Dustin Johnson best bet at Torrey Pines
A breakthrough season for Jason Day started on an oceanside golf course north of San Diego. Torrey Pines is one of the most scenic stops on the PGA Tour, and it was memorable last year for two reasons.
Day won a dramatic four-way playoff, three days after Tiger Woods withdrew during the first round because of a back injury. Woods is missing in action this time around. Day returns as the favorite at 6-1 odds in the Farmers Insurance Open, which begins Thursday morning.
Sharp bettors rarely play the favorite in stacked fields, and there's not much value in Day at such a low price. Rickie Fowler, the second choice at 10-1, is off a win at Abu Dhabi and making a long trip back from overseas, so it's not the ideal week to support him.
Dustin Johnson is probably a better bet at 15-1 odds. Day's win last year was mostly due to outstanding putting, but driving distance and accuracy off the tee were also keys. Johnson should score well at Torrey Pines by carding birdies on a majority of the four par-5 holes.
"With his length, if he's in the fairways, Johnson is in every tournament," said Brian Blessing, a golf handicapper and Las Vegas radio host (Sportsbookradio.com).
Blessing is playing Johnson as a minus-120 favorite in a matchup against Justin Rose. On the Westgate odds board, Blessing recommends bets on J.B. Holmes (40-1), Marc Leishman (50-1), Emiliano Grillo (50-1) and Danny Lee (60-1).
Holmes lost to Day in last year's playoff. Leishman and Day tied for second at Torrey Pines in 2014.
Wes Reynolds, who posts his golf bets on Twitter @WesReynolds1, cashed with Jason Dufner (40-1) to win last week's PGA tournament in La Quinta, Calif. Reynolds said his top players at Torrey Pines are Johnson, Holmes, Grillo, Jimmy Walker (25-1) and Jamie Lovemark (60-1).
Day won the PGA Championship in 2015, when he briefly ascended to No. 1 in the world rankings. Jordan Spieth overtook him for the top spot.
Spieth, who played in Abu Dhabi last week, is the 7-4 favorite and by far the biggest name in a low-profile tournament in Singapore this week.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247
