The week in golf: Johnson and Willett the in-form picks to follow
Published:
In his last 12 starts, Jordan Spieth has only finished outside the top 10 in two tournaments. Beyond temporary blips at the Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championships in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, where he missed both cuts, golf’s leading light has been the model of consistency.
As has been well-documented during one of the quickest rises in the sport, Spieth’s relentless results aren’t isolated to a recent hot streak either.
This time last season, the Texan was stringing consecutive wins together at the Australian Open and Hero World Challenge. 12 months on, he arrives at The Albany in the Bahamas having tied for second Down Under last week.
Although he didn’t quite match the glory of last season in Oz, it’s clear that the current Masters and US Open champion is readying himself for another assault on the game’s leaderboards.
Unsurprisingly, Spieth is Ladbrokes’ favourite to repeat his 10-shot Hero World Challenge success, at odds of 10/3. But with the tournament switching to the Albany this year, it may pay to look elsewhere in the field.
Designed by Ernie Els and carrying a distinctive links feel, the Albany could play right into the hands of 7/1 second favourite Dustin Johnson.
The big-hitting American has a strong record on these types of courses, having recorded two straight US Open top fives in the past two years. He has finished inside the top 10 in three of his last four tournaments too.
Just like Johnson, the pick of the European Tour field comes from the sharp-end of the betting, as the tour heads to South Africa for the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Despite winning the tournament last year, in-form Englishman Danny Willett finds himself priced at 12/1 to win consecutive titles.
That price puts the Race to Dubai runner up behind 7/1 favourite Henrik Stenson and home-town star Branden Grace at 8s.
Just like last season, when Willett made the Nedbank his first win of the year, he heads to South Africa in fine form.
In 2014, the world number 20 had recorded top-25 finishes in both previous starts while this year he is arguably in better nick having had a pair of top fives in his last three appearances.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.
