Sobel’s Sony Open Matchup Bets: Chris Kirk vs. Keith Mitchell in Round 1?

Money is money. Ask any gambler and they’ll tell you there’s no special pride in only winning on the big games; in fact, many would say they feel more pride in winning the obscure ones.

My matchup bets for the opening round of the Sony Open don’t include the bigger names, but that might only make us prouder when they hit.

Season Record: 9-10-2 (-1.76 units)
All odds as of Thursday morning.

Abraham Ancer (-135) over Sam Ryder

12:10 p.m. ET

This is going to be a big year for Ancer — and it starts this week, on a course that should suit his game. He also tends to get off to hot starts, as evidenced by his past six opening-round scores: 69-65-66-75–69-66. Take out the outlier and he should be primed for another low one.

Brice Garnett (+100) over Ryan Armour

12:30 p.m. ET

I’ve already written this week about how players coming straight from Kapalua hold an inherent advantage over those making their 2019 debut. Garnett finished T-19 in the 33-man field, but I’ll still take that competitive experience as the underdog in this matchup.

Chris Kirk (-115) over Keith Mitchell

4:50 p.m. ET

This course is made for a ball-striker like Kirk, who finished T-10 here last year and showed signs of returning to past glory late last summer. A fellow UGA product, Mitchell is more of a banger who might have to throttle back this week.