The PGA Tour and its membership put a bow on 2021 with the unofficial QBE Shootout taking place this week. The unique format has 12 two-player teams vying for the title at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. The event consists of three rounds beginning on Friday with each round played in a different stroke-play format. The opening round will be a scramble, followed by alternate shot format on Saturday. Final round play will be better ball. The duo of Harris English and Matt Kuchar is back to defend the title won in record fashion last year. The two combined to shoot 37-under breaking their own record set in 2013. It was also the third title for the pair. Despite all their success, Harris and Kucher are positioned as the third favorite on the opening line with Sam Burns and Billy Horschel topping the field. Visit BookMaker.eu for an updated list of betting odds and to place your wager.
Odds to win QBE Shootout
Sam Burns / Billy Horschel +385
Jason Kokrak / Kevin Na +550
Harris English / Matt Kuchar +705
Max Homa / Kevin Kisner +725
Jason Day / Marc Leishman +815
Corey Conners / Graeme McDowell +1050
Ian Poulter / Lee Westwood +1085
Sean O’Hair / Will Zalatoris +1250
Brian Harman / Hudson Swafford +1350
Ryan Palmer / Matt Jones +1450
K.H. Lee / Brandt Snedeker +1650
Lexi Thompson / Bubba Watson +3050
Odds Analysis
Harris English / Matt Kuchar +705
It’s hard to imagine these two not being the favorite considering all the success they’ve enjoyed in this tournament. They’ve been paired six times previously winning thrice while also posting a pair of runner-up finishes. They set a tournament record shooting 34-under in 2013 capturing their first title and bettered that last year at 37-under winning by a whopping nine swings. There is just something about this team event that brings out the best in both players, and their best is pretty damn good. I have no issues backing them, especially at the price.
Ian Poulter / Lee Westwood +1085
The Brits are teamed up once again with hopes of rekindling the magic that brought them a podium finish in 2013. Poulter’s game has taken turn for the better this year most recently earning a T6 at the European Tour’s DP World Tour Championship. He also earned a top-5 finish in the Scottish Open and the Charles Schwab. It hasn’t been the best of seasons for Westwood, but he hasn’t been terrible. The two should be able to carry each other and at their price I definitely think they are worth the investment.
Sam Burns / Billy Horschel +385
It’s hard to see beyond the favorites given how well both Burns and Horschel have performed individually this year. Burns won twice on the PGA Tour this year and is among the early favorites to win the 2022 FedExCup. Horschel is a regular at this event since making his debut in 2013 and knows the routine better than anyone. He also emerged victorious in the WGC Dell Technologies Matchplay and the BMW PGA Championship. At No. 13 in the OWGR, Burns is the highest ranked player in the field while Horshel is the fourth highest at No. 23. You’re only as good as your teammate, and these guys are pretty good.
Jason Day / Marc Leishman +815
It’s not the first time for either player in this event, but it is a first as team members. The Australian duo has a decent price and the hope is that they can be stronger as a team. Day makes his first visit since winning with Cameron Tringale in 2014. Playing in another team event earlier this year, Leishman won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Cameron Smith. It’s been a struggle for Day recently with three MCs and two finishes outside the top-50 in his last five PGA Tour starts, but looking back on what he did over the summer gives me hope that the team can thrive in this environment. I’ll back the Aussies at a price that has value in this field.
Course: Tiburon Golf Club Gold Course – 7,382-yards, Par-72
The Tiburon Golf Club Gold Course has hosted every since 2001. At just under 7,400 yards, the layout is a relatively long par 72, but by no means is it a difficult play for the pros. The course is lined by pine trees with a number of water hazards coming into play. It’s an aesthetically pleasing layout that can bite back in a big way with a number of bunkers lining fairways and greens. Distance off the tee is a key due to the course length, but accuracy is more important considering the number of hazards. The most important hole is the 17th. It’s a reachable par 5 and a team needing to pick up strokes has to do it here with a long par-4 waiting to close out the round.
TV Coverage: NBC, Golf Channel
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