World Wide Technology Championship Expert Picks

We are taking baby steps back towards profitability, after a 1-3 week at the ZOZO Championship. Shout out to J.J. Spaun for helping us keep our sanity moving forward. The week off was not only great for this writer, but also for the players who had to travel over to Japan for the ZOZO Championship. Now that we are back on North American soil, with the World Wide Technology Championship on the horizon, we feel poised for a big week. Another field that lacks the elite of the elite guys, but still plenty of value to be had. So, let’s dive into the course and who to back this week.

The Course – El Cardonal at Diamante, Mexico

Let's talk about a Tiger Woods-designed course, one of the more underrated ones on tour, El Cardonal at Diamante. This course is within the Diamante Cabo San Lucas resort and this is the second year hosting here. Now, if last year was any indication of what is to come, then birdies will be plentiful on this course. Erik van Rooyen, the defending champion, finished at -27, winning by two strokes. The course itself is a par 72, measuring 7452 yards, so about the tour average length-wise. The par fives and par threes are all gettable, as most are not too long length-wise. But the question is what skills must players possess to find success here?

While distance may not be a necessity, it is certainly great to have on this course. The par fours have some teeth to them, so being able to put drives out there and allowing yourself to have wedges and short irons in would be a major asset. In fact, to go a step further, par four scoring leaders is one of our favorite stats to look at this week. Another player stat to look at is strokes gained putting. Not only was Erik van Rooyen one of the better putters in the event, but so was Matt Kuchar, who finished in second as well. As I stated earlier, there will be plenty of birdies here, so the players rolling the flat stick the best should be targeted with your units.

All odds are courtesy of BetMGM unless otherwise noted. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. All bets are 1 unit unless otherwise noted. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Golf betting record: 3-13-0 for -2.05 Units (Follow Us On Betstamp @CompetitiveHedge)

World Wide Technology Championship Picks For Winner & Top 20

Winner Pick For The WWT Championship (0.1 Units): Jhonattan Vegas +2700

Rolling with a man who just finds a way to win plenty of ”lesser” PGA Tour titles. The 40-year-old Venezuelan is a recent tour winner, taking home the 3M Open back in July. He has won four PGA Tour titles, none of which are considered signature events. The big question mark for Vegas this week will be the putter, but even when he is not putting great he is an elite player in the scoring average department. This is largely due to him having a great proximity to the hole average and driving the ball a long way. We are going to take the long bomber to win his second event in the last six months on Mexican soil.

Top 20 Pick For The WWT Championship (0.4 Units): Erik van Rooyen (+155)

I know picking the defending champion can be a bit of a square play, but at +155 I think the value is certainly there for a few reasons. Erik van Rooyen has made the cut in four of his last five events, including a T12 at the Amgen Irish Open. He is still one of the best in strokes gained putting and has been driving the ball very long, which has led to lots of greens in regulation. Much like Vegas, these factors have led to Erik having one of the best scoring averages in the field. This is my second favorite play of the week, which leads me to my final play.

Top 20 Pick For The WWT Championship (0.5 Units): Nate Lashley (+230)

Nate is quickly becoming my favorite Lashley (sorry WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley). How could he not be with his recent form? Four straight made cuts, including a T11 at the ZOZO in Japan a couple of weeks ago. He has been hitting plenty of greens, and close to the hole when he does. Putting is a bit lackluster still, but he won't be in trouble very much. He is accurate off the tee and on the rare occasions he does miss the green, he is one of the best scramblers in the field. At over 2/1 odds for a top 20, I think Nate keeps his great play rolling. Oh, and by the way, last year at this course he finished in the top ten, shooting three rounds in the sixties.