DeepDiveGolf - David Bieleski 
It doesn’t seem all that long ago we were witnessing Tom Kim introduce himself to the world, getting oh-so fired up in full fist-pumping glory. And here we are “North of the border” as we preview Day 1 of the Presidents Cup. The Fourballs will be a session where the Internationals feel they must get off to a hot start, given Team USA dominance in the Foursome format. Unfortunately, I don’t think that will be the case.
The Presidents Cup is a biennial golf tournament that brings together the best players from the United States and an international team representing all other countries outside of Europe. Except, it isn’t really the best players for the Internationals. And the disparity is far larger than what we have seen in the Ryder Cup. They suffer the most from the current feud with LIV Golf, missing players like Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann, and Louis Oosthuizen. You would have to think if they had access to their full complement of selections, this tournament could be mighty close.
This week, the spotlight is on the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada, which is hosting the Presidents Cup for the third time in its history. Renowned for its challenging layout, the course looks to emphasise driving accuracy with a copious number of dog-legs and strategically placed bunkers that even the longest drivers will struggle to carry.
With the international team eager to claim their first win in 26 years, and the U.S. squad looking to defend their title, this tournament is set to be an unforgettable celebration of golf and sportsmanship. Whatever happens, fans can expect an exhilarating week.
Presidents Cup Day 1 – Fourballs
2.25u Schauffele/Finau over Day/Benny An $1.78 (Betfair)
Technically, the better option would be to take Benny An and Day here (Fair odds of $2.90 and available at $3). Theory only gets you so far though. These USA players rank 2nd and 11th on Data Golf rankings versus 16th and 17th. They are both also have the more accurate drivers, which I am weighting highly for Royal Montreal. Benny An is the most inaccurate driver of all players, with Day also in the bottom 3rd.
1.75u Morikawa/Theegala over Scott/Min Woo Lee $2.08 (Betfair)
This is a generous price on the Americans. Largely, I believe driven by the hype around Min Woo. Yes, the Aussies playing together might amp each other up and team dynamics can benefit performance. Min Woo can be absolutely lightning. But lets not forget that Theegala can be too and has in fact has had a more accomplished and consistent year thus far. Theegala gets a hard time for his driving accuracy, but he has actually been a more accurate driver than both Min Woo and Scott over the last 6 months. And he is paired with Morikawa, 3rd best T2G in this event and the most accurate driver.
2u Scheffler/Henley over Im/Tom Kim $1.93 (Betfair)
It was likely a shock to many that Furyk split up Scheffler from his old buddy Burns. But, that pair have had a dreadful record and I’m pleased to see he has separated them to see if he can get Scheffler to produce points with another partner. Im and Kim are a great choice to go up against them, and they likely represent the strongest International pairing for the day. They will be a popular bet at plus money given their propensity for upside. Although he may not win a lot, perhaps surprisingly Henley has been the 5th best player in this field over the last 6 month. He is also the 2nd most accurate driver in this field. They really should be a bit shorter.
1.5u Pendrith/Bezuidenhout over Clark/Bradley $2.46 (Betfair)
The toughest pairing to pick and I was tempted to bet these golfers to secure a ½ point each at $7.20. Pendrith is only one of two golfers that played this course in the 2014 Canadian Open and no doubt will have had additional experience on this track. He will be seeking to right the wrongs from a dreadful individual performance in last Presidents Cup but will do so with a home crowd behind him. These golfers are very evenly matched on driving accuracy and approach. Clark’s distance could prove some advantage. The Internationals are both ranked high statistically than their American counterparts. The final determinant in this decision for me was that Pendrith and Bezuidenhout rank 4th and 5th for putting in this field. With that all-important in match play, it was enough to swing the bet to their side of the ledger.
1.5u Matsuyama/Conners over Cantlay/Burns $2.26 (Betfair)
There is a case to be made that the split couple of Cantlay (from Schauffele) and Burns (from Scheffler) find some solace in their sorrows and come out to prove a point here. On paper, it should be a tight contest with 4th and 7th against 6th and 9th in the rankings. Conners is the other player who has played a PGA Tour event at this course and will have that hometown advantage. The International players combined have a better rank on approach and driving accuracy, and the ball-striking is enough for me to think they might have the edge in this one. After all, only the lowest score on each hole counts in Fourballs. And this pair should find plenty of greens, enough so that surely one of them can make a putt every so often.
Presidents Cup Day 1 – Fourballs Betting Tips
Suggested Staking
2.25u Schauffele/Finau over Day/Benny An $1.78 (Betfair)
1.75u Morikawa/Theegala over Scott/Min Woo Lee $2.08 (Betfair)
2u Scheffler/Henley over Im/Tom Kim $1.93 (Betfair)
1.5u Pendrith/Bezuidenhout over Clark/Bradley $2.46 (Betfair)
1.5u Matsuyama/Conners over Cantlay/Burns $2.26 (Betfair)
Multis/Parlays
All with BetVictor
1u All 5 +2893
1u Boxed 4 Folds (5 x 0.2u each)
4u Boxed Trebles (10 x 0.4u each)
5u Boxed Doubles (10 x 0.5u each)
Day 1 Correct Score
USA 3-2
1.5u +333 (TAB) or +320 (William Hill)
USA 3.5-1.5
1u +550 (William Hill)
Presidents Cup Day 1 Preview Golf Betting Tips
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