There is a new PGA Tour season among us, and the Fortinet Championship kicks things off this week.
Golf betting markets have Hideki Matsuyama as the current +1400 favorite. Still, it’s an even betting field, with many winning chances, including the likes of Max Homa, Corey Connors, and Maverick McNealy.
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It might not be the best PGA Tour field ever assembled (cue LIV Golf fans), but it does feature Matsuyama, and he brings some excitement to the Fortinet Championship.
The former Masters winner was tipped to change tours earlier this year, but in the meantime, he’s staying put.
He’s paying +1400 to win the opening event of the wraparound PGA Tour season, and he could take advantage of a field without much winning experience.
The 30-year-old is an eight-time winner on the Tour, including the 2022 Sony Open. He wouldn’t have been happy with his form since the win in January, but he doesn’t get many better chances than this.
There are no superstars in the field, and with Homa on the second line of betting, it suggests Matsuyama is the clear top pick with betting online markets.
Pick: Hideki Matsuyama +1400
Connors Getting Close
Canadian Corey Connors has produced some good finishes lately, and he’s nearing a win.
The 30-year-old finished sixth at the RBC Canadian Open before producing his best finish with a T5 at the BMW Championship during the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
He couldn’t follow it up in the Tour Championship, but it should give him confidence, and he has been respected in the sportsbook for the Fortinet Championship.
Connors is on the second line of betting at +1600, which is short for a one-time PGA Tour winner, but he’s another player who could take advantage of the softer field.
He also has the enjoyment of making the President’s Cup squad, which could give him a boost.
“I think the [PGA] Tour is playing the long game,” Conners told TSN. “[They’re] trying to continue to grow the brand and it’s definitely really excepting to be a part of. When I tee it up, I want to beat the best players in the world and I’m going to have lots of opportunities to be able to do that.”
“I feel really fortunate to be a top player on the PGA Tour.”
Pick: Corey Connors +1600
McNealy Nearly There
There was plenty of hype around Maverick McNealy, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations. However, there is only time in his favor.
The 26-year-old was America’s highest-rated professional prospect in 2016, but after scoring no wins and making the cut only once at the majors, he needs to start putting it all together.
There are concerns that McNealy isn’t a struggling golfer financially. His father owns Sun Microsystems, which acquired Oracle for $7.4 billion in 2010, which could adversely affect his golf.
Despite his personal situation, McNealy should want to show the world his golfing talent because it’s there. The Stanford graduate almost gave up on his career to go into business, but we’re prepared to give him another chance.
His golf odds of +2800 are worth taking, and he only needs to shave a few shots off his scoring average to be competitive on a regular basis.
McNealy is nearly there, and he could be a chase bet for the rest of the year.
Pick: Maverick McNealy +2800
