Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Steve Palmer's first-round preview, best bets & free tips

When to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 4pm Thursday

Best bets

Justin Suh first-round leader Monterey
1pt each-way 40-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
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Beau Hossler first-round leader Monterey
1pt each-way 28-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
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Cameron Champ first-round leader Monterey
1pt each-way 18-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
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Matt Jones top Australasian
1pt each-way 9-1 bet365
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Patrick Cantlay-Branden Grace dual forecast
0.5pt 175-1 Coral
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First-round preview

The Pebble Beach Pro-Am is split over three different courses and the market leaders are tackling the most difficult of the trio in round one.

Spyglass Hill, which has been extended by 75 yards since the last edition, is the track which traditionally serves up the fewest birdies and tournament favourite Dustin Johnson tees up there for the first round. Johnson has Jordan Spieth as his professional playing partner – the pros are in fourballs with amateur partners – and the superstar duo are scheduled out at 5.50pm UK and Ireland time.

Patrick Cantlay also starts his Pro-Am campaign at Spyglass, but punters looking for a Thursday wager should concentrate on the easiest layout on the roster – the Monterey Peninsula Country Club's Shore Course – where three attacking youngsters can make merry.

MCC is a short par-71 with four par-fives and in the forecast Thursday calm, some seriously low scores can be expected. Justin Suh, Beau Hossler and Cameron Champ are all worth backing each-way for Monterey first-round-leader honours, with each-way terms of a fifth the odds the first five places.

Suh is a former college superstar who will be relishing the chance to compete in his home state this week. He has been making waves on the South American Tour and is an explosive player capable of carding something in the low-60s at Monterey.

Hossler is another Californian who will be licking his lips at this week's assignment and the 24-year-old often carries a red-hot putter.

Hossler, who finished ninth at Torrey Pines in his last trip home, should have Monterey birdies in him, while Champ, another Golden State native, will also feel ultra comfortable in round one. Champ won the Safeway Open in California at the end of September and has been in solid form since.

Matt Jones, who won the Australian Open just before Christmas, boasts four top-15 finishes in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Jones is the value option for the top Australasian market, while ambitious punters should consider the Patrick Cantlay and Branden Grace outright dual forecast at 175-1.

Cantlay seems highly likely to contend in his home state this week, while Grace is enjoying a resurgence after winning the South African Open.

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