As rain moves into the week of The Genesis Invitational, daily fantasy players face a familiar but difficult question: should they build their lineup around Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy?

The challenge is amplified by the conditions at Torrey Pines South Course, which already ranks among the longest venues on the PGA Tour schedule. At 7,765 yards, the coastal layout demands both distance and precision. Add persistent rain to the mix and the course becomes even more demanding.

The forecast calls for rain through Wednesday and Thursday nights, meaning the course will likely play soft and heavy. Wet fairways reduce rollout, effectively making the course longer, while thick rough becomes even more punishing.

Under those circumstances, players who combine power with accuracy could gain a major advantage.

“The course is going to play long, the rough is very, very penal, so there’s a premium of putting your ball in the fairway and then controlling the spin into the greens,” Rory McIlroy said Wednesday.

The Northern Irishman also pointed out another challenge players must deal with this week: Torrey Pines’ sloping greens.

“Not that I didn’t remember, but it took me by surprise when I played a few holes yesterday just how much pitch and slope there is on these greens. So if you are lucky enough to be hitting the ball out of the fairway, you’re going to have to control your spin on these greens a lot as well, so a lot of like three-quarter shots.”

Scheffler vs McIlroy: the DFS decision

In the DraftKings daily fantasy pricing board, Scheffler sits at the top with a $12,300 salary, reflecting his status as the world No. 1 player. McIlroy follows closely behind at $10,900.

The price difference creates a strategic decision for lineup builders.

Scheffler offers elite consistency and ball-striking, but paying the premium for him limits flexibility elsewhere. McIlroy, meanwhile, arrives in strong form after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, proving he can thrive in windy and wet conditions similar to those expected this week.

Because neither player has an extensive history at Torrey Pines, the choice may ultimately come down to roster construction. Players hoping to fit another high-priced star into their lineup may lean toward McIlroy for the extra salary flexibility.

Other high-priced contenders

Beyond the two headline names, only Justin Thomas ($10,100) and Collin Morikawa ($10,000) fall into the five-figure salary range.

Thomas enters the week in solid form after finishing T6 at the WM Phoenix Open and runner-up at The American Express earlier in the season. His Torrey Pines record includes four top-25 finishes, including a strong showing in the U.S. Open held on the course.

Morikawa also brings an impressive course history. He finished third at Torrey Pines in 2023 and T4 at the U.S. Open played there. Statistically, he currently leads the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, highlighting the strength of his overall ball-striking.

Other notable players just below that salary tier include Ludvig Åberg ($9,800) and Hideki Matsuyama ($9,600).

Åberg showed promise earlier this season at the Farmers Insurance Open, briefly leading after a low round on the North Course before illness derailed his tournament. His length off the tee makes him a natural fit for the demanding South Course.

Matsuyama entered as the defending champion of the Genesis Invitational when the tournament was played at Riviera Country Club. He also owns two top-10 finishes at Torrey Pines.

Strong mid-tier options

The $8,000 to $9,000 range features several players with strong credentials.

Taylor Pendrith ($9,000) has made the cut in all four of his Torrey Pines appearances, including two top-10 finishes. His strength off the tee could prove valuable on a long, wet course.

Shane Lowry ($8,800) finished runner-up to McIlroy at Pebble Beach and has plenty of experience performing in difficult weather.

Jason Day ($8,700) boasts one of the strongest course records in the field. The former world No. 1 is a two-time winner at Torrey Pines, along with additional runner-up and third-place finishes.

Other intriguing names include Jordan Spieth ($8,500), Tony Finau ($8,200), and Robert MacIntyre ($8,100). Finau’s history is particularly impressive, with six top-10 finishes among nine top-25 results at the venue.

MacIntyre may also benefit from the weather conditions. Growing up in Scotland, he is well accustomed to playing in the wind and rain.

Value plays with distance

As lineup builders move further down the salary board, driving distance becomes an important factor.

Min Woo Lee ($7,800) ranks among the longest hitters on Tour, currently sitting third in Driving Distance while also ranking near the top in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and Strokes Gained: Total.

Cameron Young ($7,400) offers similar firepower and ranks 16th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee.

Both players have the length required to attack Torrey Pines in soft conditions.

Finding hidden value

Every winning DFS lineup also needs lower-priced players who outperform expectations.

Last week’s optimal lineup featured several golfers priced at $7,400 or less, including Thomas Detry, Daniel Berger, Michael Kim, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and Taylor Moore. Their performances highlight how important bargain selections can be.

Berger stands out again this week at $6,900. His statistical profile is impressive: seventh in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and third in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. He also ranks 22nd in Driving Distance and 17th in Driving Accuracy, leading the Tour in Total Driving. Those numbers suggest strong value following his T2 finish last week.

Another intriguing low-cost option is Justin Rose ($6,400). The veteran recently finished T3 at Pebble Beach and has previously won at Torrey Pines. His experience playing in wet conditions could prove valuable in the expected weather.

Rain adds another layer

Ultimately, the weather may shape how the tournament unfolds. Soft fairways and heavy rough will emphasize power off the tee while demanding precise approach shots to control spin on Torrey Pines’ challenging greens.

That combination could favor the game’s elite ball-strikers.

For DFS players, though, the central question remains the same: build around Scheffler’s reliability or McIlroy’s value and momentum.

Either way, the rain-soaked challenge of Torrey Pines is likely to produce a dramatic week.

The tournament will be staged December 12-14 at Riyadh Golf Club

Following an intense conclusion to the LIV Golf season, the league today unveiled details on the second edition of LIV Golf Promotions, presenting pathways for elite players from across the globe to earn their place in the League and The International Series for 2025.

The tournament will be staged December 12-14 at Riyadh Golf Club, with four rounds of stroke-play over three days, including 36 holes on the final day where the top finisher will earn a spot in the LIV Golf League next season.

The top 10 finishers, including ties, will earn full exemption into all 2025 events on The International Series, sanctioned by the Asian Tour. LIV Golf Promotions also offers a prize purse of US $1.5 million.

