Steve Palmer's QBE Shootout predictions & free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the QBE Shootout at Tiburon GC on the PGA Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 6.30pm on Friday

Best bets

Harris English & Matt Kuchar
4pts each-way 13-2 Coral, Ladbrokes

QBE Shootout preview

Jason Day and Billy Horschel have been chalked up as favourites for the QBE Shootout, but this is a new partnership which seems far from certain to gel.

Horschel has gone through an army of partners for this tournament without ever winning it - and Day is a fading force. Putting well is the key to success in the QBE Shootout and Day is far less reliable on the greens than he was in his Major-winning pomp.

These two alpha-males could clash over tactics and decisions, which are an important part of this competition, and the market-leaders look poor value at the odds.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Harris English & Matt Kuchar 13-2

The best golf bet of the week is arguably the QBE Shootout dream team of Harris English and Matt Kuchar, who look set to add a fourth title to their incredible Tiburon CV.

Given their record of success in this event - and the weakness of this year's field - it is a surprise that English and Kuchar have not been afforded more respect by bookmakers. They are the undisputed kings of the QBE.

On their debut in 2013, English and Kuchar carded a 34-under-par total to set a new tournament record, winning the event by seven shots. They were beaten by only a shot in their title defence, then finished runners-up again in 2015, beaten by two shots. A second victory came in 2016, with a 28-under-par total.

After finishing ninth in 2017, English and Kuchar did not tee up in the QBE in 2018 and 2019, but they returned in 2020 with a spectacular 37-under-par effort which resulted in a nine-shot triumph. Last year, 31 under par meant they finished third, beaten by two shots.

Hotshot Harris and mild-mannered Matt, who both live on the Georgia coastline and practice together a lot, are 206 under par for their 21 rounds at Tiburon. They average almost ten under par per round in the Shootout.

English has been working his way back to top form after hip surgery - he is hungry for competition and looking much like his old self again - while Kuchar still has plenty to offer at the age of 44. He was second in the Texas Open in April, then third in the Heritage, and more recently 12th place in the Fortinet Championship was a source of encouragement.

The arrival of LIV Golf has had a significant impact on who can participate in this tournament, now leaving a weakened line-up. Last year's champions Jason Kokrak and Kevin Na are LIV golfers and not allowed to defend their title in this PGA Tour gathering.

Last year Sam Burns, Will Zalatoris and Marc Leishman teed up, while in 2020 Cameron Smith, Tony Finau, Louis Oosthuizen, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer and Daniel Berger all took part.

Further back, Shane Lowry, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson have featured. English and Kuchar have faced much better QBE opposition in the past and succeeded, so they will strongly fancy their chances this time.

Tiburon GC course guide

Course Gold Course, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida
Prize money $3.8m ($447,500 each to the winning team)
Length 7,382 yards
Par 72 - four par-fives; ten par-fours; four par-threes
Field 12 teams of two (no cut)
Highest-ranked players taking part (world ranking in brackets) Max Homa (16), Cameron Young (17), Billy Horschel (18), Brian Harman (23), Sepp Straka (27)
Course records- 54 holes 179 Harris English & Matt Kuchar (2020); 18 holes 55 Greg Norman & Steve Elkington (2005), Jason Day & Cameron Tringale (2014), Ryan Palmer & Harold Varner (2019)

Course winners taking part (as a pairing) Harris English & Matt Kuchar (three times)

When to bet By 2.45pm on Friday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 6.30pm on Friday

Time difference Naples is five hours behind the UK and Ireland

Last week - Hero World Challenge 1 V Hovland (16-1), 2 S Scheffler (8-1), 3 C Young (20-1), 4 X Schauffele (11-1), 5 J Thomas (12-1)

Course type Parkland

Course overview The Shootout moved to Tiburon in 2001 and has remained there since. There is no rough at Tiburon and the fairways are generous, but plenty of water is waiting to punish the seriously errant. The 485-yard, par-four 18th is a tough closing hole

Format Friday Scramble (best ball chosen after every shot) Saturday Greensomes (best tee-shot chosen then foursomes golf thereafter) Sunday Betterball (fourball golf with only best score counting)

Story of last year Jason Kokrak and Kevin Na edged Billy Horschel and Sam Burns by a shot

Weather forecast Sunny and warm, with gentle breezes throughout, temperatures peaking at 28C

Type of player suited to the challenge A birdiefest is inevitable – most loose shots do not count towards a team's score – and the pairs often return sub-60 rounds. Aggressive golf and hot putters are the keys to success

Key attribute Touch

Spotlight insight Nineteen of the last 23 Shootouts have been won by an all-American duo

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