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Valspar Championship: golf match betting, special bets and forecasts

Jon Rahm suffering Sawgrass hangover | Sergio Garcia can boss Copperhead Course

Jon Rahm lost the plot in the Players Championship on Sunday
Jon Rahm lost the plot in the Players Championship on SundayCredit: Jeff Gross

Sky Sports Golf, 12.45pm Thursday

Sergio Garcia has finished in the top 20 in his last four appearances at the Copperhead Course, Florida, and the Spanish legend can defeat his compatriot Jon Rahm over 72 holes of the Valspar Championship this week.

Garcia has consistently produced good golf since winning three points from four matches for Europe in the Ryder Cup and the 2017 Masters champion could give himself a pre-Augusta boost on Sunday by winning the Valspar.

Garcia, the Players Championship victor at another tough Florida layout in 2008, topped the tee-to-green statistics in the Valspar last year. Fresh from a superb putting performance in the final round of the Players on Sunday, it would be a surprise if the ten-time US Tour champ fails to contend.

Rahm is far less experienced at Copperhead and has a Sawgrass hangover to get over. He is making his Valspar debut and licking his wounds from a final-round 76 in the Players, which saw him drop from first place to 12th.

His crazy decision to go for the green in two shots from a terrible position at the par-five 11th, where he found water, has been heavily criticised and it may have driven a wedge between himself and his caddie.

Rahm blamed his bagman for putting doubt in his mind, but the caddie had every right to try to talk his player out of such a foolish gamble. Betfred make Garcia 11-10 outsider in a Valspar match with 8-11 Rahm, and the prices look the wrong way round.

Another bet to consider is Joaquin Niemann to finish as top South American. The pride of Chile appears to be finding his feet as a US Tour professional, hitting his ball well and making cuts, and any putting improvement could see him feature on the leaderboard. With only Julian Etulain and Sebastian Munoz to beat, Niemann looks more than fair at odds-against prices.

A more ambitious wager at a fancy price is the Garcia and Gary Woodland dual forecast. Garcia seems a surefire contender if he tees off in the right frame of mind, while Woodland won his maiden US Tour title on this course in 2011 and has been striking his ball with great authority this season.

Recommendations
S Garcia to beat J Rahm
3pts 11-10 Betfred
J Niemann top South American
2pts 11-10 Betfair, Paddy Power
S Garcia-G Woodland dual forecast
0.5pt 250-1 Sky Bet


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Steve PalmerRacing Post Sport

Published on 20 March 2019inGolf tips

Last updated 14:03, 20 March 2019

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