“Those who have competed in the LIV Golf League consistently share similar feedback: the energy, camaraderie, and global competition have created a once-in-a-lifetime experience for players to pursue their dreams at the highest level,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman.

“LIV Golf Promotions delivers another pathway for up-and-coming players and top competitors across the globe to experience a life-changing season with LIV, and we’re eager to see who steps up this year in Riyadh.”

LIV Golf Promotions will consist of four rounds of 18-hole stroke play. Starting Thursday, December 12, those who finish in the top 20 and ties from round one will advance to Friday’s round two, where scores will reset, and the field will be joined by a category of players who automatically qualified for day two of competition.

The top 20 players following round two will advance to the final day of competition, with scores reset once more for an intense full-day, 36-hole shootout. At Saturday’s conclusion, the winner will earn $200,000 and a highly coveted and lucrative spot in the LIV Golf League for 2025.

LIV Golf Promotions will add to the full-season player field for the 2025 LIV Golf League, with the top qualifier from Riyadh Golf Club and the winner of The International Series 2024 Rankings guaranteed to compete in the League with the opportunity to be signed by a team.

American John Catlin, who played as a reserve in six LIV Golf events this past season, currently leads the standings, having recorded one International Series win in Macau, and two runner-up finishes.

“John’s success in a number of LIV Golf events as a reserve this season is proof of the quality of play that we see each week on The International Series,” said Head of The International Series Rahul Singh.

“As we crown a 2024 International Series champion later this fall and look to the highly anticipated LIV Golf Promotions, one deserving player will have the chance to punch their life-changing ticket to the LIV Golf League.”

In addition to welcoming players from around the world, relegated players, and those without a team commitment for 2025 who finished in the Open Zone (25th-48th) in the 2024 LIV Golf League standings also have the opportunity to regain their playing rights for 2025.

However, only the top finisher in LIV Golf Promotions is guaranteed a spot in the League for 2025 – allowing teams greater flexibility during free agency to enhance their rosters this offseason.

Tour Championship final leaderboard

-30 S Scheffler (US); -26 C Morikawa (US); -24 S Theegala (US)

Selected: -16 R McIlroy (NI), S Lowry (Ire); -11 R MacIntyre (Sco); -10 T Fleetwood (Eng); -6 A Rai (Eng)

Scottie Scheffler underlined his status as the world’s number one golfer with a dominant victory at the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.

It caps a remarkable 2024 for the American who has won an Olympic gold medal, his second Masters and become the first to land successive Players Championship titles.

He is the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007 to win seven events in a PGA Tour season.

Scheffler, who started the final round with a five-shot lead over Collin Morikawa, shot a four-under 67 to win on 30 under and collect $25m (£19m) of the $100m prize fund.

He was four clear of Morikawa, who hit a 66, with another American, Sahith Theegala, in third on 24 under after a 64.

For a third successive year, Scheffler began the week on 10 under par as the leader of the FedEx Cup standings, two clear of Xander Schauffele in second, with Morikawa among a group on four under in the staggered start.

And he stayed ahead through the first three rounds to set up what looked like a straightforward final round.

His five-shot lead was six after Morikawa bogeyed the first hole.

However, Scheffler made uncharacteristic errors as he recorded successive bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes that allowed Morikawa, who birdied the fourth, sixth and eighth holes, to close to within two.

A wayward drive left Scheffler hacking out from underneath a conifer tree down the left of the seventh, while he mis-hit a greenside bunker shot on the eighth that squirted out right and ended up further away from the hole.

“I was a bit frustrated because it was quite a basic shot, but I’ve shanked it from a similar lie before,” he said.

“Ted [Scott, Scheffler’s caddie] did a good job of helping me reset. He gave me a nice pep talk there on the back of the eighth green because I looked at him like, ‘man, I don’t know about this, this isn’t looking so hot right now’.

“He gave me a little pep talk and then I was able to hit a really nice iron shot in there [on nine] and got things rolling.

“He really is a huge part of the team. I don’t know if I’d be able to do any of this without him on my bag.

“And then I did some really nice stuff to finish this tournament off.”

That “nice stuff” started on the ninth hole with a birdie, and two more followed on the 10th and 11th as Scheffler surged four clear.

Morikawa responded with a birdie on the 13th, but Scheffler drained a 15-foot eagle putt on the next to re-establish his five-shot lead, and he parred his way home to secure his first FedEx Cup title.

“Nothing fazes him,” said Morikawa, who collected $12.5m for finishing runner-up.

“Whether I was gaining some ground or he was gaining ground, it didn’t change how he walked or how he played or how he went through every shot.

“That’s something to learn. His mental game is a lot stronger than a lot of people know.”

Sunday’s prize money takes Scheffler’s official earnings for the season to around $54m and he has broken the PGA Tour record in that respect for a third season in a row.

It has also been quite the year off the course for Scheffler, who became a father for the first time in May and then just days later was arrested on the morning of the second round of the US PGA Championship for an alleged traffic offence as he arrived at the course.

He was taken to the police station and charged with assaulting a police officer but made it back to the course in time to play. All charges were later dropped.

“I feel like I’ve lived almost a full lifetime in this one year,” said Scheffler “It’s been nuts.”

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy finished the best of the UK golfers. He started the week level with Morikawa on four under and closed with a five-under 66 to end joint ninth on 16 under.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre had six birdies on his back nine as he shot a 64 to end 11 under, one ahead of Tommy Fleetwood who sneaked into the top 20 with a 67.

Fleetwood’s fellow Englishman Aaron Rai, who won his first PGA Tour title in August, hit a closing 70 for a total of six under.

