The CJ Cup in South Carolina: PGA Tour Golf Betting Odds

Rory McIlroy is favoured on the golf odds.

This tournament debuted in 2017 as the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island in South Korea. However, it moved to Las Vegas the past two years (different courses) due to COVID and now Congaree Golf Club, about an hour inland from Hilton Head Island, S.C., takes over. While it’s the first time Congaree hosts this, it did host the one-off Palmetto Championship on the PGA Tour in 2021 and that was won at 11-under 273 by South Africa’s Garrick Higgo. Congaree is a par 71 at 7,655 yards.

This will be a limited field of 78 with no cut and because The CJ Cup is sponsored by CJ Group, a global lifestyle company based in South Korea, there will be five players designated by the Korea PGA and the top three available Korean players from the world ranking in the field.

The defending champion is Rory McIlroy, who shot 25-under 263 at The Summit Club in Las Vegas last year to beat out Collin Morikawa by a shot. McIlroy went on to win twice more during the 2021-22 season, including at the Tour Championship where he claimed a record third FedExCup title.

“This will be my first time beginning a PGA TOUR season with a title defense, so I will enjoy drawing back on positive memories from 2021,” McIlroy said. “I am really looking forward to seeing what Congaree is all about. From the design of the golf course to the overall player experience, everything I have heard about it from those who played the tournament in 2021 was overwhelmingly positive.”

The CJ Cup in South Carolina Golf Odds

It’s a stacked field with 15 of the world’s Top 20 in it. No. 2 Rory McIlroy (+643) hasn’t played on the PGA Tour since winning the Tour Championship and FedExCup but has played three times on the DP World Tour since and finished in the Top 5 in each. Jon Rahm (+900) also makes his PGA Tour season debut but earlier this month won the Spanish Open for a third time in a dominant six-shot victory.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+1100) hasn’t contended in two trips to this tournament but, again, at different sites. Justin Thomas (+1200) won this tournament twice when it was in Korea.

No Canadian has won this event. Mackenzie Hughes was T25 last year but isn’t playing this time. He was the only Canadian in the field. Corey Conners is +5000 this week off a T25 at the Zozo Championship with Adam Hadwin +8100. He last played in Las Vegas two weeks ago and was T10 at the Shriner’s.

The CJ Cup in South Carolina Golf Predictions

Take McIlroy for a Top 10, but the winner is Matt Fitzpatrick at +2500. He was T10 at the Palmetto Championship here in 2021 and had a recent runner-up in Italy.