PGA Tour Northern Trust Open Golf Info
A tricky challenge awaits the golfers at the Riviera Country Club this week, and it basically adds up to a course where out of form players struggle to find their rhythm. This was one of the hardest par 71’s on the PGA Tour last year, and it was Australian Aaron Baddeley who stepped up to take the honours. There is not likely to be a lot of birdie chances flying around, so the Northern Trust Open really demands consistency and monotonous golf, and then to try and really attack the par fives. Driving length really is not so much of an issue, even though the course is a long one, more important is the ability and accuracy of the second shots in the approach work to the green. That is where the tournament could really be won or lost. It really is a keep it on the fairway and accurate iron work time. It is not a course where first timers really have stepped up to the make the mark, because it is a very tough test.
PGA Tour Northern Trust Open Golf Defending Champion
Australia’s Aaron Baddeley is the defending champion in your PGA Tour Northern Trust Open Golf betting this week. He is actually coming in on the back of some good form as well, finishing fourth at Pebble Beach last week. He will sinking birdies left right and centre last week and that is the kind of form and confidence builder which should translate into another good outing here. Very familiar with the course and what took him to victory last year was his brilliant approach work to the greens. It has been a fairly solid start to the new season for him, and does make a solid enough bet. The bookies are paying a bit of oversight on him really as he is trading back at 30/1 with Bet365.
PGA Tour Northern Trust Open Golf Betting Favourite
Big Phil Mickelson goes as favourite for this year’s edition. Two reasons why that is. Firstly he won the event in back to back years in 2008 and 2009 and so has strong tournament history. That is genuinely a big factor in Northern Trust Open Golf betting, because experience here counts for a tremendous amount. So Mickelson has had the winner touch here before, and when he is on top of his game, there is hardly anyone who can touch him when it comes to iron work. The second big factor in backing Phil Mickelson here is that the big leftie won last week at Pebble Beach. He was simply majestic firing around the final round on Sunday, and he sticks in a couple of rounds like that the Northern Open, then he will be in firm contention. It is fantastic to see him on top of his game, and his performance on the weekend, totally overshadowing Tiger Woods of course, was a far cry from his dreadful missed cut at the Farmers. The bookies have him as favourite across the board at 10/1 with Totesport.
Other Contenders
A very good field in attendance here, including world number one Luke Donald. Donald’s approach work to the greens of course is sublime, arguably the best in the world. This is his first outing on the PGA Tour this year, and what really has to be taken into consideration is that this will be his first outing on the PGA Tour this season, and that is a factor. The Northern Trust, a notoriously difficult course to tame and coming in rusty is really not ideal. Still, Donald has played at the event before, firing off three top six finishes in consecutive years at the event. Has the class in the short game to contend though. Dustin Johnson has slowly been cranking up his season. He played very solidly at Pebble Beach last week to take a T5 finish there, and while Johnson is really noted for his driving ability and length, he showed some magnificent touches with his close game. He landed a third in the Northern Open back in 2010 but missed out on the weekend last year after a poor couple of rounds. Steadily growing into the season and wouldn’t be surprised if he took another step forward. With Aaron Baddeley taking the crown here last season, it is going to be worth looking at a couple of other Australians. Jason Day and Adam Scott are both starting their PGA Tour outings here in this difficult tournament, but both have a decent crack at the event. This is what makes all of this PGA Golf betting this week very interesting. There are players coming in cold but who have good records here. Scott has an unofficial win here, back in 2005 and hasn’t been in action since early in the year playing down in Australia. Had a brilliant last season though and is cool and collected enough to turn up and waltz through the event again. His compatriot Jason Day has missed the cut here in his two attempts. Day is superbly consistent wherever he plays, and with a runner up spot in Qatar just a couple of weeks ago on the European Tour, he has the confidence and game in his short work to challenge. One of the strong outside bets could be Kevin Na, as he landed a third place finish here last season and was inside the top ten the year before that. Not only that, but he has rattled off some great form of late, especially at Pebble Beach last week where he was very impressive in scoring sub 70 in all four rounds there.
Latest PGA Tour Northern Trust Open Golf Betting Prices
Phil Mickelson: 10/1 at Totesport
Luke Donald: 16/1 at Bet365
Dustin Johnson: 25/1 at BetFred
Sergio Garcia: 28/1 at Coral
Adam Scott: 30/1 at SkyBet
Aaron Baddeley: 30/1 at Bet365
Jason Day: 33/1 at Bet Victor
Hunter Mahan: 33/1 at SkyBet
KJ Choi: 40/1 at Bet365
Kyle Stanley: 40/1 at Totesport
Kevin Na: 40/1 at Paddy Power
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