The FedEx Cup champion will be crowned this weekend at the conclusion of the 2024 Tour Championship. Only the top 30 players in the 2024 FedEx Cup points list get invitations to this event, which will be held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Past champions include Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay, and they’re all in the Tour Championship 2024 field. However, the favorite is still searching for his first FedEx Cup championship in World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

With the staggered format scoring, Scheffler — who tops the FedEx Cup standings — will begin at 10-under-par. That’s a big reason why he’s the -110 favorite, while Xander Schauffele (8-under-par) is at +230. Hideki Matsuyama (7-under-par) won the first FedEx Cup playoff tournament and is at +1200 in the 2024 Tour Championship odds. Before locking in your 2024 Tour Championship picks, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June 2020. In fact, the model is up more than $9,500 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.

This same model has also nailed a whopping 13 majors entering the weekend, including the 2024 Masters — its third Masters in a row — and this year’s PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Anyone who has followed it has seen massive returns.

Now with the 2024 Tour Championship field locked in, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.

Top 2024 Tour Championship predictions
One major surprise the model is calling for at the 2024 Tour Championship: McIlroy (+1800), a 26-time winner on the PGA Tour and one of the top favorites, stumbles this week and doesn’t even crack the top five. McIlroy had quite the late-spring/early-summer run over a span of seven tournaments. He had back-to-back victories, as well as five top 5s over that stretch, but it’s been a struggle on the PGA Tour since then. He missed the cut at The Open, finished 68th out of 70 golfers at the St. Jude Championship, and then placed 11th a week ago at the BMW. Eleventh place was also his finish at last year’s Tour Championship, based on his 72-hole score.

McIlroy is starting the 2024 Tour Championship 4-under-par, so he has a sizable six strokes to overcome to catch Scheffler. That’s quite a large gap considering that McIlroy ranks just 67th on tour in total birdies. He’s had numerous birdie opportunities slip through his fingers due to his putter, as the Irishman is just 65th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting. Considering his recent slide, strokes to overcome and struggles on the greens, McIlroy is one to fade with 2024 Tour Championship bets. See who else to fade here.

Another surprise: Sam Burns, a +4000 longshot, makes a strong run at the title. The LSU product has only gotten better and better over the last two months, culminating in a runner-up last week at the BMW Championship. He’s improved his finish in each of his last four tournaments, and there’s only one spot to improve to after a second-place finish. Over Burns’ last eight events, he has six top-15 finishes, including at the U.S. Open and each of the first two FedEx Cup Playoff events.

Based solely on his 72-hole score, Burns was in fourth place at last year’s Tour Championship, finishing ninth overall with starting strokes applied. He will start at 4-under-par on Thursday, so just five golfers will be ahead of him on the leaderboard. Burns has shot multiple strokes under par in five of his last six rounds at East Lake Golf Club, so he’s shown the ability to make up ground quickly and shouldn’t be overlooked this weekend. See who else to back here.

How to make 2024 Tour Championship picks
The model is also targeting two other golfers with odds of 35-1 or longer who will make a strong run at the title. Anyone who backs these longshots could hit it big. You can only see the model’s picks here.

Who will win the 2024 Tour Championship, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the Tour Championship 2024 odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected Tour Championship leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 13 golf majors, including the last three Masters and three majors this year.

2024 Tour Championship starting scores, odds to win

Scottie Scheffler (-10) -110
Xander Schauffele (-8) +230
Hideki Matsuyama (-7) +1200
Keegan Bradley (-6) +1800
Ludvig Åberg (-5) +2200
Rory McIlroy (-4) +1800
Collin Morikawa (-4) +3500
Wyndham Clark (-4) +4000
Sam Burns (-4) +4000
Patrick Cantlay (-4) +4500
Sungjae Im (-3) +10000
Sahith Theegala (-3) +22500
Shane Lowry (-3) +15000
Adam Scott (-3) +10000
Tony Finau (-3) +10000
Byeong Hun An (-2) +30000
Viktor Hovland (-2) +7000
Russell Henley (-2) +12500
Akshay Bhatia (-2) +30000
Robert MacIntyre (-2) +40000
Billy Horschel (-1) +27500
Tommy Fleetwood (-1) +12500
Sepp Straka (-1) +50000
Matthieu Pavon (-1) +150000
Taylor Pendrith (-1) +150000
Chris Kirk (E) +150000
Tom Hoge (E) +150000
Aaron Rai (E) +50000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (E) +100000
Justin Thomas (E) +30000

SportsLine’s model revealed its 2024 BMW Championship predictions for Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and the rest of the field at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado as the FedEx Cup Playoffs continue

The FedEx Cup Playoffs continue this week with the 2024 BMW Championship, which is being hosted by Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado. This is the first time the BMW Championship is returning to the Denver area since 2014, and this will be the longest course in PGA Tour history at 8,130 yards. However, the average altitude is 6,200 feet, so the ball flies much farther than it does at sea level. How should that factor influence your 2024 BMW Championship bets?

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the +320 favorite (risk $100 to win $320) in the 2024 BMW Championship odds, followed by Xander Schauffele (+650) and Rory McIlroy (+1000). There are 50 golfers in the 2024 BMW Championship field, and the top 30 will advance to the Tour Championship next week. Before locking in your 2024 BMW Championship picks or PGA props, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Our proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June 2020. In fact, the model is up more than $9,500 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.

This same model has also nailed a whopping 13 majors entering the weekend, including the 2024 Masters — its third Masters in a row — and this year’s PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Anyone who has followed it has seen massive returns.

Now with the BMW Championship 2024 field set, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.

Top 2024 BMW Championship golf predictions

One surprise: McIlroy, a four-time major champion and one of the top favorites, does not crack the top five this week. McIlroy finished second to Bryson DeChambeau in the U.S. Open after missing a pair of short putts in the final three holes, and he has struggled to post consistent results since then. He missed the cut in the final major of the year at the Open Championship before finishing T68 in the FedEx St. Jude Championship last week.

McIlroy ranks outside the top 100 on the PGA Tour in GIR percentage and outside the top 80 in driving accuracy. He might be tempted to pump up his driving distance this week on the long course, which could bring more of his inaccuracy issues into play. The model does not feel good about backing the inconsistent Northern Irishman this week, recommending other golfers instead.

