Steve Palmer's Presidents Cup predictions and free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow on the PGA Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf from 5.30pm on Thursday

Best bets

USA to win by seven points or more
5pts 20-23 bet365

Jordan Spieth top combined scorer
1pt each-way 14-1 general

Sam Burns top combined scorer
1pt each-way 13-1 Power

Cam Davis top Internationals scorer
1pt each-way 12-1 BoyleSports, Coral, Ladbrokes

USA to win 22-8
1pt 25-1 Betfair, Power

The 1998 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne was the only time the Internationals have managed to defeat USA - this has been the most one-sided competition in team golf - and the streak of American success seems almost certain to continue at Quail Hollow this week.

The 2003 edition in South Africa was tied but 11 of the 13 Cups have been won by USA, including the last eight. And LIV Golf's arrival on the scene has just made the Internationals' task that much harder this time.

Steve Palmer's top tip

USA to win by seven points or more 20-23

Only high-rollers can entertain an investment in the USA at 1-7 this week, but more modest punters can play at a shade of odds-on in the margin of victory market. The home team to win by seven points or more is eyecatching.

The last time the States had a Presidents Cup home match, they romped to a 19-11 success. And that was when the Internationals didn't have key men banned from their side. The Presidents Cup is a PGA Tour event, so LIV Golf players are not going to be allowed to tee up at Quail Hollow. LIV Golf has decimated the Internationals.

Back in 2017 when the States cruised home by that eight-point margin, Hideki Matsuyama was ranked third in the world, Jason Day was also an elite player, while Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel were feared opponents. Even with a core of quality, the Internationals were destroyed.

This time LIV Golf defectors Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer, Marc Leishman and Oosthuizen are unable to tee up. Those five would definitely have been on the team, while Schwartzel would probably have got a wildcard pick, and Branden Grace would also have had claims. Three of the first five LIV events have been won by former Internationals - Schwartzel, Grace and Smith - leaving captain Trevor Immelman tearing his hair out.

With half the team having surrendered to the Saudis, the Internationals are scraping the barrel. The strength in depth isn't there to cover the losses. Dustin Johnson is the only genuine LIV Golf casualty for the States and the American line-up remains immensely strong. An already one-sided competition could be set to turn into a total non-event.

The average world ranking of the Americans is 11.6. Three of the world's top five are in the team - and all 12 players are in the top 25 of the rankings. The Internationals' highest-ranked player is Matsuyama (17), who has been struggling with injury for much of the year. The away side's average ranking is 48.9 - and they have even got a player outside the top 100 in Taylor Pendrith.

The Americans have plenty of natural pairings, while Internationals skipper Immelman is left scratching his head. With eight rookies in his squad, this is the most inexperienced line-up in Presidents Cup history, and it's also the youngest. They look like lambs to the slaughter.

Top scorer

Jordan Spieth top combined scorer 14-1

Sam Burns top combined scorer 13-1

There is no point playing the top American market - the top American will almost certainly be the top combined scorer as well - so preference is for the bigger odds in the betting which includes all 24 competitors.

The top four all have strong claims - Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas all have great potential to top-score. The bigger odds, though, about Jordan Spieth and Sam Burns are preferred.

Spieth looks a healthy price when you consider that his partnership with Thomas is likely to see plenty of action. They first teamed up in the 2018 Ryder Cup and, despite being on a side which was thrashed by Europe in Paris, Spieth and Thomas won three points from four matches together.

Steve Stricker mixed pairings up a bit for the last Ryder Cup - Spieth and Thomas played only twice together and won one point - but these great pals will be keen to join forces again and Davis Love should grant their wish. Thomas won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.

Burns also appeals on the basis that he seems likely to get a top-class partner. He is good friends with Scheffler and they are regular PGA Tour practice partners. Scheffler doesn't have any other obvious sidekicks - Bryson DeChambeau was his partner in the Ryder Cup last year - so the world number one will probably request a spot alongside Burns.

Thomas and Scheffler are short odds for top-scorer honours, but Spieth and Burns are bigger prices. They could all end up on the same score heading into the Sunday singles.

Top International

Cam Davis 12-1

The best chance of some International success could come from an all-Australian alliance between Adam Scott and Cam Davis. Scott is by far the most experienced member of the Internationals side - he is making his tenth appearance - and he would probably love the opportunity to guide his young compatriot through his debut.

Scott and Davis possess technically perfect swings, so they could feed off each other's rhythm and may end up as the one partnership who cause the States serious problems.

Correct score

USA to win 22-8 25-1

Complacency is probably America's biggest enemy this week, but captain Davis Love is the perfect man to combat that. Love was USA captain for the 2012 Ryder Cup - the famous Miracle of Medinah when Europe fought back on the Sunday for an incredible triumph. Love knows to his cost the importance of a sustained effort.

DL3 will not want to follow up his Medinah anguish by becoming the first losing American captain in the Presidents Cup since 1998. He may well set his team a points target to retain focus - and 22 could be the magic number.

No American Presidents Cup side has reached 22 points. The record is 21.5. USA inflicted the heaviest defeat in Europe's history with a 19-9 Ryder Cup romp last year - and Presidents Cup records could be about to fall as well. Perhaps the States can win each session 4-1, 4-1, 3-1, 3-1, 8-4 for a 22-8 success.

Quail Hollow course guide

Course Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina
Length 7,571 yards
Par 71 - three par-fives; 11 par-fours; four par-threes
Field Two teams of 12, which each consist of six automatic qualifiers and six captain's wild-card selections
Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Scottie Scheffler (1), Patrick Cantlay (4), Xander Schauffele (5), Justin Thomas (7), Collin Morikawa (9)

Course winners taking part Justin Thomas, Max Homa

Format There are 30 total points available. Each player must participate in at least one of the first four sessions. The matches are contested over 18-hole matchplay. Matches that are tied after 18 holes are deemed to be a draw, with each team receiving half a point. A 15-15 tie is possible, with the Cup shared in that scenario

Schedule Thursday 6.05pm Five foursomes matches; Friday 4.35pm Five fourballs matches; Saturday 12.12pm Four foursomes matches; Saturday 5.05pm Four fourballs matches; Sunday 5.02pm 12 singles matches

When to bet By 6.05pm on Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 5.30pm on Thursday

Time difference Carolina is five hours behind the UK and Ireland

Course type Parkland

Course overview Laid out by George Cobb in 1961, tweaked by Arnold Palmer in 1986 and regularly redesigned by Tom Fazio since, Quail Hollow has slowly but surely developed into the finished article, and one which annually attracts the best players to the Wells Fargo Championship. This event has run since 2003 and was first called the Wachovia Championship. It is the longest par-71 on the PGA Tour. The 2017 and 2022 editions are the only Wells Fargo events to be played away from Quail Hollow. The 2017 US PGA Championship was also staged there

Story of 2019 The Internationals led 10-8 at Royal Melbourne heading into the Sunday singles, but playing captain Tiger Woods and his American team won the singles session 8-4 to triumph 16-14

Weather forecast Hot and sunny, with a thunderstorm threat on Thursday and Sunday. Light to moderate breezes

Type of player suited to the challenge All types of player have won in the Wells Fargo - from cautious operators like David Toms and Jim Furyk to mavericks like Anthony Kim and JB Holmes - but course changes in the last few years have resulted in trees being removed. Long drivers can assert themselves

Key attribute Power

Spotlight insight USA have won the Presidents Cup eight consecutive times

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