Sobel: Smith, Kang Highlight Tournament Matchup Bets With Plus-Money Value

The PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing ends with a bang this week, as the Genesis Open features a world-class field at Riviera Country Club, one of the most iconic courses on the annual schedule.

Not only should we be excited about the tournament itself, but we should be pumped about a few matchup bets that could own some tremendous value.

Let’s get right to it, with my three favorite for this week:

Cameron Smith over Tommy Fleetwood (+128)

There are plenty of things to like about Smith in general, but especially this week. He’s finished 22nd or better in 10 of his last 12 global starts, including a T-15 in his last one, and was T-9 at Riv last year, thanks to a wedge game which continually ranks among the best around.

Obviously, we’re playing with fire anytime we bet against the ultra-talented Fleetwood, but he’s yet to show much form this year, while Smith appears ready to seriously contend.

Sung Kang over Abraham Ancer (+106)

Much like Smith, Kang is at the intersection of everything we like to see — recent form and strong course history. He’s been in the top-20 in three of his last four starts and finished 22nd it better in his last three at Riv.

I’m a big fan of Ancer’s game and think he can win on the PGA Tour this summer, but he’s yet to show much proficiency in West Coast events. At plus-money for Kang, this is my favorite matchup of the week.

Bryson DeChambeau over Jon Rahm (-110)

The best thing about betting on DeChambeau right now is that he never seems to take a week off. In fact, we have to go back to last year’s PGA Championship — six months ago — to find a tournament where he didn’t finish in the top-20. Rahm, like Fleetwood, is capable of winning anyplace, anytime, but it’s easy to see the quirks of Riv getting under the skin of the fiery Spaniard in his first trip to this event.