The model has also examined where Schauffele finishes. The 30-year-old is amid the best season of his career, winning his first two majors while making the cut in all 19 events he has played in. Schauffele won the PGA Championship in May before winning the Open Championship in July, and he has finished inside the top 15 in nine straight tournaments. He finished T2 in the FedEx St. Jude Championship last week, despite starting the final round nine shots back of the lead.

Schauffele played a bogey-free round of 63 on Sunday, giving him momentum heading into Thursday’s opening round. However, he ranks outside the top 30 on the PGA Tour in driving distance and driving accuracy, which could be an issue at a course this long. Schauffele is the only player who can jump Scheffler in the FedEx Cup standings before the Tour Championship. The model just locked in its Xander Schauffele BMW Championship picks here.

How to make 2024 BMW Championship picks

The model has revealed where Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele finish, along with identifying three golfers with odds of 30-1 or longer to make a strong run at the title. Anyone who backs these longshots could hit it big. You can only see the model’s picks here.

2024 BMW Championship odds, field

Scottie Scheffler +320
Xander Schauffele +650
Rory McIlroy +1000
Collin Morikawa +1200
Viktor Hovland +1800
Ludvig Aberg +1800
Hideki Matsuyama +1800
Patrick Cantlay +2200
Tommy Fleetwood +2500
Tony Finau +2500
Corey Conners +3000
Sam Burns +3000
Wyndham Clark +3500
Sungjae Im +3500
Cameron Young +4000
Billy Horschel +4000
Adam Scott +4000
Aaron Rai +4000
Russell Henley +4000
Justin Thomas +4000
Shane Lowry +4500
Sahith Theegala +4500
Jason Day +4500
Byeong Hun An +5000
Akshay Bhatia +5000
Matt Fitzpatrick +5000
Davis Thompson +5000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +5500
Robert MacIntyre +5500
Brian Harman +6000
Keegan Bradley +6000
Alex Noren +6500
Will Zalatoris +6500
Taylor Pendrith +6500
Max Greyserman +6500
Denny McCarthy +7000
Thomas Detry +7500
Si Woo Kim +7500
Sepp Straka +7500
Tom Hoge +8000
Nick Dunlap +8000
Max Homa +8000
Eric Cole +8000
Cam Davis +9000
Austin Eckroat +9000
J.T. Poston +11000
Chris Kirk +12000
Adam Hadwin +12000
Stephan Jaeger +12000
Matthieu Pavon +15000

SportsLine’s proven model simulated the 3M Open 2024 10,000 times and revealed its surprising PGA Tour golf picks

After hosting a PGA Tour Champions event for 26 years, the greater Twin Cities area got its chance to hold an annual PGA Tour event when the 3M Open was created in 2019. Now the tour will head to TPC Twin Cities to get back on the FedEx Cup grind after a daunting week at Royal Troon, with the 2024 3M Open beginning on Thursday. Tony Finau has three top-10 finishes under his belt at TPC Twin Cities, including a victory in the 2022 3M Open, and he’ll be in the 2024 3M Open field after missing out on making the United States Olympic team.

Finau is currently ranked No. 18 in the Official World Golf Ranking and he’s the 10-1 favorite in the 2024 3M Open odds. He’s followed by Sam Burns (18-1), Sahith Theegala (22-1) and Akshay Bhatia (28-1), while defending champion Lee Hodges is an 80-1 longshot despite winning this event by seven strokes last season. Before locking in your 2024 3M Open picks, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June 2020. In fact, the model is up nearly $9,000 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.

This same model has also nailed a whopping 13 majors entering the weekend, including the 2024 Masters — its third Masters in a row — and this year’s PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Anyone who has followed it has seen massive returns.

Now with the 2024 3M Open field locked in, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.

Top 2024 3M Open predictions

One major surprise the model is calling for at the 2024 3M Open: Burns, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour and one of the top favorites, stumbles this week and doesn’t even crack the top five. Burns has been playing well in recent weeks, finishing T-15 or better in three of his last five starts on the PGA Tour.

However, he has struggled with consistency this season, especially with his iron play. Burns enters this week’s event ranked 101st in strokes gained: approach to green (0.016) and 131st in greens in regulation percentage (64.13%). TPC Twin Cities places a premium on precision, which doesn’t bode well for Burns’ chances to finish on top of the leaderboard. See who else to fade here.

Another surprise: Tom Hoge, a 33-1 longshot, makes a strong run at the title. He has a much better chance to win it all than his odds imply, so he’s a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. The 35-year-old is ranked 54th in the world entering the week and he’s coming off a T-72nd finish at the 2024 Open Championship. However, he’s only a month removed from a T-3rd finish at the Travelers Championship and he’s had some success at TPC Twin Cities.

Hoge finished T-4th at the 2022 3M Open and he’s made the cut four of the five times that he’s played this tournament with three top-25 finishes to his name. He’s ranked 20th in the FedEx Cup standings, and with several top players choosing to take a week off after the Open Championship and to prepare for Olympic golf, this is a golden opportunity for Hoge to have a big week and move up. He ranks second on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: approach (.911) this season and he’ll be relying on that ball striking heavily this week. See who else to back here.

