Sobel’s Hero World Challenge Matchup Bets: Justin Thomas vs. Tiger Woods in Round 1?
Ian Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas
- Jason Sobel details three matchup bets that have value in Round 1 of the 2018 Hero World Challenge.
- His picks analyze the following matchups: Tiger Woods vs. Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler vs. Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson vs. Patrick Reed.
I'm starting a new feature this week that I think you’ll enjoy…
Very simple: My three favorite matchup bets each round.
Let’s kick things off with the Hero World Challenge opening round.
Bubba Watson (+110) over Patrick Reed
I don’t love Bubba this week. In fact, I listed him last in my ranking of the 18-man field. So why do I like him in this Thursday-only matchup? A few reasons. At a course he’s won on before, with fewer spectators than most events, he should feel more comfortable inside the ropes.
Really, though, this is a P-Reed fade. He’s been all over the world during the past month and it started to show effects with an opening-round 75 in his most recent appearance in Hong Kong.
At plus-money, give me Bubba here.
Rickie Fowler (-106) over Dustin Johnson
He gets criticism for not being a closer, but Fowler has figured out how to start tournaments. His past five opening-round scores: 66-68-65-65-65.
As I wrote in that ranking, I’m always a bit skeptical of DJ’s motivation in a late-year event like this, so this bet is an easy call.
Justin Thomas (-110) over Tiger Woods
Tiger looked lethargic and a bit off his game in "The Match" last week. Couple that with the fact that he’s often started slow in the past year, and it’s not hard to see why I like JT in this matchup.
Thomas should be a nice combination of well-rested and motivated against his buddy and the guy who inspired him to first start getting serious about the game.
And as he told me recently, he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve when trying to beat Tiger.
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