Palmetto Championship at Congaree: PGA Tour Betting Odds
The Canadian Open was cancelled for this year due to logistical challenges related to the COVID pandemic. Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson are favoured on the golf odds.
Congaree Golf Club, located in Ridgeland, South Carolina (about 30 miles north of Savannah, Georgia), opened back in 2017 and already is considered one of the best courses in the United States – it is private. Instead of members, the club invites “ambassadors” to join. Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, is a Professional Ambassador for Congaree.
Golf Digest named Congaree the best golf course built during the decade of 2010-19. It’s a long par 71 at 7,655 yards – the par-5 fourth hole is an absurd 645 yards. One of the course’s founders was the late Bob McNair, former owner of the NFL’s Houston Texans. A lot of golfers on Tour have South Carolina ties, either growing up there or playing at the University of South Carolina or Clemson.
It’s the third PGA Tour event the Palmetto State has hosted this season, following the RBC Heritage in April at Hilton Head and the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. The Canadian Open, which also was cancelled in 2020, will return next year to St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
Needless to say, it will be more challenging handicapping a new tournament/course. There are two big-name amateurs making their official pro debuts on the PGA Tour: John Pak, who won the Ben Hogan Award and Fred Haskins Award as the nation’s top men’s collegiate golfer this year (he played for Florida State), and former world No. 1 amateur Davis Thompson, a first-team All-American and 2020-21 SEC Player of the Year at Georgia.
In addition, 22-year-old Garrick Higgo will make his second career PGA Tour start. He has won twice in his past three starts on the European Tour. He’s +4000 this week.
One guy not playing: World No. 2 Jon Rahm. He was leading the Memorial by six shots following his third round on Saturday before being forced to withdraw due to a positive COVID test. He should be cleared in time for the U.S. Open. Also not playing: Patrick Cantlay, who won the Memorial in a playoff over Collin Morikawa (not playing, either) on Sunday.
Palmetto Championship at Congaree Golf Odds
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who grew up not far from this course, and Brooks Koepka are each +800 to win. DJ is having a disappointing year and hasn’t had a Top 10 since late February. He hasn’t played since missing the cut at the PGA Championship. I’m presuming he’s familiar with this track in his home state, though. Koepka comes off a tie for second at the PGA Championship.
Tyrell Hatton is +1600 with Matthew Fitzpatrick +1800, Sungjae Im +2000 and Tommy Fleetwood +2000. I liked Fitzpatrick at the Memorial, but he disappointed with a missed cut. Hatton skipped the Memorial as did Fleetwood, while Im missed the cut.
Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Hadwin are the three highest-ranked Canadian golfers but all are skipping this week after playing at the Memorial. Nick Taylor (missed Memorial cut) is +15000, Roger Sloan +20000, Michael Gligic +25000 and David Hearn +35000.
See the complete Palmetto Championship golf odds here.
Palmetto Championship at Congaree Golf Predictions
Flying a bit blind here but do like Johnson for a Top 10. The winner at +4000 is Patton Kizzire, who lives not far from South Carolina in Georgia and played collegiately at Auburn. He missed the cut at the Memorial (sometimes the extra couple of days off is a benefit) but was T3 in his previous two tournaments.