The Pebble Beach Pro-Am is taking place this week on the California coast.
The host course needs no introduction while golfers will also see the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula and Spyglass Hill one time each before the 54-hole cut. The y will also be playing alongside pro-am partners, some of them being celebrities.
So, it’s a unique event with a lot of variable but let’s take a peek at the tournament matchup board to see if any bets stand out.
Viktor Hovland over Matt Fitzpatrick - Tournament Matchup (+105)
Just yesterday, Brad recommended using a boost on Hovland this week. I’m also on board with backing the Norwegian on a course he likes.
Fitzpatrick has struggled with consistency in his iron game since the summer and Hovland has a knack for playing well back the coast. All three of his PGA TOUR wins have come on coastal courses and he’s also won back to back Hero World Challenges, down in The Bahamas.
I’ll take the plus-money in the matchup to get things started.
Maverick McNealy over Jordan Spieth - Tournament Matchup (+100)
Spieth has a win and five other top 10s on his tournament resume so he’s certainly tough competition in this matchup.
However, two of McNealy’s four best finishes on the PGA TOUR have come at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
“I could start with the home cooking. I’m staying with my grandparents this week, so grandma’s home cooking.
I’m comfortable with the turf. I love these golf courses. Suits my eye.
I think from a driving perspective, I feel like the stats, I don’t hit the most fairways, but I kind of keep the foul balls to a minimum. And out here with shorter rough and just trying not to hit it in the Pacific Ocean, that kind of is right up my alley. Just really comfortable. I just see shots out here really well.”
So, while Spieth brings a lot of upside to the table, so does McNealy and the latter has better recent form, posting T31 or better in seven straight starts while Spieth is arriving off a missed cut at the Sony Open despite co-leading after day one.
