2018 PGA AT&T Byron Nelson Classic Betting Preview

2018 PGA AT&T Byron Nelson Classic Betting Preview

The PGA Tour moves to a new course for the 2018 edition of the AT&T Byron Nelson. The tournament is still in Dallas, but it moves from TPC Four Seasons to Trinity Forest Golf Club, which boasts such members as Jordan Spieth and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. The fairways are wide, featuring a number of undulations between the tee and the green. However, the spacing and angles to the greens will vary widely from one side of the fairway to the other, giving shotmakers a clear advantage. However, the firm, fast track of the fairways mean that the long drivers won’t have as much of an advantage as they do on other courses. Take a look at our golf betting preview for this week’s installment of the PGA.

2018 PGA AT&T Byron Nelson Classic Betting Preview

Jordan Spieth comes in as the hometown favorite. However, he has not played all that well in 2018, particularly when it comes to his putting. Spieth is one of the few players in the field who has an in-depth knowledge of the ins and outs of Trinity Forest, as he does a lot of his playing and practicing here. Could this be his return to his winning ways? Keith Mitchell has been terrific on Thursdays and Fridays this year, making cut after cut — but he has seen Saturday and Sunday treat him unkindly, and he repeated that trend last week. For those looking on the fantasy side of the game, he should make the cut again, which will build points. As far as picking a winner from a wagering perspective, I’d stay away until he shows he can compete on the money days. Martin Laird doesn’t appear on a lot of our wagering cards, but this week doesn’t feature the most elite field. Laird has only missed a single cut over the last three months and tied for 11th at the Valero Texas Open last month. His short game is solid near the greens, and given the links-style layout at Trinity Forest, he could be a contender in the late going. Aaron Baddeley is another solid links-style player, as he tied for 23rd at Pinehurst four years ago and tied for 27th at Royal Birkdale in 2017. He does not do well off the tee, at last by PGA standards, but his short game is elite. His recent struggles with the putter should fade, especially if the greens at Trinity Forest are slow. Kevin Na is another player we’re looking at because of the relatively weak field. As far as second shots go, Na is generally up there in the elite ranks. For approach shots between 150 and 200 yards, he is among the top rankings, so he is someone who could stick around through the weekend. Aaron Wise tied for second at the Wells Fargo Championship a couple of weeks ago. He was tied with Jason Day until the last three holes on Sunday, and if he can stick with that level of play against a weaker field, he could end up taking the winner’s trophy. He is one of the top golfers in this field as far as Birdie or Better Percentage. Jimmy Walker has cracked the top 25 in four straight tournaments, including a runner-up finish last week at The Players Championship, and a fourth-place finish at the Valero Texas Open. At the Byron Nelson, he has made the cut in nine of his 11 attempts and came in second in 2015 — at the TPC Four Seasons course. Sergio Garcia is fairly high on the odds list with a +1400 moneyline, and he has won the Byron Nelson twice, most recently in 2016, and he has cracked the top 20 four years in a row here. It is true that he has not played well since the World Golf Championships – Dell Technologies Match Play, missing three of four cuts, but he has played well in Dallas in the past.