Golf tips and predictions for the Presidents Cup and the Spanish Open

Is this the week when the International team finally ends a run of nine straight defeats in the Presidents Cup, and provides the flagging competition with a much-needed boost?

A succession of easy wins for the USA back in the day threatened the future of the Ryder Cup, until Seve Ballesteros and a generation of European superstars started putting it to the Yanks.

The Presidents Cup - which has seen the Americans win 12 of the 14 matches so far, and finish all-square in another - desperately needs to become more competitive if it is ever going to capture the imagination the way the Ryder Cup does.

And to be fair, the Internationals have put up a decent fight on the last couple of occasions when they have enjoyed home advantage.

They lost by just a point in Korea in 2015, and threatened a shock in Australia four years later before going down 16-14. 

And I’ve got a sneaking feeling the Internationals could win for the first time since 1998, at decent odds.

Free bet offers from our partners William Hill: Get your £60 in free bets when you stake a tenner - CLAIM HERE*Betfred: Get £50 football welcome bonus when you bet £10 - CLAIM HERE*BetMGM: Get £60 in free bets - CLAIM HERE*talkSPORT BET: Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets - CLAIM HERE*

****************************************************************

Golf tips

Jim Furyk’s USA team are 9-4 ON to make it ten in a row, while Mike Weir’s Internationals are quoted at 11-4.

That is tempting. But let’s face it, if the home team do win, it is going to be by a small margin. So the 6-1 on offer for the Internationals to win by 1-3 points is the one to be on.

Weir, Canada’s greatest golfer, will set up Royal Montreal so it frustrates the hell out of America’s big hitters - just as Europe did in Rome and Paris when they defied their status as massive underdogs.

Montreal is a tight, fiddly course, anyway. So it would be no surprise if Scottie Scheffler and company have another week when their big reputations count for precious little.

Predictably, Scheffler is the 9-2 favourite to finish as the top USA points scorer. But I like the 7-1 odds for Collin Morkawa, who has been ultra-consistent this year - not a quality you usually associate with the two-time Major champion.

Hideki Matsuyama is 5-1 favourite to top the International points list. But his dodgy back may not stand up to five matches, and there is a strong case to be made for 7-1 second favourite Sungjae Im, one of four Koreans in the International line-up.

Im could end up playing four matches with countryman Si Woo Kim. They teamed up to become Asian Games champions last year - and at 9-1 Kim is a slightly more attractive proposition.

It may be worth having a saver on Christian Bezuidenhout at 12-1. The South African is a brilliant putter, and is also razor sharp around the greens. 

***********************************************************************

There is a surprisingly strong field for this week’s Spanish Open, mainly because Jon Rahm leads a powerful contingent of LIV rebels into action in Madrid.

Rahm has won his national title three times. So it is no wonder he has been installed as a best-priced 100-30 favourite, ahead of the English duo of Tyrrell Hatrron and Tommy Fleetwood, both 10-1 shots.

But Rahm could only manage a share of ninth last year, as Matthieu Pavon romped home by four shots, with a list of big-priced journeymen chasing him home.

Pavon is competitively priced to retain his title at 28-1 - the same odds as Matteo Manassero, who looked like giving us a 35-1 winner at the BMW PGA last week until he stumbled over the finishing holes.

I am reluctant to desert Manassero, and 14-1 shot Aaron Rai, who also gave us a great run for our money at Wentworth. But Pavon’s course form, and a sparkling rookie season on the PGA Tour, make him the pick of that trio. 

Ewen Ferguson is another player with course form, after finishing in a share of ninth with Rahm last year. He played better at Wentworth than his finishing position of tied twentieth. At 50-1, he is a decent each way contender.

And among the three figure prices, a trio of Englishmen stand out. Dan Bradbury, sixth here last year, can be backed at 100-1, while Eddie Pepperell and Joe Dean showed enough at Wentworth to make 200–1 worth a small interest.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling website

*William Hill. 18+. Play Safe. New players only, using promo code T60. Valid from 13/04/2022. Online play. Get £60 Bonus split between Vegas & Sports in the following manner – (i) Deposit £10 to unlock £20 Vegas Free Bet on Selected Games (72hr expiry, wagering reqs apply); then (ii) bet £10+ (odds 1/2+) with cash (excl. £10 deposit) or Vegas winnings (after wager reqs met). Once settled, receive £40 Sports Free Bets excluding Virtual Markets (4x £10, 7 days expiry). Payment methods & country restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply.

*Betfred. New customers only. Register with SUMMER50 between 31/05/24 – 14/07/24. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.

*BetMGM. New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.

*18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ via mobile on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply, click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

Golf tips and predictions for the Presidents Cup and the Spanish Open

Golf tips and predictions for the Presidents Cup and the Spanish Open

Golf tips and predictions for the Presidents Cup and the Spanish Open

Golf tips and predictions for the Presidents Cup and the Spanish Open

Golf tips and predictions for the Presidents Cup and the Spanish Open