2024 3M Open odds, top contenders

Tony Finau +1000
Sam Burns +1800
Sahith Theegala +2200
Akshay Bhatia +2500
Luke Clanton +2800
Keith Mitchell +3000
Keegan Bradley +3000
Tom Hoge +3300
Billy Horschel +3500
Taylor Pendrith +3500
J.T. Poston +3500
Erik van Rooyen +4000
Maverick McNealy +4000
Cam Davis +4500
Nick Dunlap +4500
Patrick Rodgers +4500
Michael Thorbjornsen +5000
Adam Hadwin +5000
Emiliano Grillo +5500
Kurt Kitayama +5500
Sam Stevens +5500
Justin Rose +5500
Ben Griffin +5500
Mac Meissner +6000
Chan Kim +6000
Jhonattan Vegas +6000
Harry Hall +6000
Rico Hoey +6500
Mackenzie Hughes +6500
Ben James +6500
Matt Wallace +7000
Max Greyserman +7500
Adam Svensson +8000
Neal Shipley +8000
Jake Knapp +8000
Lee Hodges +8000
Patrick Fishburn +8000
Doug Ghim +8000
Andrew Novak +8000
Beau Hossler +8000
Seamus Power +8000
Thriston Lawrence +8000
Austin Eckroat +9000
Ben Silverman +9000
Ryo Hisatsune +9000
Pierceson Coody +10000
Michael Kim +10000
Taylor Moore +10000
Lucas Glover +10000
Kevin Yu +10000
Hayden Springer +11000
J.J. Spaun +11000
Sam Ryder +12000
Dylan Wu +12000
Chesson Hadley +12000
Andrew Putnam +12000
Santiago de la Fuente +12000
Matti Schmid +12000
S.H. Kim +12000
Carson Young +15000
Hayden Buckley +15000
Alex Smalley +15000
Daniel Berger +15000
Gary Woodland +15000
Chandler Phillips +15000
Nate Lashley +15000

Golf may be one of the hardest sports to predict. Scottie Scheffler is in the middle of one of the most dominant stretches fans have ever seen. Still, despite his incredible play, he’s only won one of the three golf majors this year. While calling Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau underdogs when they won the PGA Championship and U.S. Open respectively would be doing them an disservice, their victories were still far from certain. Very few bettors likely bet on either to win their tournaments.

When it comes to betting on golf, the most fun comes from either betting on the favorite, or betting on a huge sleeper with virtually zero shot at the title. Sure, that latter group might not win, but if they did, that’s generational wealth headed your way. Why bet on someone with +1200 odds who probably won’t win when you can bet on someone with +25000 odds who probably won’t win, right?

That’s not to say that betting on long shots always fails. It doesn’t. There have been numerous underdog stories to emerge from major tournaments over the years. So why can’t the 2024 British Open add another name to that illustrious list? Here are some of the internet’s favorite sleeper picks for the 2024 Open Championship. All odds via BetMGM.

2024 Open Championship:

Louis Oosthuizen (+10000)

Oosthuizen will be making his first major start of the season after turning down an invitation into the PGA Championship and choosing not to qualify for the U.S. Open. The South African has been stellar on LIV Golf with a handful of top fives and enters this week very much as a forgotten man. The 2010 champion has connected on four top 30s in his last five Opens including a podium finish in 2021.

Sepp Straka (+10000)

Sepp Straka has been phenomenal for much of the 2024 PGA Tour season. Prior to a missed cut last week at the Genesis Scottish Open, Straka had made the cut in nine of his last 10 events, with three top-five finishes in that span. The Ox is no master on links courses by any means, but he tied for second last year at The Open Championship in just his second appearance at this major championship. Straka’s biggest strengths are Driving Accuracy and Approach play, and those advantages should be magnified this week. He ranks second on the PGA Tour in Driving Accuracy this season while hitting just over 72% of fairways and is 32nd in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green. At 125-1, Straka bettors received a boost following his missed cut last week as he previously 90-1 to win The Open Championship. This is great value for a great golfer in a bounce-back spot.

Sahith Theegala (+5000)

Strange that a guy who’s been right in the mix at a few majors over the past 12 months would be so far down the betting cards. Sure, his game gets a little topsy-turvy, which generally doesn’t jive with the Open, but he played one of the best rounds of his yearon Friday at Hoylake last year, and he played really well at the Scottish.

Viktor Hovland (+2500)

He hasn’t exactly played his best golf of late, but I’m still going to go with Viktor Hovland. When his ball striking is on, he’s one of the best golfers in the world and he has already shown he can compete at Open Championships, finishing T13 in better each of his three appearances including a T4 finish in 2022. The form isn’t there, but if he can figure something out this week.

