After a four-week break to celebrate becoming the first men’s golfer from Japan to win a major, Hideki Matsuyama is back in action for the first time since his Masters win last month.

Brooks Koepka also returns to action for the first time since Augusta having struggled after dislocating his right kneecap in early March and undergoing surgery.

Meanwhile,  Jordan Spieth is back after a four-week break having picked-up his first TOUR win since 2017 at the Valero Texas Open in April.

The Course

Course: TPC Craig Ranch
Length: 7468 yards (Par 72)
Greens: Bentgrass
Opened: 2004
Architect: Tom Weiskopf

After a couple of years at the intriguing Trinity Forrest Golf Club, the tournament named after the legend and five-time Major Champion, is moving once again and the players find themselves north of Dallas on a relative new Tom Weiskopf design.

With a new course that besides a Korn Ferry tour event a decade ago we have not seen professionals play we are walking into the week half-blind but it is also some of the most fun weeks where you not only get to see a course for the first time but also trying to figure out the puzzle of who the course might suit.

The scorecard gives us some hints with six par 4s over 450 yards leaning to bombers and that is also the case with the two par 4s measuring 330 and 360 yards.

The par 5s all being between 530-570 yards should leave them reachable by everyone in the field and with three of the four par 3s measuring over 215 yards long iron play must be weighted quite heavily.

According to reports, the fairways are wide with a creek snaking its way around the course and bunkers as its main defences.

The big bentgrass greens have a shaved run off so with a lot of long irons on approaches I would also factor-in the around-the-green game somewhat.

In terms of winning score, I think with four par 5s and at least one reachable par 4 and no real wind in the forecast we will see the winner at least get to -20.

Here are some of the things I will be looking at/for:

• Strokes gained off the tee
• Driving Distance
• Strokes gained approach
• Proximity from 200+
• Strokes gained around the green
• Bentgrass putting
• Par 5 scoring

Betting history

2019-20 season

Wagered: +35.61 units
ROI: 121%

2020-21 season

Wagered: 214 units
Won: 397.42 units
Result: 203.42 units

Outright winners

Waste Management: Brooks Koepka 41-1, Genesis Invitational: Max Homa 56-1, The Players Championship: Justin Thomas 19-1, Valero Texas Open: Jordan Spieth 11-1

Picks

Si Woo Kim @ 46.00
2.5 pts EW (1/4 the odds 5 places)

After getting his third win on tour at the American Express in January the South Korean got somewhat off a reaction missing three of his next four cuts.

But he then got the ball striking ship back on course with a T9 at the Players and a T12 at the Masters and both finishes could have been even better if his putter had cooperated just a little bit.

He has now gained both off the tee and on approach in four straight tournaments, his around the green game is always one of the best in the field and now being back on his preferred putting surface this looks like a good spot for the former Players champion to pick up another win.

Cameron Champ @ 101.00
1 pt EW (1/4 the odds 5 places)

The case for Champ is the same as it always is, he is one of the longest on tour (2nd in this field), he is good from 200+ yards and while he is a little hit and miss when he does contend, he can close it out as shown by two of his six top 10s on tour being wins.

After being in the wilderness to start the calendar year he seems to be turning into form and with a T34 at the Valero followed up by a T26 at the Masters.

So for that reason, I am more than happy to back a guy with wins in both of his first two seasons on tour at triple digits.

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