The App is Back! Don’t forget to download the NBC Sports EDGE app to receive real-time player news, mobile alerts and track your favorite players. Plus, now you can check out articles and player cards. Get it here!
It is officially “Hit and Giggle” season on the golfing calendar as exhibition matches will lead us into the New Year. This week’s QBE Shootout will take center stage with 12 teams of two set to encounter the Gold Course at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
Hosted by Greg Norman, this par-72 is ripe for scoring as teams will play an unorthodox playing format over 54-holes. With only four duos boasting tournament experience from both teammates, this year’s QBE Shootout’s winner has the potential to come from any of the 12 teams. We’ll take you through each pair, highlight some key information, and eventually make a selection.
Format:
Round 1: Scramble
Round 2: Modified Alternate Shot
Round 3: Four-Ball
Meet the 12 Teams (Odds Via PointsBet Sportsbook):
Billy Horschel and Sam Burns (+350): Released a fire mixtape cover when they first teamed up for a top-five finish at the 2021 Zurich Classic. Nearly coming through in their debut performance together in Louisiana, the SEC duo will hope for better luck in the state of Horschel’s alma mater, Florida. Horschel has been cycling through teammates like loads of laundry having previously gone to battle with the likes of Brendon Todd, Brandt Snedeker, and Jason Dufner.
Burns would most certainly top that list as the LSU product has been terrific as of late. Up to No. 13 in the official world golf ranking, Burns’ victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship has since been accompanied by a top-15 finish, a top-10 finish, and two top-five results including last week at the Hero World Challenge.
Harris English and Matt Kuchar (+600): Defending champions looking to add a fourth title belt to their wardrobe. They arrive in mixed form this year as Kuchar went a perfect 4-for-4 in weekend appearances in the fall. Never finishing inside the top-20, the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket remained consistent despite inconsistencies with his irons.
As opposed to English who collected two missed cuts and a WD in his three most recent PGA Tour starts. He carded three rounds of 70 or higher at the Hero World Challenge and finished in a tie for 14th. However, his lone bright spot was a third round 9-under 63, the low round of the tournament, hinting he still has the ability to make birdies in bunches despite his recent troubles.
Jason Kokrak and Kevin Na (+600): It appears the aggressiveness of going all in in 2020 trickled over into 2021 as Kokrak has since added the Charles Schwab Challenge and Houston Open to his trophy collection. Three wins in a 13-month span is nothing to overlook as the 36-year-old is set to team up with Na this week. Both have finished runner-up in the QBE Shootout since 2019 – albeit with different partners – and will hope for a similar type of result in their first date together.
Na’s health is a concern every week, but he should be good to go as we have not seen him since the PGA Tour’s two-week stint in Las Vegas. Withdrawing from the Shriners Children’s Open and narrowly finishing inside the top-50 at THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT, there are inevitable questions around his form. Yet he has proven he can find his game out of thin air and coupled with Kokrak’s length and ball-striking, the unlikely duo should thrive in this format given their ability to run hot on the tables.
Kevin Kisner and Max Homa (+750): Probably going to be one of the more popular teams in this event considering both of their abilities to play to the masses on social media. While Homa shot out of the gates to begin the 2021-2022 season, capturing the Fortinet Championship in Napa, he has yet to find a semblance of form in his three following starts.
For Kisner, you can’t find what you never had as the swing season treated the Georgia Bulldog poorly. He’s had success in team events before alongside Scott Brown and his game could align with Homa’s, making me believe this marriage will either go extremely well or horribly wrong.
Jason Day and Marc Leishman (+800): A pair of Australians heading in opposite directions as Leishman nearly came through a few times this past fall. Sunday charges at the Fortinet Championship and the Shriners Children’s Open came up just short before disappointing in the final round of the Houston Open. Finishing solo eighth with Cameron Smith last season, the duo parlayed their experience together into a Zurich Classic victory.
Day’s form is a far cry from Smith’s meaning Leishman may have to do the heavy lifting for this team. Losing strokes on approach in each start this fall, Day failed to crack the top-50 in any of his three outings. With a steady short-game, perhaps the inherent casualness of this event will allow the 2015 winner’s ball-striking to come through, however my money will be going elsewhere.
