Course form figures of 2-2-1, a scoring average of 67.75, the fact that he's the best player in the world and that there are only 19 players to beat all point towards Scheffler ending this fabulous year on a winning note. He really could look like excellent business at 5/2 in what is not a strong renewal of Tiger's tournament – according to DataGolf, right now the second best player in this field is his Presidents Cup partner, Russell Henley. The Presidents Cup does serve one note of caution: Scheffler wasn't great there, putting poorly, and that club remains a worry. He could of course win without much help from it.
Frustrating to follow but performing at a consistently high level and did so in the end at the ZOZO despite a slow start. Playing similarly to when eighth on debut here and would expect him to finish nearer first than last. Approach play needs to be on and if it is will be involved at some stage. Possibly one to look for in matches and three-balls or even to be the best of the two Koreans.
Could so easily have won when third on debut at the end of breakout 2021 season, but well behind at halfway in each of his two subsequent visits. Another good FedEx Cup Playoffs, helped no doubt by the fact that two of those events have permanent homes that he likes, but only seen at the Presidents Cup since then and wasn't one of the better US players except for on the greens. Couldn't rule out given the space this place affords and would've been about fourth or fifth on my list.
Consistently very good, seldom outstanding, but top-10s at two more majors this year before super Presidents Cup debut dangle the possibility that he steps up a level going forward. Solid bank of form certainly merits respect on first start here and somewhat breezy forecast might be to his advantage if he can keep in touch. Not seen since Royal Montreal and surprising that he skipped Sea Island.
Far from the only golfer here who has gone through a largely disappointing year which began with high expectations, the worst of it coming in the autumn when he missed a Paris medal then exited early in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Two missed cuts and a second place that should've been first since then so really can't catch a break but was 10th two years ago and could bounce back.
Poor debut when possibly out of gas at the end of US Open-winning season, or else distracted by LIV Golf advances. Decent season which saw him add to his collection with Pebble Beach win and was in good shape during the Playoffs, so given poor Silverado record there's not much to excuse. Does have to prove course suitability and overall wellbeing, though.
On the one hand, Cantlay has the course experience and was a little more consistent towards the end of the PGA Tour season, but on the other Aberg has played more recently, he's definitely been working hard on his game, and he might just be the more motivated of the two.
Cantlay was electric at the Presidents Cup when last playing competitively and is left out begrudgingly, with Aberg's immense driving too tantalising to turn away from given the scoring holes at Albany include a driveable par-four and five par-fives. He should like it here and bermuda greens aren't a problem given his RSM Classic win from 2023.
Indeed it was encouraging to see him again putt well during the final round of his title defence and that 64 may well set him up to prove the key challenger to Scheffler, although 50/1 that he and Cantlay fill the first two spots is worth a small go in the hope that Scheffler's putter does for him. Dual forecast markets aren't typically of interest pre-tournament, but with just 20 players this is an exception.
Robert MacIntyre is the pick from the middle portion of the market but I am slightly worried that he's put a lot into this year and seemed to be ready for a break when last seen in Dubai, so it's SEPP STRAKA who completes the staking plan.
Although he's lacking in power which I do see as a slight negative, the Austrian showed how well he can score here when chasing home Scheffler on his second appearance, having also offered promise when 10th as a late-arriving debutant in 2022.
He's not been too far away this autumn and his missed cut at the RSM Classic is no concern at all. The opposite, in fact: he played better than he usually does in that event, despite a bad draw, and even holed plenty of putts in round two. At 40s or so he's a nice each-way bet and we'll take him ahead of Harman, who is generally closer to the 28-33/1 mark.
Posted at 2000 GMT on 02/12/24
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