2024 British Open odds:
Scottie Scheffler (+500)
Rory McIlroy (+750)
Ludvig Aberg (+1200)
Bryson DeChambeau (+1400)
Xander Schauffele (+1400)
Collin Morikawa (+1800)
Tommy Fleetwood (+2200)
Jon Rahm (+2500)
Tyrell Hatton (+2500)
Viktor Hovland (+2500)
Robert Macintyre (+2800)
Brooks Koepka (+3300)
Shane Lowry (+3300)
Cameron Smith (+4000)
Patrick Cantlay (+4000)
Tom Kim (+4000)
Tony Finau (+4000)
Hideki Matsuyama (+4500)
Cameron Young (+5000)
Justin Thomas (+5000)
Matt Fitzpatrick (+5000)
Sahith Theegala (+5000)
Min Woo Lee (+5500)
Brian Harman (+6600)
Joaquin Niemann (+6600)
Jordan Spieth (+6600)
Sungjae Im (+6600)
Adam Scott (+8000)
Corey Conners (+8000)
Max Homa (+8000)
Wyndham Clark (+8000)
Akshay Bhatia (+9000)
Davis Thompson (+10000)
Jason Day (+10000)
Justin Rose (+10000)
Louis Oosthuizen (+10000)
Nicolai Hojgaard (+10000)
Ryan Fox (+10000)
Sam Burns (+10000)
Sepp Straka (+10000)
Will Zalatoris (+10000)
Byeong Hun An (+12500)
Dean Burmester (+12500)
Dustin Johnson (+12500)
Matthieu Pavon (+12500)
Russell Henley (+12500)
Si Woo Kim (+12500)
Abraham Ancer (+15000)
Rasmus Hojgaard (+15000)
Rickie Fowler (+15000)
Tiger Woods (+15000)
Tom McKibbin (+15000)
Billy Horschel (+17500)
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+17500)
Keegan Bradley (+17500)
Ewen Ferguson (+20000)
Henrik Stenson (+20000)
J.T. Poston (+20000)
Kurt Kitayama (+20000)
Matteo Manassero (+20000)
Tom Hoge (+20000)
Victor Perez (+20000)
Eric Cole (+22500)
Adrian Meronk (+25000)
Denny McCarthy (+25000)
Harris English (+25000)
Jordan Smith (+25000)
Keita Nakajima (+25000)
Matt Wallace (+25000)
Matthew Jordan (+25000)
Maverick McNealy (+25000)
Padraig Harrington (+25000)
Sebastian Soderberg (+25000)
Adam Hadwin (+30000)
Austin Eckroat (+30000)
Chris Kirk (+30000)
Emiliano Grillo (+30000)
Laurie Canter (+30000)
Lucas Glover (+30000)
Matthew Southgate (+30000)
Phil Mickelson (+30000)
Romain Langasque (+30000)
Sam Horsfield (+30000)
Stephan Jaeger (+30000)
Taylor Moore (+30000)
Thorbjorn Olesen (+30000)
Alexander Björk (+35000)
Ben Griffin (+35000)
Gary Woodland (+35000)
Guido Migliozzi (+35000)
Nick Taylor (+35000)
Ryo Hisatsune (+35000)
Brendon Todd (+40000)
C.T. Pan (+40000)
David Puig (+40000)
Dominic Clemons (+40000)
Gordon Sargent (+40000)
John Catlin (+40000)
Joost Luiten (+40000)
Mackenzie Hughes (+40000)
Marcel Siem (+40000)
Rikuya Hoshino (+40000)
Sami Valimaki (+40000)
Sean Crocker (+40000)
Shubhankar Sharma (+40000)
Thriston Lawrence (+40000)
Yannik Paul (+40000)
Adam Schenk (+50000)
Calum Scott (+50000)
Dan Bradbury (+50000)
Daniel Brown (+50000)
Francesco Molinari (+50000)
Joe Dean (+50000)
Jorge Campillo (+50000)
Nacho Elvira (+50000)
Stewart Cink (+50000)
Younghan Song (+50000)
Zach Johnson (+50000)
Daniel Hillier (+60000)
Andy Ogletree (+75000)
Angel Hidalgo (+75000)
Darren Fichardt (+75000)
Elvis Smylie (+75000)
Jacob Skov Olesen (+75000)
Jesper Svensson (+75000)
Jeung-Hun Wang (+75000)
Kazuma Kobori (+75000)
Liam Nolan (+75000)
Masahiro Kawamura (+75000)
Mason Anderson (+75000)
Matthew Dodd-Berry (+75000)
Minkyu Kim (+75000)
Ryan Van Velzen (+75000)
Sam Hutsby (+75000)
Santiago De La Fuente (+75000)
Tommy Morrison (+75000)
Vincent Norrman (+75000)
Yuko Katsuragawa (+75000)
Aguri Iwasaki (+100000)
Alex Cejka (+100000)
Altin Van Der Merwe (+100000)
Charlie Lindh (+100000)
Darren Clark (+100000)
Denwit Boriboonsub (+100000)
Ernie Els (+100000)
Gun-Taek Koh (+100000)
Jack McDonald (+100000)
Jaime Montojo (+100000)
Justin Leonard (+100000)
Luis Masaveu (+100000)
Michael Hendry (+100000)
Ryosuke Kinoshita (+100000)
Jasper Stubbs (+200000)
John Daly (+200000)
Todd Hamilton (+200000)

Before the world of golf heads to Royal Troon for the 152nd Open, a loaded field of PGA Tour stars has made its way to The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, for the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open. Defending champion and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy is back for the first time since his devastating loss to Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open.

The Northern Irishman, who is also the betting favorite at +800 (8/1), is joined in the field by 2022 champion Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg, Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, Tom Kim, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Max Homa, just to name a few.

This week’s winner will walk away with $1.62 million of the $9 million purse and 500 FedEx Cup points.

With Scottie Scheffler missing from the field, it feels like we can finally open up the board a little bit. Let’s jump into our preview.

Golf course
The Renaissance Club | Par 70 | 7,237 yards | Tom Doak design

Course history
Course history at “The Renaissance Club” since 2019 for the @ScottishOpen.

Betting odds

Player Odds Player Odds
Rory McIlroy +800
Xander Schauffele +900
Ludvig Aberg +1600
Collin Morikawa +1600
Tommy Fleetwood +2000
Viktor Hovland +2200
Tom Kim +2500
Min Woo Lee +2800
Matt Fitzpatrick +3500
Hideki Matsuyama +3500
Wyndham Clark +4000
Robert MacIntyre +4000
Justin Thomas +4000
Sungjae Im +4500

Picks to win
Tommy Fleetwood (20/1)
Fleetwood hasn’t been able to get over the hump of winning on U.S. soil yet, so it seems fitting his first PGA Tour win would come across the pond.

In two previous appearances at the Scottish Open, the Englishman has finished T-4 (2022) and T-6 (2023).

Over his last six Tour starts, Fleetwood has finished T-26 or better and is in the middle of a three-event stretch of finishing inside the top 20 (15th at the Travelers Championship in his last start).

Tom Kim (25/1)

Young Tom Kim, fresh off a playoff loss to Scottie Scheffler at the Travelers Championship, couldn’t make enough birdies during the first two rounds of the Rocket Mortgage Classic and missed the cut. However, I like his chances at The Renaissance Club.

Firm and fast conditions play right into Kim’s game and he’s shown he can perform well at this Tom Doak design.

In 2022, Kim finished third. A year later, he tied for sixth.

Min Woo Lee (28/1)

Min Woo Lee won at The Renaissance Club in 2021, the final year the event was a DP World Tour event and not a co-sanctioned event between the two tours. Since then, he’s missed the cut (2022) and tied for 35th (2023).

Over his last six Tour starts, Lee has six top-30 finishes and is coming off a T-2 performance at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

His ability to flight the golf ball is exactly what you look for in links golf.

