FedExCup pressure adds intrigue at TPC Southwind, with Fleetwood and Im offering attractive options in Sunday betting markets
As we predicted earlier this week, and this was hardly a pearl of wisdom, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is in the driver’s seat going into the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship today.
Scheffler had a rough start yesterday but settled in and shot 2-under for a 68. He has a two-shot lead over Sam Burns and Sungjae Im going into the final round today. Scheffler and Burns in the final pairing tee off at 1:40 p.m. EST.
Key points for bettors: This isn’t a typical PGA Tour event. The top 70 players in the season-long FedExCup standings qualify for the tournament. From there, only the top 50 advance to the BMW Championship, followed by the top 30 reaching the Tour Championship.
The big question for bettors this morning is whether bettors should pay the premium to back Scheffler with 18 holes remaining.
In golf betting at Betway, Scheffler is -300 to win, followed by Burns at +400, Im at +750, Tommy Fleetwood at +2800, Jake Knapp at +5000, and Hideki Matsuyama at +8000.
Scheffler entered the tournament at +450, so anyone who took him going in is sitting pretty. He’s likely going to win, since TPC Southwind plays to his strengths. The emphasis there is on accuracy and ball-striking, so focus on players picking up strokes on approach and regularly giving themselves birdie opportunities. Players spraying drives face plenty of trouble. So, accuracy off the tee over pure distance.
For a best bet, the interesting play is Burns to win at +400. Burns is Scheffler’s closest friend in golf, and this will be the first time they have been paired together in the final group.
Burns is just two shots behind – and Betway is giving you 4-to-1 on a golfer who yesterday shot a 62.
I’ll take the plus money. Burns has also had two top-five finishes at TPC Southwind in the past five years.
Another pick is a Top 5 finish for Fleetwood at +100. Fleetwood is T4 at -8, five shots behind Scheffler. That’s an attractive price for a guy who’s already sitting in the top 5. All he has to do is stay the course. Burns is -600 to finish in the top 5, while Im is at -350.
Im +750 for the outright is great value for a guy who’s two shots off the pace – if Scheffler or Burns slip, Im is right there to capitalize.
And the 4th Round 2 Balls has some intriguing matchups and betting options. Fleetwood (T4) is paired with Im (T6). Fleetwood is +100 in that matchup, a tie is +750, and Kim is +110. Fleetwood has been comfortable at TPC Southwind, finishing T3 last year, so I’m taking Fleetwood in that matchup.
If you’re going to stay away from Im to win, since Scheffler is too powerful a force, what about betting 4th Round 2 Ball head-to-head with Knapp?
I’m taking Im +100 in that one, since he has been near the top in that tournament, whereas Knapp made his move yesterday, with a 67.
