2016 Australian PGA betting, Adam Scott tips and exotics

RACV Royal Pines Resort. December 1-4 – tee off from 6am AEST

THE Australian PGA Championship will be hosted by Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast for the fourth year running with over 150 golfers looking to have their name engraved on the Kirkwood Cup.

The oldest trophy in Australian Professional Golf is up for grabs this week, along with a purse of $1.5 million, and a great field of local and international golfers have turned up.

Past champions Adam Scott, Greg Chalmers and Robert Allenby are all back to win another PGA Championship title, but there are plenty of rival golfers looking to create history.

Marc Leishman has been well-favoured in the betting after a solid performance with Adam Scott in the World Cup of Golf and the Kiwi pair of Danny Lee and Ryan Fox are also firmers in the betting.

The strong international contingent includes Ian Poulter, Jaco Van Zyl and Peter Uihlein which add some flair to the tournament.

Australian PGA Championship betting

Adam Scott is the firm favourite at $4.50 and the next best chance in the market is Cameron Smith at $13.

With quality players such as Marc Leishman and John Senden at double figure odds, there’s good money to be made this week.

Top 30 Australian PGA Championship market hopes:

Adam Scott – $4.50
Cameron Smith – $13
Marc Leishman – $17
Rod Pampling – $21
Danny Lee – $23
Ryan Fox – $26
Scott Hend – $26
John Senden – $29
Rhein Gibson – $29
Ian Poulter – $34
Greg Chalmers – $41
Harold Varner III – $41
Jaco Van Zyl – $41
Jason Scrivener – $41
Brad Kennedy – $51
Curtis Luck – $51
Marcus Fraser – $51
Nick Cullen – $61
Peter Uihlein – $61
Romain Langasque – $61
Jordan Smith – $67
Matthew Griffin – $67
Michael Hendry – $67
Nathan Holman – $67
Stephen Gallacher – $67
Brett Coletta – $81
Brett Drewitt – $81
Cameron Davis – $81
Richard Green – $81
Todd Sinnott – $81

Top Australian betting tips

WilliamHill.com.au has 10 of the best Australian players in the Top Australian group which features a major champion and a recent US PGA Tour winner.

Adam Scott heads the betting in this market at $2.45 and the one-time major winner will be looking to regain his best form.

Scott hasn’t played at his best in two Australian PGA tournaments this season, but there’s no Jordan Spieth playing this week which makes it much easier for Scott.

The $2.45 at WilliamHill.com.au for Scott to finish as top Australian looks the best value if you’re backing Scott this week.

Adam Scott – $2.45
Cameron Smith – $8
Marc Leishman – $8
Rod Pampling – $10
Scott Hend – $11
John Senden – $12
Rhein Gibson – $13
Curtis Luck – $15
Greg Chalmers – $15
Brad Kennedy – $17

Marc Leishman won the 2009 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, the first Australian to win the award, and he has shown his ability to play well on the big stage.

Leishman finished second at The Open Championship in 2015 and his fourth at the 2013 Masters was classy. His career has also included a second placing behind Tiger Woods in the BMW Championship and his win in the 2012 Travelers Championship put him on the radar.

He looks a great bet at $8 with Sportsbet to beat his countrymen this week.

Have a saver bet on Rod Pampling at $10. He is a recent winner on the PGA Tour and he fired some great rounds at the Australian Open two weeks ago.

Top Kiwi betting tips

Danny Lee – $2.20 at WilliamHill.com.au
Ryan Fox – $2.75
Michael Hendry – $6
There are nine Kiwi betting chances, but the three we mentioned will give punters their best chance of making money.

New Zealand’s best player Danny Lee is making his Australian PGA debut and the world number 64 is excited about the task ahead.

“I am excited to play my first Australian PGA Championship. I have heard lots of great things about the tournament and am happy to be able to experience it myself for the first time,” Lee said.

“2016 has been an incredible year playing at the Olympics and I am looking forward to finishing my season on the Gold Coast.”

Ryan Fox has acquitted himself well on the world golfing stage and the ‘grip-and-rip’ style player has the ability to put it all together.

“It’s pretty great that the Australian PGA Championship will be my first European Tour event since gaining my card,” Fox said.
“I know the Royal Pines layout well, I always enjoy playing in Australia, it is where I started my career, so I am hoping it turns out to be a successful week for me.

“Plus having Danny there is going to make sure it’s a fun week. We are good mates and he has a good sense of humour. I think he is going to love the Gold Coast, the Aussie crowds and the festival feel of the Australian PGA Championship.”

We have included Michael Hendry at $6 because of his ability to string good performances together, but backing either Lee or Fox is a good tactic.

Top rest of the world tips

Harold Varner III – $5.50
Ian Poulter – $5.50
Jaco Van Zyl – $5.50
Stephen Gallacher – $7
Peter Uihlein – $9
Romain Langasque – $9
Edoardo Molinari – $11
Pavit Tangkamolprasert – $13
Prom Meesawat – $13
Paul Waring – $19
Ian Poulter is a $5.50 chance to defeat nine other golfers in this market and the journeyman, despite having played 13 times in Australia, is playing his first Australian PGA Championship.

“Australia really is a fantastic place to play golf, I always receive such strong support from the fans, so I am looking forward to playing the Australian PGA Championship,” Poulter said.

“To be playing a European Tour event down here is an opportunity I jumped at. It’s a great chance to come back to a country I have previously performed well in and kick start my season.

“Plus , the Gold Coast sounds like my kind of place; sun, sand and plenty of entertainment. I’m looking forward to checking it out after my rounds.”

The rest of the world group doesn’t have the strongest field of players and Poulter can take advantage. Take the $5.50 at CrownBet and watch the flashy Englishman at his best.

Best Australian PGA tips

Adam Scott will be tough to beat which is why he’s currently paying $4.50 to win, but there are some talented golfers with a winning chance.

Marc Leishman is paying $2.25 at CrownBet to finish in the top 10 which is great value as he’s a consistent player who is playing himself into form.

John Senden can fire up at any stage and he’s a solid each way chance at $6.50 for a top five finish. Senden is $41 to lead after round one which could get punters off to a great start.

Our smokey of the week is Jaco Van Zyl at $41 at CrownBet. The South African has all the talent in the world and can make an impression on the Australian scene.