/1 |
Jim Furyk | 40/1 |
Louis Oosthuizen | 50/1 |
Pat Perez | 50/1 |
Charles Howell III | 50/1 |
Marc Leishman | 50/1 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | 60/1 |
Lee Westwood | 50/1 |
Ian Poulter | 60/1 |
Rickie Fowler | 60/1 |
K.J. Choi | 60/1 |
Kevin Na | 60/1 |
Joost Luiten | 60/1 |
Kevin Stadler | 60/1 |
Victor Dubuisson | 80/1 |
Francesco Molinari | 80/1 |
Ernie Els | 80/1 |
Charley Hoffman | 80/1 |
John Merrick | 80/1 |
Jason Kokrak | 80/1 |
J.B. Holmes | 80/1 |
Brendon de Jonge | 80/1 |
Matt Jones | 80/1 |
Brian Stuard | 80/1 |
Nicolas Colsaerts | 100/1 |
Freddie Jacobson | 100/1 |
Padraig Harrington | 100/1 |
Martin Laird | 100/1 |
Ryo Ishikawa | 100/1 |
Kevin Streelman | 100/1 |
Robert Garrigus | 100/1 |
Luke Guthrie | 100/1 |
Scott Piercy | 100/1 |
Fred Couples | 100/1 |
Field (all others) | 3/1 |
Every week Graham DeLaet is on the radar of more and more golf media “experts.” To me, this is no secret and anyone not picking him is either certifiably insane or hates money. This week, DeLaet is getting 20/1. That’s still very good money for a guy who has been so close so many times to claiming that first win on tour in the last 6-8 months. Write it down now, DeLaet wins at Riviera.
That being said, with the shame of my (albeit, short) losing streak still hanging in the ether, I’m going to pick a couple more names… just in case.
The next guy to bet on this week at Riviera is Justin Rose. He is making his first start of 2014, yes, that’s true, but he is still Justin Rose and thus, still worth your consideration. Yes, the reason this first start is coming so late is from a medical issue, but fret not, Rose is ready and at 25/1, you could be looking at a nice payday this weekend.
Hideki Matsuyama isn’t a guy I expect to win this week but I do expect him to play well, and that alone is worth a shekel or two. He’s getting 30/1 this week, which seems kind of low at first glance, but you’re going to want to trust me on this one: take that while you can. Matsuyama will be a favorite very soon and will collect his first victory at some point this year. I promise.
Despite the mini-collapse at the end of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, I’m going to count on Bubba Watson to bounce back this week in L.A. Watson hasn’t exactly shined at the Northern Trust in the past, having missed the cut a couple times and never having finished better than T-13. But he is playing well this year and really, when you’re as good as Bubba is, that’s all that really matters. At 25/1, Bubba is a great play this week.
Oh, and I guess I’ll take Jimmy Walker again this week. Getting 2/1 or even money is probably fair considering he’s three for eight and the only other guys to do that are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and former world No. 1 David Duval. This week, Walker is getting 20/1, which is like stealing. As Steve Miller once said, “Go on, take the money and run.”
Since most of the big name players are in the field this week at the Northern Trust Open, I won’t be picking the European Tour’s Africa Open. You’ve heard the saying, “No man alive can pay the rent on 4/5,” haven’t you? Well, that’s also true for 4/9, which is what the field is getting in South Africa this week. If you want to throw your money at a tournament filled with wild cards, be my guest. But I’m not going to be your life raft.
Anyway, there you have it. I hope this helps. Remember to validate your parking and always tip at least 20 percent. Until next time, friends and degenerate wagerers, go and choose wisely…
– Golfstradamaus
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