American Express – The American Express 1st Spherical 3-Ball Odds and Picks

Brooks Koepka in the course of the first spherical of the Masters golf event Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Picture/Matt Slocum)

• The American Express from La Quinta, California tees off Thursday, January 21st
• There are many fascinating threesomes together with Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson
• We’ve chosen the perfect bets and value picks on 1st spherical three-ball matchups beneath

The third PGA Tour occasion of 2021 heads to the mainland for The American Express, following the 2 event swing in Hawaii. With Jon Rahm withdrawing earlier within the week, Patrick Cantlay is now the betting favourite to earn his fourth profession victory.

Apart from Jon Rahm in 2018, this event has produced some big-time lengthy shot winners, like Andrew Landry at +20000 final yr and Adam Lengthy at +50000 the yr earlier than that. With that in thoughts, usually massive names don’t play as effectively on the event previously referred to as the Bob Hope Traditional versus rather more unheralded gamers.

There are some fascinating three-ball matchups for the first spherical on Thursday, which we’ll dive into beneath.

Cantlay/Fowler/Mickelson 1st Spherical 3-Ball Matchup Odds

All odds taken January 20th from DraftKings

Patrick Cantlay Enjoying Sturdy Golf

This group looks as if a layup for Patrick Cantlay, contemplating Phil Mickelson’s finest end within the final seven common tour occasions is a pedestrian tie for 44th, and Rickie Fowler hasn’t had a top-10 since final yr’s American Express, a span of 18 tournaments.

A throwback to 20-year-old @PhilMickelson.

30 years in the past right now, he received his first occasion on TOUR. pic.twitter.com/H0wN0HhYFS

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 13, 2021

The one fly within the ointment in that idea is that Lefty has received it twice and simply two years in the past opened up with a scintillating spherical of 60, albeit at a unique course, en path to a tie for second. In 2016, he had one other sturdy exhibiting with a tie for third.

SO near an ace. 🎯 @Patrick_Cantlay is -Eight via 15 right now.

His lead is 2 @ZOZOChamp.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/AzVp1fVkxE

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 25, 2020

Nonetheless, Cantlay received three begins in the past, completed T-Ninth in his event debut right here in 2019, is 12th in first-round scoring this season and hasn’t shot worse than a 71 in his final eight opening rounds. He’s additionally the betting favourite to win the occasion outright for a purpose.

Fowler is T-105th and Mickelson is 248th in first spherical scoring on the season. Regardless that his value is significantly decrease than the opposite two, don’t overthink issues.

Choose: Patrick Cantlay (+125)

Koepka/Champ/Casey 1st Spherical 3-Ball Matchup Odds

Brooks Koepka Primed For Sturdy Begin

Following a irritating knee harm that induced Brooks Koepka to go winless in 2020, the four-time main champion appears to have righted the ship.

Earlier than a missed minimize in Mexico to finish the yr, he positioned T-5 on the Houston Open and T-7 on the Masters.

Brooks Koepka stated he had closing platelet-rich plasma injection on his left knee about two weeks in the past: “There’s actually barely any tear now. … I really feel good. There must be no excuses now.”

— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) January 19, 2021

Since his runner-up on the PGA Championship, Paul Casey hasn’t been higher than T-16th in eight begins.

Within the final 24 rounds on tour, Koepka has been a lot significantly better than each Champ and Casey.

Strokes Gained Rankings In Final 24 PGA Tour Rounds

These numbers are fairly evident, and so they all rank 125th or worse in first spherical scoring common on the marketing campaign, so there’s no discernible distinction there. Experience with the extra proficient participant.

Choose: Brooks Koepka (+150)

Reed/Woodland/Landry 1st Spherical 3-Ball Matchup Odds

Andrew Landry Sporting Improbable Worth

At first blush, the favourite on this group would appear like a lock, with Patrick Reed having received the event in 2014 and him being fifth in first spherical scoring common this season.

Gary Woodland has fallen off a cliff, with nothing higher than a T-33 exhibiting in his final 9 instances teeing it up, the place he’s didn’t make the weekend 5 instances.

Nonetheless, Andrew Landry is the defending champion, and two years previous to that in 2018, he was runner-up (in a playoff) to Jon Rahm, so he’s tremendous snug round this observe.

On to Amex. Final Three years. Something leap out at you? pic.twitter.com/0a1OdwzgNY

— Nagels Bagels (@nagelbagels) January 18, 2021

Simply three begins in the past, he had a T-Four on the RSM Traditional and 11 of his final 12 rounds at this occasion have been within the 60’s. He’s a really boom-or-bust sort golfer, however as we famous in our preview for the darkhorses with large upside, he’s a really intriguing title and also you’re getting him at nice value.

Choose: Andrew Landry (+250)

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