28th Jan 2019 | Saudi International
Saudi International Tip: Patrick Reed
Led field in putting at Torrey Pines and finished a career-best T13 in an event that doesn't suit his game off the tee. Has form in the desert; runner-up in Dubai at DP World Tour.
It’s really difficult to look beyond the top of the market this week in Saudi Arabia. Sergio Garcia has been in excellent form both sides of the New Year but at a bigger price i’m siding with the higher ranked Patrick Reed.
The Masters champion endured a difficult Ryder Cup but bridges have have been rebuilt as he and Jordan Spieth hugged-it out at Torrey Pines.
Lost amongst the headlines was the fact that Reed recorded a highly respectable T13 at the Farmers, his best result to date around a course that doesn’t suit his game because he is neither particularly long or straight off the tee. The 28-year-old has started the year with finishes of T25-T13-T13 and he led the field in strokes gained putting on the South course.
It’s difficult to predict what sort of test the Royal Greens course will provide this week, it is a 7,010 yard par-70 which slightly negates the advantage of the longest hitters but otherwise it looks like your typical, modern desert course.
That shouldn’t faze Reed who was runner-up in the season ending DP World Tour Championship, taking his record at the event to 10-10-2. At 20/1 with 7 places available (1/5 odds) he looks one of the better bets.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 18:50 28th Jan, 2019 but subject to change