Robert Trent Jones Jnr designed CordeValle Golf Club © Peter Corden
Gary Woodland 16/1 © James Kennedy
The tour moves onto CordeValle Golf Club for the Frys.com Open, it is 30 minutes south of San Jose, California and was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Voted seventh on the list of best courses you can play in California for 2010 by Golfweek. Golf.com also named CordeValle forth on the list of California’s Best courses in 2009.
Situated on the gently rolling terrain in a pastoral California valley, the course makes the most of the natural elevation changes of its peaks and canyons which are enhanced by broad meadows, streams, striking sycamore and mature California oak trees, Robert Trent Jones Jr. has created what many consider one of his greatest masterpieces. “The location had so many great possibilities that it was difficult to decide which to choose,” Jones stated, “CordeValle is one of those pure ‘core golf’ experiences. It is perhaps my finest golf course creation.”
Billy Horschel 20/1 © Keith Allison
My tips to win:
You can tell the bookies are not sure who is going to win when the favourite for the tournament – in this case is Gary Woodland 16/1 – is being offered at these odds. To be fair to Gary he had a late season surge with his win in the Reno-Tahoe Open which helped secure his spot in the FedExCup Playoffs, where he tied runner-up at The Barclays and made the Top 25 at the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola. He also made the Top 10 in this event last year. A player we have done well on this season is Billy Horschel 20/1 who played some great golf at the beginning of the season, then went through a bit of slump. This ended with a Top 20 finish at the BMW Championship and a Top 10 finish at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Billy also made the Top 10 in this event last year.
Bryce Molder 40/1 © Keith Allison
It’s hard to ignore someone who shots a final round 62 on a course to move thirty-six places on the leaderboard, something Jimmy Walker 28/1 managed in this event last year. Jimmy finished his 2013 FedEx Cup season with a Top 15 at the BMW Championship at Conway Farms where he was in the Top 10 in three category’s; hitting greens in regulation, strokes gained-putting and fourth in scrambling.
My each-way tips:
We did tip Bryce Molder 40/1 when he won this event back in 2011 and we are going to go with the lad from Harrison, Arkansas, mainly because he also put up a great defence of his title, finishing in the Top 15 and only shot one round in the 70s. Bryce has had eight Top 25 finishes so far this year, but I am sure being back at CordeValle will bring back some positive energy.
Bud Cauley 40/1 © James Kennedy
Bud Cauley 40/1 has been a bit of an enigma this year, his first full season on the PGA Tour in 2012 saw him notch up six Top 10 finishes, three of which were Top 5 finishes. But Bud has slipped down the FedEx rankings nearly 100 places from 35th to 131st missing thirteen cuts from his twenty-four starts this year. Cauley finished in the Top 5 here back in 2011 when he excepted a sponsor’s exemption and went on to shoot four rounds in the 60s. I am sure there will be some positive vibes when he comes through the gates this week.
My outside tip:
Is going to be Russell Knox 80/1. Russell shot 59 on the Web.com Tour at the Albertsons Boise Open in July and has three Top 25 finishes on the PGA Tour to his name so far this season from eleven starts. Knox also led the Web.com tour stats in scrambling, which is always a good sign when you’re not striking the ball well.
For updated betting odds during the tournament go to planetgolfreview.com
