This week, the PGA Tour is in West Virginia for the Greenbrier Classic at the Greenbrier Resort. Last year, Jonas Blixt claimed his second career win on the PGA Tour, finishing at 13-under, besting tour winners Steven Bowditch, Matt Jones, Johnson Wagner and Jimmy Walker by two.
The Greenbrier Classic hasn’t been around long — four years to be exact. And in that short time, the event has produced four guys who can certainly be described as “surprise” winners. Sure, Stuart Appleby had won eight times previously on the PGA Tour, but it took a magnificent final-round 59 to get it done on the Old White TPC Course in 2010. Stallings, Potter, Jr., and Blixt were all relatively unknown when they won, and I expect most contenders this year to be guys you don’t normally see at the top of the leaderboard. So get your pencils ready because not all of these guys are household names … yet.
The Greenbrier Classic
Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, West Virigina
July 3-6, 2014
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ODDS to Win:
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| Bubba Watson | 10/1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 12/1 |
| Webb Simpson | 20/1 |
| Bill Haas | 20/1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 25/1 |
| Brendon Todd | 25/1 |
| Kevin Na | 25/1 |
| Steve Stricker | 30/1 |
| Brendon de Jonge | 30/1 |
| Marc Leishman | 30/1 |
| Gary Woodland | 30/1 |
| Patrick Reed | 30/1 |
| Chris Kirk | 40/1 |
| Brendan Steele | 40/1 |
| Chris Stroud | 40/1 |
| Ben Martin | 40/1 |
| Jonas Blixt | 50/1 |
| K.J. Choi | 50/1 |
| Nick Watney | 50/1 |
| Daniel Summerhays | 50/1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 50/1 |
| Carl Pettersson | 50/1 |
| Charles Howell III | 60/1 |
| David Hearn | 60/1 |
| Shawn Stefani | 60/1 |
| Scott Stallings | 80/1 |
| Cameron Tringale | 80/1 |
| George McNeill | 80/1 |
| Kevin Chappell | 80/1 |
| Peter Hanson | 80/1 |
| Angel Cabrera | 80/1 |
| Andres Romero | 80/1 |
| Rory Sabbatini | 80/1 |
| Pat Perez | 80/1 |
| Brian Harman | 100/1 |
| John Huh | 100/1 |
| Brian Davis | 100/1 |
| Scott Langley | 100/1 |
| Morgan Hoffmann | 100/1 |
| Ted Potter, Jr | 100/1 |
| Steven Bowditch | 100/1 |
| Thorbjorn Olesen | 125/1 |
| Martin Flores | 125/1 |
| Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano | 125/1 |
| Luke Guthrie | 125/1 |
| Bud Cauley | 125/1 |
| Stuart Appleby | 125/1 |
| Patrick Cantlay | 250/1 |
| Tom Watson | 500/1 |
| Field (all others) | 2/1 |
The first guy I’m taking this week is Morgan Hoffmann. The Oklahoma State product had been known more for his clever wedge stamps than his play until this year. In 2014, Hoffmann has enjoyed nearly every success except a win. He’s collected five top-25 finishes on the campaign and I really think he could turn some heads this week in White Sulphur Springs. At 100/1, a smart play and a big week from Hoffmann could make you very wealthy for a little while.
This next guy is a little more of a sure thing than Hoffmann. Jimmy Walker has already had himself a season that anyone not named Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson would envy. Walker already has three wins, is a shoe-in for the Ryder Cup team and is the current FedExCup point leader entering this week’s Greenbrier Classic, where he has finished in the top-4 three times. At 12/1 you’d better bet heavy if you want to make much, but if you’re just looking for something safe this week, Walker is your guy.
Sometimes, when a guy is good … he’s good. And in the case of Jonas Blixt at the Greenbrier, he’s really good. Blixt played some great golf on Sunday last year at the Greenbrier to claim his second career PGA Tour victory. Since that win, Blixt has been phenomenal, finishing solo fourth at last year’s PGA Championship and T-2 at this years Masters. At 50/1, you’d be very wise to bet big on Blixt this week.
It may not be scientific and honestly, there’s no real reason to think he can get it done this week at the Greenbrier, but a nagging voice somewhere is telling me that Pat Perez is going to have a good week in West Virginia. He hasn’t played great lately, but he’s always seemed to be a guy who goes low … like, really low, and without much warning. At 80/1, a Perez victory would be a surprise almost as big as the pay day for picking him.
The last name this week, is actually two guys. The Brendon’s; de Jonge and Steele, are both wonderful picks at the Greenbrier. Both players have been playing some really good golf lately and both probably deserve a win by now. I think either is a solid mid-level bet to make this week. Steele is getting 40/1 money this week; de Jonge, 30/1, making them both great low risk, high reward picks for the gambler who is already in the dog house and is looking for a way back to the top.
There you have it, kids. There isn’t much else to say. Just remember, I can only make suggestions and you’re responsible for your choices, not me. All I can tell you is to go and choose wisely.
-Golfstradamaus.
Past Prophecies: Golfstradamaus Archieve
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