AT&T Byron Nelson Golf Betting Picks & Prediction

Posted by Jordan Walters on Thursday,May 19, 2016 5:35, EDT in

Last week’s Players Championship in Florida had the best field of the year. Thus many of the world’s top players are deciding to skip this week’s PGA Tour event, the AT&T Byron Nelson at the TPC Four Seasons Resort at Las Colinas outside of Dallas. Area native and world No. 2 Jordan Spieth, whose first PGA Tour event was a tie for 16th at Las Colinas at age 16, and No. 8 Dustin Johnson top a lineup that includes 10 of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Spieth is your favorite to win at +750 on betting odds.

Here’s what I’ll guarantee you: Aussie Steven Bowditch will not win again and he’s a +35000 long shot. He shot a final-round 64 last year and won by four shots. Bowditch, who got married at the resort next to the TPC Four Seasons in 2011, had 27 birdies while becoming the seventh player to lead all four rounds of the event. He finished at 18-under 259 on the rain-altered layout. Charley Hoffman (65), Texan Jimmy Walker (66) and Scott Pinckney (66) tied for second at 14-under. Zach Johnson shot 63 to finish alone in fifth at 13-under. Spieth finished 7-under after an even-par 69.

A In Depth Analysis on the AT&T Byron Nelson Golf Betting Picks & Prediction

Yes, Spieth shot an even-par 69. That’s because for the first time in PGA Tour history, a course played to a par 69. The par-4 14th hole required an adjustment during last year’s tournament. After playing as a 406-yard par 4 in the opening round, it was shortened to a 104-yard par 3 for the remaining three rounds. Flooding in that low area of the golf course forced the decision that created a par 35-34=69.

Spieth returns to his hometown event, still seeking his first victory in the state of Texas. He’s been runner-up three times – once each at Colonial, Houston and San Antonio. His best result at this tournament remains that tie for 16th six years ago as a teenager on a sponsor’s exemption.

Fellow American Dustin Johnson is +900. He has done everything but win this event, with five straight top-20 finishes including four top-10s. Johnson has the length off the tee to capitalize this week, and he didn’t lose much momentum with a T28 finish last week at TPC Sawgrass after three straight top-five results.

Hoffman is +2000 along with Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson. A T2 last year in this event is the highlight for Hoffman, but he also has a total of three top 10s and a fourth top 25 since 2008. He won the Valero Texas Open before a T11 in New Orleans and a missed cut last week. Kuchar is coming off an impressive T3 at TPC Sawgrass, his best finish on tour in over 15 months. He has never missed a cut in eight trips to TPC Four Seasons with a pair of top 10s.

Former Colonial champions Zach Johnson, David Toms and Boo Weekley seek to become the 16th man to complete the “DFW Double” by winning both Dallas-Fort Worth events in their career. Adam Scott was the last to do it. Four of the past six winners of this event have made it their first Tour win, a list that includes major champions Jason Day (2010) and Keegan Bradley (2011).

Expert Betting Predictions

I like Dustin and Zach Johnson each for a Top 10 finish as well as Kuchar. There is one interesting prop: Spieth or Dustin Johnson winning at +315 vs. the field. I think DJ has a good shot but go with the field. Leishman could be a good longer-shot bet. The Aussie has twice tied for third here, and has five top-12 finishes in seven starts.