The last World Golf Championship event of the calendar year and the first of the new season takes place this week in China with the WGC HSBC Champions teeing off at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai. With the PGA Tour finishing up its swing through Asia a number of high-profile players are scheduled to play. And besides, it’s a WGC event, so that also brings them out. We won’t see Tiger Woods after his historic triumph last week at the ZOZO Championship, though. The limited field of 78 golfers will all play 72 holes making for some interesting matchup selections. Be sure to visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
WGC HSBC Champions Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Erik Van Rooyen -103 vs. Joost Luiten -127
Andrea Pavan +111 vs. Lucas Glover -141
Robert MacIntyre +105 vs. Keegan Bradley -135
Danny Willett +120 vs. Francesco Molinari -150
Tommy Fleetwood -162 vs. Adam Scott +129
Ian Poulter -117 vs. Adam Hadwin -113
Patrick Reed -109 vs. Adam Scott -121
Chez Reavie -107 vs. Haotong Li -123
Byeong Hun An -101 vs. Billy Horschel -129
Phil Mickelson +118 vs. Matthias Schwab -148
Corey Conners +120 vs. Louis Oosthuizen -150
Hideki Matsuyama -113 vs. Justin Rose -117
Sungjae Im +122 vs. Henrik Stenson -154
Jordan Spieth -131 vs. Cameron Smith +101
Charles Howell III -115 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick -115
Rafael Cabrera Bello -127 vs. Sergio Garcia -103
Xander Schauffele -110 vs. Paul Casey -118
Rory McIlroy -201 vs. Hideki Matsuyama +158
Bernd Wiesberger +130 vs. Shane Lowry -165
Tyrrell Hatton -128 vs. Matt Wallace -102
Tommy Fleetwood -171 vs. Patrick Reed +136
Paul Casey -145 vs. Tony Finau +115
Xander Schauffele -135 vs. Tony Finau +105
Rory McIlroy -197 vs. Justin Rose +155
Need to Know
Just like Tiger, I came roaring back last week with a 3-2 record on my matchup picks. Unfortunately I faded the Big Cat in one of my selections and paid for it. I am patting myself on the back, however, for throwing down on Hideki Matsuyama, who took second to win his tournament matchup at +145 odds. Now it’s time to keep the good times rolling in China. This is the 15th edition of the WGC HSBC Champions with all but one played at Sheshan International Golf Club. One of China’s most exclusive courses, Sheshan plays at 7,261 yards and par 72, and in good conditions it plays easy for the pros. The weather is expected to cooperate this week and it wouldn’t be unusual to see the winner reach -20, since it has happened on a number of occasions. Accuracy is crucial off the tee with thick rough surrounding the fairways. Hit the ball in the tall stuff and scores can climb in a hurry. The course is also rewarding to heavy hitters with several reachable par 5s in play.
WGC HSBC Champions Matchup Picks
Patrick Reed -109 vs. Adam Scott
It’s been a hit or miss event for Reed with a couple of seventh-place showings along with two outside the top-40. But that’s in the past and the present has been good to Reed after some tweaks to his mental approach. He played for the first time this season on the PGA Tour with a T17 last week, but he stayed in the game with a swing through the Euro circuit that produced a T15 at the KLM Open and a T4 at the BMW PGA Championship to give him 11 top-25s in his last 12 starts worldwide. He also has a handle on Sheshan with a 66 or lower in each of the last four playings on the track.
Tony Finau +115 vs. Paul Casey
After what happened last week there might be some hesitation backing Finau. That T59 at the ZOZO came out of nowhere, but I’m counting on that being the exception and not the norm. And it isn’t since Finau locked up a pair of top-10s before last week. Sheshan could be what the doctor ordered with Finau since he’s posted a T11 and runner-up in his last two starts.
Phil Mickelson +118 vs. Matthias Schwab
There is no cut this week so Mickelson doesn’t have to worry about going home early. Picking and choosing his spots, Lefty chose this one because of his career success. When he likes a course, he tends to really like it. We saw that when he won the Pebble Beach Pro Am over the summer and his visits to Sheshan have been profitable. He’s picked up a pair of victories along with two top-15s in his last two trips. He flashed some form in recent events and now needs to be more consistent. On a track Lefty likes, I like him in this matchup.
Hideki Matsuyama -113 vs. Justin Rose
This is a matchup I should probably stay away from considering how well both players are performing. But can you fade Matsuyama now after what he’s accomplished over the last few weeks? I say no and that’s why I’m backing him. With a T3 at the CJ Cup followed by a solo second last week, the natural progression has him slotted for first. Even if he doesn’t top the leaderboard, Matsuyama is in fine form to triumph over Rose in a matchup.
Bernd Wiesberger +130 vs. Shane Lowry
Wiesberger is a big dilemma for bettors in this or any matchup. He’s been tearing up the Euro Tour leading the Race to Dubai standings with the help of three titles. However, he hasn’t had much success when jumping over to the PGA Tour with just one top-10 in 47 starts. However, that one was a T9 here in 2017 and he is on top of his game coming off a win in Italy a few weeks ago. I’ve had success backing the Austrian this year and I’m not going to fade him now.
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