Hyundai Tournament of champions selections and guide

I've got a bit of catching up to do already in 2014 after a poor pre Xmas run and there's a new format on the blog this year which will take shape as we go on. Basically, with social media taking off and so many people now writing previews as a hobby and Twitter destroying odds early, I'm going to make Nicspicks more facts and figures and straight to the point. This year will also have more of a focus on the exchange trading side.

We start with the Hyundai Tournament Of Champions breakdown which is a tough one to predict for obvious form reasons but, maybe less obviously, the main reason is actually the severe trade winds which blow across the course....


The course: Plantation at Kapalua; Length 7,452 yards; Par 73

Key Features: Wide open fairways, large undulating greens, elevation changes

Premium on: Controlling ball flight from approaches in the wind, driving distance, converting tricky short putts

Follow me on Twitter: @Nicspicks for extra views and insight

Nicspicks man to beat: Adam Scott 5/1

Market Negatives (notably underpriced IMO): Dustin Johnson 7/1

Hyundai Tournament of Champions shortlist

Ryan Moore

Current form: 9-1-50-23-7; Course form: 6-28

Key stats: Total putting: 6th; Total driving: 2nd

Other: Back to the top of his form at back end of last season and expecting a big 2014

Martin Laird

Current form: 61-20; Course form: 4-2 (scintillating)

Key stats: averaging just under 300 yards from the tee since 2012

Other: Wind competent. known fan of this week's destination.

Jason Dufner

Current form: 34-13 (progressive); Course form: 18

Key stats: (2013) 20th putting from 5-15'; 7th in par 4 performance

Other: Wind capable. -6 through last 14 holes to close here last year.

Jimmy walker

Current form: 1-12-6-46 1st gear; Course form: -

Key stats: 2nd in driving distance, putting and birdie av. in 2014 (4 events)

Other: New player under Butch Harmon. Owns low rounds of 64 and 62 already in season 2014. Backed at 33s in full field events last year. A real one to watch in 2014.

Sang Moon-Bae

Current form: 68-52-15 progressive ; Course form: -

Key stats: (2013) 18th in total birdies; 9th in putting from 5-10'

Other: General good early season form. Makes birdies in bunches. Should prove one of Asia's finest after maiden PGA win at HP Byron Nelson

Trading pointer (Back-to-lay): 1pt Jimmy Walker at 40.0 and look to lay 4pts at 10.0 - pays 3/1.

Finalised EW staking plan

1u EW Jason Dufner @ 25/1 (general)
1u EW Ryan Moore to shoot lowest round @ 20/1 (Skybet)
1u EW Jimmy walker to shoot lowest round @ 25/1 (Skybet)
0.75u EW S. Moon Bae to shoot lowest round at 60/1 (Skybet)

Winning Golf Betting Tips:


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Golf Player Profiles



Please note that player attribute ratings are derived from the official PGA Tour and European Tour golf stats, and updated with a rolling average each golf betting year for precision.


Bryan Nicholson is the pioneer of the progressive form and course fit ratings for golf betting, with the associated progressive form model and course fit profiling model. Bryan is the author of the increasingly popular annual course fit profiling manual and #1 golf betting book Angles & Edges and runs the Sharp Sports Bettors Blog.

What is expected Strokes Gained Course Fit ?

Bryan also pioneered the concept of Expected Strokes Gained Course Fit (xSGF) in golf betting. xSGF can be predicted using my model below. For prospective golf betting tips it projects ahead of time how many shots a player is expected to pick up per round on average on a particular golf course. It's weighed against a neutral golf course of the same rating. For example: Sam Horsfield at Celtic Manor vs TPC Southwind. This number will also portray ability level in terms of strokes gained total. Click "find out more" under the course fit golf betting model for info.

Golf Betting Tips Model

Note: all the most accurate up to date player and course data to input into this interactive golf betting model is in the NicsPicks Course Fit Manual 2022


My course fit profiling model for golf betting tips uses highly evolved golf nuance and betting intuition, precise parameters and inputs based on Bayesian analysis, plus years of empirical evidence through observing, betting and documenting golf and stats... find out more

What is Progressive Form in Golf Betting?

Progressive form in golf betting differs from current form in that players are showing a trend in the right direction in their recent scoring. Trending form has a high predictive value in golf betting and can also catch players under the radar at an inflated price vs their true betting odds. For example - a player shows form of T40 - 24 - 24, but last week he was in the leading PGA Tour group on Sunday with Tiger Woods and had a bad round due to nerves. His finishing position may not fully capture his actual form... See more with our calculators and betting tools

Progressive Form Golf Betting Model



To check the latest player finishing positions for golf betting tips see the official world golf rankings and search/click a golfer. Input these numbers into the interactive golf model above, following the guide.

Best for Golf Betting

  • PGA Tour Official (stats)

  • European Tour (DP World)

  • OWGR.com (rankings and form)

  • Nicspicks Golf Betting Tips


Golf Betting Tips Strategy

  1. Course fit and strokes gained in golf betting
  2. Tips: How to win betting on golf online
  3. Ryder Cup betting tips
  4. Golf Betting Tips Guides
  5. Who are the best sports handicappers?


  6. Golf majors: The Masters 2022 preview and picks - Open Championship - US PGA Championship - US Open. Tiger Woods.