Cactus Tour: Sundance GC - Steve Palmer's preview, best bets, free golf tips

Steve Palmer's golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Cactus Tour: Sundance GC event.

When does it start?

2.36pm Wednesday

Best bets

Haley Moore
2.5pts each-way 9-2 bet365

Ariana Macioce
0.5pt each-way 175-1 Sky Bet

Most of the golfing schedule has been ravaged by the coronavirus, but some Arizona events have been going ahead, and another three-round Cactus Tour shootout seems set to get the green light in the Grand Canyon State.

The wide-open spaces of Arizona help combat coronavirus spread and a limited field of just 22 runners are on the entry list for Sundance Golf Club, Buckeye. Spectators are not allowed and there was a strange atmosphere when Anna Nordqvist won the last Cactus Tour event at Moon Valley Country Club on Friday. The Swede beat Lisa Pettersson in a playoff before the pair elbow-touched and walked off the green.

“I'm sure there are a lot of people questioning why we're playing,” said Nordqvist afterwards. “But everyone is playing golf anyway – you keep your distance and the golf course is a great place to be right now.”

The market for the Sundance GC event has three players vying for favouritism – Sarah Burnham, Haley Moore and Sophia Popov – and many bookmakers are offering prices for the 54-hole contest.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Haley Moore 9-2

The most appealing of the front three is Moore, who starred at Arizona State University and will feel at home when returning to the area this week.

Moore won twice on the Cactus Tour in 2019 and topped the money list despite teeing up only eight times. She followed up by claiming an LPGA Tour card at Q School and her career, as well as life in general, has been on a rapid upward curve.

As a teenager, she suffered plenty of bullying about her weight, then as an aspiring golfer she had to deal with the parents of college rivals questioning her date of birth, such was the physical edge she had over opponents. At almost six feet tall, the powerhouse quickly became one of the longest hitters on the junior circuit.

These days, the 21-year-old is more confident and flourishing, full of character after her struggle to the top, and deserving of great respect in a weak field this week. She has been a pro for less than a year and appears to be improving all the time. Last week in the Moon Valley Cactus Tour event, she closed with back-to-back 68s to finish seventh.

The Swedish duo who took charge at Moon Valley – Nordqvist and Pettersson – are skipping Sundance, so the stage may be set for Moore to confirm her status as an emerging star in a region full of fond memories for her.

Almost certainly the most satisfying moment of her career came in Arizona in the 2018 NCAA Women's Golf Championship when she won the deciding match to earn her team a victory over the University of Alabama and the coveted title.

Next best bet

Ariana Macioce 175-1

The Sundance action is scheduled to start at 7.36am local time (2.36pm UK and Ireland). Moore at 9-2 is the most appealing investment, but punters looking for a bigger price should consider Ariana Macioce, the only Arizona-based professional lining up.

With the coronavirus concerns intensifying and travel becoming more of an issue, playing close to home probably counts for more than normal in terms of the inner peace required to produce great golf. Macioce turned pro last June and this seems a good opportunity for the 23-year-old from Phoenix to make an early impression at a massive price.

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