Here is an overview of the very best value options and investments at this week’s Dean & Deluca Invitational event from the Colonial Country Club in Texas.
The Favourites
As a major winner and undoubtedly one of the finest golfers on the planet, there’s no surprise that the bookmakers squeeze their prices on Jordan Spieth so readily. We can understand their reluctance – he has finished 7-14-2 in his three starts at Colonial – but a string of recent form which has witnessed him melt under the pressure at The Masters and last week’s Byron Nelson event is hardly eye-catching stuff. At 7/1 with Ladbrokes, he is easy to ignore.
Adam Scott is far more worthy of our attention at 12/1 with Boyle Sports given that he has bagged two titles this term. The Aussie went cold after those two wins but a return to form of sorts, 17-12 in his last two outings, serves notice that another big performance could be just around the corner. The price makes great appeal given he won this tournament as recently as 2014.
The bookmakers are excited about Matt Kuchar too, hence his odds of 14/1 courtesy of Paddy Power. Back-to-back top-fives is eye-catching of course, but one finish in the money places at Colonial in eight attempts does not whet the appetite.
Of those at the head of the market, it is Charley Hoffman (25/1, Coral) who catches the eye. He loves playing in Texas, having recorded a whopping ten top-20 finishes in the state in twelve outings, and a decent showing at Byron Nelson last week ensures he comes here in good heart.
Course Specialists
The all-time leading ‘money winner’ at Colonial is Zach Johnson (25/1, William Hill), whose run of form here – dating back to 2009 – reads 9-1-4-1-3-73-19, and you will struggle to find anyone in this field with better. However, those last two numbers are slightly worrying, and suggest course changes have found Johnson out.
Chris Kirk is the defending champion, and with a form string reading 16-5-35-14-1 at this course he offers plenty of appeal at the 40/1 quoted (Stan James). However, it is always tough for champions to retain their crowns.
Others including Kevin Na and Jim Furyk, both of whom have recorded three top-10 finishes here, will attract attention but the former missed the cut in his last event and the latter is still working his way back from a wrist injury.
As such, perhaps Brandt Snedeker’s precise form of golf is of more interest at 50/1 (Stan James). He has won on tour already this year and finished second in this event in 2015.
Form Horses
Often the most in-form players can adapt their game to suit any course or conditions, and so perhaps Colt Knost (45/1, bet365) is worthy of further examination. He comes here on the back of a third and a fourth, and happily finished tenth in this very tournament last year.
Kevin Chappell has been one of the most improved players on the PGA Tour this term, and a run of form reading 2-mc-9-4-41-2 is simply too good to ignore. That highlights the versatility of a man who has finished in the top-20 twice at Colonial, and so his 28/1 price with Paddy Power is representative.
Long Shot Jollies
Golf punters love a ‘long one’ and there are a few to consider this week. Boo Weekley (80/1, SkyBet) won here in 2013 and his form has been improving of late, while Emiliano Grillo’s technical game should be ideally suited to Colonial. At 125/1 with SkyBet, he is of interest.
And finally, what about the 200/1 offered by Betfair on Ben Crane? With four top-10 finishes at Colonial under his belt, and a confidence-boosting 24th at Byron nelson last week, he is a jolly worth humouring.
Dean & Deluca Invitational Best Bets:
Adam Scott (12/1)
Charley Hoffman (25/1)
Colt Knost (45/1)
Boo Weekley (80/1)
