With eight of the world's top 10 in the field, the long bombers should shine at Riviera this weekend...
Dustin Johnson – {ODDS:137137486:15/2}
No other player is as ideally-suited to play well at the Riviera as Johnson.
The big-hitting American has the game to triumph at a course that golf correspondent Geoff Shackelford calls “bombers’ paradise”.
Johnson ranks second in both driving distance and shots gained off the tee this year. He has also enjoyed previous success at this tournament, recording five top-five finishes in the past seven years.
There is plenty of value in backing him to again finish fifth or better here at {ODDS:137137347:9/4}.
Considering his form – he has placed inside the top five in three of his last five starts – it is not hard to imagine him going all the way this weekend, though.
Jordan Spieth is the favourite after he romped clear to win at Pebble Beach last weekend, but Johnson’s strength off the tee should give him the edge.
Justin Thomas – {ODDS:137137614:25/1}
Thomas – another long driver – is a likely contender this weekend after starting the season strongly.
The 23-year-old earned back-to-back wins in the first two PGA Tour events of the year, including a seven-stroke victory at the Sony Open.
Although he missed the cut at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix, Thomas should rebound here at a course that suits his strengths.
He ranks first in shots gained from tee to green and total shots gained this year, and only Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama have a lower scoring average.
Thomas is also a good bet at {ODDS:137137618:28/1} to take advantage of Betway’s first-round leader offer, given that he ranks joint-fifth in first-round scoring average this year and opened with a 59 at the Sony Open in January.
Bubba Watson – {ODDS:137137639:33/1}
Having missed the cut in Phoenix and finished 25th in Hawaii, Watson is not in the kind of form to suggest he will contend this weekend.
Considering he has won this event in two of the last three years, however, the American must be backed regardless of his recent struggles.
Watson is one of the longest drivers on tour, and leads all players in shots gained off the tee this season.
His long bombs mean he will always be in contention here, even if he is not playing well enough at the moment to win.
Watson has finished inside the top 20 at the Riviera in six of the last nine years, and is a good bet to do so again at {ODDS:137137328:11/8}.
Ryan Moore – {ODDS:137137732:66/1}
Ranking 19th in total shots gained, 11th in approaching the green and 10th in putting, Moore has made a decent start to the year.
He has only played in two events, but came third in the first of those at the Tournament of Champions before making the cut but finishing well back in Phoenix.
The American lacks the length off the tee that is typically needed to win at Riviera.
He has finished inside the top 20 here in three of the last six years, however, and is therefore worth backing at {ODDS:137137344:5/2} to do the same this weekend.
Best of the rest
Justin Rose – {ODDS:137137613:25/1}
Rose disappointed at Pebble Beach last weekend, finishing well down the leaderboard after a final-round 73.
He came into that event in fine form, though, with two consecutive top-five finishes, and at {ODDS:137137617:33/1} is a decent bet to lead after the first round.
Keegan Bradley – {ODDS:137137766:66/1}
With four top-20s in the past four years – including finishing second in 2012 and fourth two years ago – Bradley often plays his best at Riviera.
He has been inconsistent in recent weeks, missing two cuts in his last four starts, but came fourth at La Jolla three weeks ago and is well-priced at {ODDS:137137560:14/1} to again finish in the top five here.
Tony Finau – {ODDS:137137795:100/1}
Having finished fourth, ninth and 20th in three of his last five starts, Finau is playing solid golf at the moment.
He ranks inside the PGA Tour’s top 20 in driving distance and shots gained off the tee this year, and is worth a punt at {ODDS:137137480:6/1} to place in the top 10 here.
