Justin Thomas has the winning mentality to overcome his great pal

Sky Sports Golf, 6pm Saturday

Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas are great friends off the golf course, but they will be sworn enemies over the weekend of the Phoenix Open, the American superstars positioned first and second at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.

Fowler closed round two with four consecutive birdies, a masterful stretch which left him at 13 under par, one shot ahead of Thomas. Fowler was 20-1 ante-post, while Thomas was 10-1, but both are jostling for favouritism around the 9-4 mark with 36 holes to play.

Tied for third place, a shot behind Thomas, are Branden Grace, a Phoenix debutant who may struggle to produce the weekend fireworks required to topple the classy Yank duo ahead of him, and Trey Mullinax, a US Tour maiden who spectacularly bottled a winning chance in the Texas Open last April.

Grace is a grinder who is better suited to tougher layouts than TPC Scottsdale, while Mullinax has to overcome the memory of his ugly chunked pitch into a greenside bunker on the 71st hole in Texas which surrendered a golden breakthrough opportunity. The rest of the field are giving Fowler and Thomas a significant headstart, so it is difficult for in-running punters to get away from the top two names on the board.

Who to pick between the pair is a classic golfing conundrum. Fowler, of course, is one shot better off. And he can take great confidence from the way he finished off round two – a much more explosive tail to his round than Thomas could muster.

In terms of course form figures, two-time Phoenix runner-up Fowler has a significant edge in that department. But have those near-misses planted seeds of doubt which will hatch down the stretch on Sunday? Does Fowler feel cursed in this tournament? It was a poor course-management decision – a soft lay-up – which gifted Hunter Mahan victory in 2010. Then some horrific late blunders allowed Hideki Matsuyama to overcome Fowler in 2016, resulting in a tearful press conference from the dejected Californian.

Those bad memories, allied to the fact that Thomas is a much more prolific champion, mean the younger of the pair is the most sensible wager. Fowler has won four US Tour events at the age of 30, while Thomas has got nine at the age of 25, including a Major.

Throw in the fact that Fowler is still adjusting to a new ball – he put a TaylorMade ball into play this year after using Titleist for his entire career – and Thomas should be clear favourite. Betway make him their 23-10 outsider and there is plenty of juice in that price.

Thomas is arguably the pick of the third-round threeball prices, too, against Fowler and Grace in the 5.45pm (UK and Ireland) curtain-closer.

Outright recommendation
J Thomas
3pts 23-10 Betway

Threeballs recommendation
J Thomas
2pts 11-8 general

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