The PGA Tour heads to California this week, and golf’s biggest star is set to make his first appearance of the 2012 season.
Fourteen-time major winner Tiger Woods (5/1 Tournament Winner @
Boylesports) begins his 2012 campaign when he tees up on Thursday, and it will be his first appearance at this tournament since 2002. Also joining Woods in the AT&T Pebble Beach field is a host of past champions that includes Phil Mickelson (18/1), Davis Love III (150/1), Arron Oberholser (200/1) and Dustin Johnson (18/1), the latter winning back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
This tournament is held on three courses – Pebble Beach, Monterey Peninsula and Spyglass Hill, the latter ranked one of the toughest courses on the PGA Tour. The 7,040-yard par-72 course at Pebble Beach is considered one of the most spectacular golf courses in the world and with an average green size of 3,800 feet, Pebble has the smallest greens on the PGA Tour schedule, placing a premium on accuracy and scrambling.
The 155-strong field will play their opening three rounds at each of the courses and then a cut will be made following those 54 holes. Those remaining will return to Pebble Beach for a shot at the AT&T Pebble Beach title and a first place prize of over $1million. Given the size of the greens at Pebble Beach, superb ball-striking will pay dividends, as will the ability to scramble well around the greens. Brian Gay (80/1) stands out in both of those departments and should be noted in the AT&T Pebble beach betting.
As already mentioned, the ability to produce accurate approach shots combined with good scrambling is key to winning the AT&T Pebble Beach. The defending champion D.A. Points (40/1) sits inside the top 10 for greens-in-regulation on tour this season while Sean O’Hair (55/1), my one to watch for the season, occupies fourth spot in scrambling.
Putting will also be a premium this week. Poa Annua greens have a tendency to become bumpy in the afternoon so look to great putters like Aaron Baddeley (66/1) and Rory Sabbatini (45/1). Both golfers are unsurprisingly ranked inside the top 10 of total putting on the PGA Tour this season.
Another great statistic pointer is strokes gained in putting. Both Baddeley and Sabbatini find themselves ranked inside the top 10 alongside Derek Lamely (300/1) and D J Trahan (50/1).
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Outright Betting Tips:
D J Trahan – 50/1
Two top-10 finishes here in 2009 and 2010. Trahan made a terrible start to his 2012 season but he fired himself into form with an impressive fourth place finish at last week’s Phoenix Open. D J Trahan hits lots of greens, putts really well and is a cracking bet for this year’s AT&T Pebble Beach
Zach Johnson – 33/1
He may be a short hitter but Zach Johnson hits every single fairway and he is an impeccable putter. Johnson hasn’t played the AT&T Pebble Beach since 2004 but his golf game suits this event and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get into contention over the weekend
Rory Sabbatini – 45/1
The South African tied 15th in last year’s AT&T Pebble Beach and finished runner-up in 2006 so is clearly comfortable playing in a pro am format. Sabbatini has played exceptional golf so far this season and he’s a decent betting prospect at the odds on offer