Corey Conners and Graeme McDowell (+1000): This may very well be the perfect combination of current form and course history. The Canadian impressed in the first-round of the RSM Classic, showcasing just how hot he can get with his irons, posting +4.4 Strokes Gained: Approach. While the putter is always a concern with Connors, he has found greener pastures in two of his last three outings and tends to be most comfortable on Bermuda.
He should take solace knowing he has McDowell by his side as the Northern Irishman has found success with a similar type of player before. Finishing runner-up three-times in his QBE Shootout career, McDowell’s most recent close call came in 2018 when he teamed up with Emiliano Grillo. Another strong ball-striker who finds trouble with the flat stick in hand, I expect McDowell to finally cross the finish line with the help of Conners.
Ian Poulter and Charles Howell III (+1000): Originally paired with his good buddy Lee Westwood for the first time since 2013, Poulter will now look to Howell III to aid his efforts to return to the QBE Shootout winner’s circle. Claiming victory with Dustin Johnson in 2010, the switch to the American may actually be beneficial given not only Westwood’s recent struggles, but also Poulter’s.
As Howell III has connected on three consecutive made cuts, improving in each outing, and culminating in a T-16 effort at the RSM Classic. Despite not playing in last year’s QBE Shootout, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy does have some past success in this event. With a couple of podium finishes to his name, Howell III finished in a tie for third in 2018 with Luke List.
Brian Harman and Hudson Swafford (+1100): Lucky for them, this is not a big game, so the probability of a couple of Georgia Bulldogs winning is exponentially higher. Swafford’s ball-striking appeared to be in a nice spot this fall, only to come up short with his chipping and putting, as is typically the case for the 34-year-old.
He may need that part of his game to show up as Harman looked lost during the swing season. Unable to crack the top-50 in any event this fall, the 2018 QBE Shootout Champion will need to ham-and-egg his way around Tiburón and hold on for dear life in alternate shot.
Sean O’Hair and Will Zalatoris (+1100): Was supposed to team up with Steve Stricker as the duo won the title together back in 2017. But with Stricker backing out of the tournament due to illness, O’Hair will now guide Zalatoris in the 25-year-old’s first QBE Shootout.
While the reigning Rookie of the Year’s ball-striking may be a welcomed sight, Stricker’s flat stick will be dearly missed on this team. I can’t envision the two of them making enough putts to seriously contend, but I have been wrong before.
Ryan Palmer and Matt Jones (+1400): I reckon this team would have been a touch higher on the odds board had Harold Varner III decided to play again. Not meant to be, Palmer will look to improve on last year’s 10th-place effort with Jones by his side.
If looking for a dark horse of sorts, this is the team I would go with. Palmer was trending in the right direction to end the fall and Jones’ game can change from week-to-week. His short-game is rock solid and he is plenty long off-the-tee meaning if the Australian’s irons decide to show up, they could factor.
K.H. Lee and Brandt Snedeker (+1600): I am not entirely sure how this duo came about – a common theme in this year’s QBE Shootout. Despite Lee playing some fine golf, I don’t love the prospect of Snedeker capturing his second QBE Shootout title having won in 2015. The ball-striking has fallen off a cliff and despite his putter’s best efforts, weekend appearances have been hard to come by on the PGA Tour.
Editor’s Note: Play for FREE! Download the NBC Sports Predictor app, make picks and win huge, weekly jackpots. Get started here!
Lexi Thompson and Bubba Watson (+3000): They are the longest on the odds board for a reason. While every team has a chance in a field of 12, Thompson and Watson’s path to victory is extremely narrow. Both are long on their respective Tours and both have quality results on this course – Thompson won the 2018 CME Group Tour Championship on the LPGA Tour and Watson finished runner-up in this event back in 2007 with Norman.
However, neither can putt and we haven’t seen the male counterpart play competitively in nearly four months. An in-form Watson would be an intriguing option this week, but I believe Thompson will be the one keep this team’s head above water when all is said and done.
Outright Selections (Odds Via PointsBet):
Corey Conners and Graeme McDowell (+1000)
PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner, and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links.