Brian Harman (55/1)

Harman shot a 62 in the final round of the Travelers Championship in his last start to finish off his T-9 performance. A week earlier, he tied for 21st at the U.S. Open.

Firm conditions at The Renaissance Club will help his lack of distance off the tee and after missing the cut in this event in 2022, Harman tied for 12th last season.

Lauren Hartlage came up short in Washington after missing out on her first LPGA Tour win, but she still had the move of the week, jumping 139 spots in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings to No. 133, the highest rank of her career.

Hartlage, a 2022 LPGA Tour rookie, has shown remarkable resilience since joining the Tour three years ago. She has overcome challenges, like returning to LPGA Q-Series after her first two seasons just to try and earn enough status to secure tournament entry each week on the LPGA Tour. She first earned Tour membership after finishing in a tie for 26th at 2021 LPGA Q-Series.

The young American continues to seize each playing opportunity she gets, steadily moving up in the world rankings and the Race to the CME Globe in an effort to keep her LPGA Tour status in 2025.

While Hartlage’s move in the Rolex Rankings was notable, her move in the Race to the CME Globe standings has more considerable implications for 2025, with members finishing in the top 80 and ties on the previous season-ending Points List earning full status for the next season.

In the last four weeks, the 26-year-old’s game is trending in the right direction, as she has collected a T50 finish at the Cognizant Founders Cup, a T21 result at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, a T17 at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and a tie for fifth at last week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to move from No. 94 to No. 63 in the standings, both well inside that top-80 cutoff and just outside the top-60 cutoff for the CME Group Tour Championship.

Jin Young Ko On the Rise
Jin Young Ko carded a final-round 71 in Washington and came three shots short of matching Amy Yang’s four-day total of 7-under for her third major title. But the Republic of Korea native’s T2 finish pushed her up four spots to No. 3 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, the first time she’s been in the top three since October 2023.

The former world No. 1 has made eight cuts in nine starts this season, earning four top-12 results in addition to her tie for second at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She recorded a tie for eighth at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, a tie for fourth at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro and a pair of T12 finishes at both the Cognizant Founders Cup and ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer.

Ko, a two-time major champion, has been a force to reckon with on the LPGA Tour for seven seasons. She has captured 15 wins and 55 career top-10 finishes, making over $13 million in career earnings. Her success last week could be the momentum shift Ko needs to get back into the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2023 Cognizant Founders Cup. Ko has secured a victory each year since she stormed onto the LPGA Tour scene in 2017, picking up her first win at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship as a non-member.

U.S. Solheim Cup Standings Update
Players have shuffled in and out of the top seven positions in the Solheim Cup standings, and the final few guaranteed spots on this year’s team are still very much up for grabs. With Ally Ewing’s tie for fifth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, she moved from fourth to third in the U.S. Solheim Cup Team point standings and is getting closer and closer to playing in her fourth Solheim Cup.

Lauren Coughlin’s T24 result moved her from 10th to eighth, and she is now just 31.5 points out of the seventh and final automatic qualifying spot, currently held by Rose Zhang. Sarah Schmelzel, who tied for ninth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, moved from 12th to ninth in the points standings, while Lexi Thompson, who joined Schmelzel in that tie for ninth, moved up one spot to 14th.

The two Rolex Rankings qualifiers for the U.S. Team are Alison Lee (No. 22) and Angel Yin (No. 31). The next two players are Lexi Thompson (No. 33) and Jennifer Kupcho (No. 50).

The U.S. Team will comprise the top seven players in the U.S. Solheim Cup standings, the top two in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings not already eligible, and three captain’s picks. The team will be finalized on Aug. 25, 2024, following the AIG Women’s Open.

Europe Solheim Cup Standings Update
Charley Hull continues to lead the Solheim Cup standings for Team Europe, with Linn Grant moving into the second automatic qualifying spot for the European Team following her tie-for-ninth showing at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Maja Stark has closed the gap and now only trails Grant by nearly seven points for one of the two automatic qualifying spots on the team. The Swede’s T50 finish in Sammamish, Wash., has her at No. 21 in Rolex Rankings, and she is currently one of six players eligible to qualify via the world rankings if she does not get in on points.

The five additional Rolex Rankings qualifiers for the European Team are Celine Boutier (No. 6), Carlota Ciganda (No. 30), Leona Maguire (No. 32), Madelene Sagstrom (No. 35) and Georgia Hall (No. 36). The next two players are Esther Henseleit (No. 64) and Anna Nordqvist (No. 66).

The European Team will comprise the top two players in the Europe Solheim Cup standings, the top six players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings not already eligible, and four captain’s picks. Like the U.S. Team, the European team will be finalized on Aug. 25, 2024, after the conclusion of the AIG Women’s Open.

Race for the Card Continues on the Epson Tour
The Race for the Card continues as the Epson Tour tees it up in the Sunflower State for the Dream First Bank Charity Classic, with players vying for 500 points as they pursue their LPGA Tour cards.

Fiona Xu remains atop the standings with 1,031.500 points after a T33 finish at the Island Resort Championship. Kim Kaufman jumped to second and is now only 187 points behind Xu after tying for second in Harris, Mich. Epson Tour sophomore Cassie Porter is currently in third with 832.455 points, while Madison Young and Yahui Zhang round out the top five, each dropping in the standings after their performances at Sweetgrass Golf Club.

Despite the weather dominating the headlines, Soo Bin Joo overcame a four-shot deficit to clinch her first Epson Tour victory at the rain-shortened Island Resort Championship. The Republic of Korea native secured her maiden victory and jumped from No. 40 to the sixth position in the Race for the Card standings with 728.867 points.

