The most telling fortune cookie in town has just been cracked open ahead of this week’s WGC HSBC Champions and here are Doc’s top betting tips for the week.
This year’s staging hasn’t the same depth of field as previous showings but Dustin Johnson makes the trip East along with Hideki Matsuyama and Jason Day. Jon Rahm missed the cut amidst the cork trees in Valderrama last week and is a debutant on this course, but having watched Sheshan for several years now, I think Rahmbo can putt the lights out on these greens and looks generous to me at 16/1.
As always I’m looking for solid each way bets and on a course like this, where the winning score will likely surpass 20 under, and where bombers and short guys have both won, having a spread is prudent. Here are my picks.
Doc’s Top 5 Each Way Bets
Marc Leishman 18/1
Marc Leishman is having a purple patch right now and looks a threat every time he tees it up. Lost out in a playoff to Justin Thomas in the CJ Cup last week and the winner of the BMW Championship in the PGA Tour playoffs. Didn’t play here last year but was T11 in 2015 and solo 9th in 2014. Solid chance.
Ross Fisher 28/1
Finally playing the way we all expect him to, Ross Fisher on his day swings it as good as anyone in the world. Coming off consecutive T2 finishes in Italy and Scotland, it would be super to see him contend again on this bigger WGC stage. Ross loves the plunging elevation changes at Sheshan and was T6 here in 2016 and T3 in 2015. Putting was all that stopped him then and he’s doing that much better now.
Pat Perez 35/1
If it’s a fairways and greens man at decent odds you’re after this week try Pat Perez at 35/1. I make it five consecutive top-20 finishes for Double P. He’s gone from T6 at the Dell, to T12 at the BMW, 16th at the Tour Championship, won two weeks ago at the CIMB and was T5 at the CJ Cup in Korea last week. Only played the WGC HSBC once before in 2009 finishing T10 but has the game to contend.
Tyrrell Hatton 25/1
T23 and T54 on his two previous visits to Sheshan and that’s why the bookies have him way out at 25/1 but you just cannot ignore Hatton’s form right now. Winner in Italy, winner in Scotland, T8 at The Grove, T3 at the European Masters; whatever the track Hatton is up there. Yes the run has to end sometime but the way he’s smiling right now and enjoying his golf, I’ll bite your hand off for 25/1.
Paul Casey 20/1
Casey has done well for us this year and has a wealth of experience at Sheshan which has staged this event for all of his pro career (he didn’t play Mission Hills in 2012). From nine appearances at the venue he has five top-10’s and has never finished worse than T23 (WD in 2009). Form wise Casey finished T19 in Korea last week and T7 in Kuala Lumpur the week before. As long as you know that you’re getting a man who is happy to place when you bet, Casey always gives value.
Long Odds Glory
Kiradech Aphibarnrat 80/1
He’s not done well on two attempts at the course but I have a feeling Kiradech Aphibarnrat is in for a big week from 80/1. He’s playing super since a T20 at the British Masters, following that with a T15 on the links in Scotland and T2 last time out in Italy.
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