Some other significant moves following the Island Resort Championship are as follows:

Kaleigh Telfer, who tied for second at the Island Resort Championship, her second top 10 of the season, went from 20th to 13th with 617.750 total points

Epson Tour rookie Ingrid Lindbald jumped from 119th to 45th in the standings after her T2 performance at Sweetgrass Golf Club, now sitting with 226.667 total points after only three starts this season
The Race for the Card is a season-long points competition in which Epson Tour members accumulate points in every official Epson Tour tournament. The ultimate goal is to finish in the top 15 in the point standings to earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2025 season. The point-based system, new on the Epson Tour this season, replaces the money-based system and will award points to those who make the cut weekly.

The 2024 season will also be the first year that Epson Tour athletes will vie for 15 LPGA Tour cards. They will be awarded after the season-ending Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, Calif., this fall.

A busy, three-week stretch on the PGA Tour begins this week at Jack’s place

Just one tournament separates players from the third major championship of the season, but it’s one they won’t want to take lightly. The 2024 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village will once again welcome the best and brightest from the PGA Tour to Dublin, Ohio, to take part in a competition hosted by the legendary Jack Nicklaus.

While the tournament dons signature status, the Memorial will feature a cut at the 36-hole mark similar to those at the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational. A player who is not likely to need to worry about such a thing is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler as he eyes his fifth title of the season.

A season ago, Scheffler put up jaw-dropping numbers at Muirfield Village from tee to green only to be let down by his putter. The Masters champion gained more than 20 strokes from tee to green leading in terms of off the tee play, on approach and around the green only to fall one stroke shy of a playoff between eventual champion Viktor Hovland and Denny McCarthy.

Hovland arrives at his title defense riding a wave of form. Reuniting with his old swing coach, the reigning FedEx Cup champion was a major factor at the PGA Championship and settled for a podium finish. He looks to keep a good thing going and experience another summer to remember beginning this week.

Speaking of the PGA Championship, Xander Schauffele makes his first start since raising the Wanamaker Trophy at Valhalla. Now that he has the hardware to match the statistical output, the Olympic gold medalist could only be getting started.

Schauffele’s peers hope to just be getting started as well, as a number of big-time players are still without victories with the FedEx Cup Playoffs quickly approaching. Hovland, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Justin Thomas, Tom Kim, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood and a slew of others hope this is the week they can finally break through and enter the winner’s circle.

2024 Memorial schedule
Dates: June 6-9
Location: Muirfield Village Golf Club — Dublin, Ohio
Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,571
Purse: $20,000,000

2024 Memorial field, odds
Scottie Scheffler (7/2)
Xander Schauffele (9-1): Scheffler may be the best player in the world, but the case could be made that Schauffele is the most well-rounded. He ranks just behind the world No. 1 in terms of total strokes gained and strokes gained tee to green since the start of 2024 but checks in 12th in strokes gained putting. He arrives at Muirfield Village with added length at his disposal, which could be exactly what he needs to shoot into contention as he has notched five straight top 25s here but none of which doubled as top 10s.
Rory McIlroy (9-1): Post-Masters McIlroy is continuing to surge, and he will aim to accomplish a rare first this week: winning the Memorial. He possesses a mixed bag of sorts at Jack’s place but has found a string of consistency in recent years with three straight top 20s including a T7 a season ago. He’s got the entirety of his game cooperating at the moment but will need to avoid the occasional lull like last week’s 72 in Round 2 if he is to break through.

Collin Morikawa (14-1)
Viktor Hovland (18-1): The Memorial sparked Hovland’s memorable summer a year ago as he raced through the FedEx Cup Playoffs, won the season-long crown and starred on the European Ryder Cup team. It could serve the same purpose again as his play at the PGA Championship reinvigorated his confidence with his ball-striking and short game returning to Hovland-like levels. Was this just a one-off or will this version of Hovland continue into the latter stages of the season? We’ll find out this week.

Ludvig Åberg (25-1)
Patrick Cantlay (25-1): There may be no player more affected by the extracurriculars outside the golf course than Cantlay. Well in the thick of board room discussions and powerpoint presentations, the former FedEx Cup champion’s game has taken a hit. He ranks outside the top 40 of this limited field in strokes gained approach and strokes gained putting this season, but if there was ever time for him to turn it around, it is this week. Twice a winner at Muirfield Village, Cantlay should take solace in knowing he can get it done here.
Justin Thomas (30-1): Don’t look now, but Thomas is finding his form yet again. A strong start to 2024 gave way to a disappointing spring, but the two-time PGA Championship winner looks to be back on the up and up. Three straight quality outings highlighted by a top 10 at the PGA Championship came courtesy of a nice uptick with the big stick. If he can continue to drive the ball well, Thomas will set his iron play up for success and the rest should follow suit. While he hasn’t done much at the Memorial in recent years, he did lose in a playoff to Morikawa at the Workday Championship during the COVID-19 year.
Tommy Fleetwood (45-1)
Hideki Matsuyama (45-1)

2024 Memorial expert picks
Scottie Scheffler
Winner (7/2): Believe it or not, the strokes-gained numbers posted above are in fact real as Scheffler probably should have won this tournament by five a year ago. He comes in this season as an even better player in large part because of the strides he has made with the putter in hand. The world No. 1 ranks first in just about every statistical category imaginable, hasn’t finished outside the top 10 on a leaderboard since January and has back-to-back podium finishes here. Don’t overthink it.

Collin Morikawa
Contender (14-1): A winner at this golf course but not at this golf tournament, Morikawa has the make up to not only upend Scheffler but make Muirfield Village fall to its knees. The two-time major champion is riding a wave of form ever since the Masters and the best part is the iron play has yet to peak. Significant improvements on and around the green have led to Morikawa rattling off three top-five finishes in his last six starts, including his last two, but his iron play should lead him to a win at the Memorial where he lost in a playoff in 2021.

Tony Finau
Sleeper (65-1): Finau looks close to playing himself into contention, and this may be the best spot for him to do so. The American has four top-20 finishes in his last six starts including his last time out at the Charles Schwab Challenge where he was a factor before falling off the pace over the weekend. His iron play has been exquisite, his short game is beginning to turn a corner and his putter hasn’t been as bad. If that club is good this week then Finau will have a very good result.