The field for the 2020 CJ Cup is absolutely loaded. Fifteen of the top-20 golfers in the world are on the board this week and that should make for some drama, both on the course and at the betting window.
Jon Rahm, who opened as the second-choice at +1000, is now the tournament favorite with Dustin Johnson out of the field. Rahm hasn’t played since the U.S. Open where he finished T23, but the Spaniard was nothing short of spectacular during the summer months.
Rahm has plenty of elite company at the top of the board, including Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy. The in-form Matthew Wolff, fresh off his runner-up finish at the Shriners, is also listed among the favorites at +1800.
These star-studded, no-cut events tend to be kind to the elite players, but that doesn't mean you can't cash some bets on some under-the-radar players. Here are our favorite prop bets for the 2020 CJ Cup:
Jason Sobel
Brendan Steele Top-20 Finish (+275)
I’ve often written this during small-field, no-cut events, but it might be even more relevant this week: Once we reach the weekend rounds, at least two-thirds of the field will seemingly be out of contention for this title. Some of those guys might pack it in just a bit, knowing they’re guaranteed a paycheck – and this could be especially true in Vegas, where there’s, uh, more to garner your attention than just golf.
Other players, though, will continue to grind, knowing that, say, a T-19 could be hugely beneficial over a T-37 at some point down the line. Whether the money or points helps a guy get into a major or a WGC event or leads to some other spoils, you want someone who keeps getting after it.
It’s something that Steele himself has often told me and knows all too well. That’s not to say he can’t contend this week – he certainly can – but either way, I want my card loaded with players whose give-a-heck meter isn’t empty on the weekend and Steele is one of those guys.
[Bet Brendan Steele at BetMGM and get an INSTANT $500 deposit match.]
Josh Perry
Corey Conners Top-20 Finish (+250)
Conners' ball-striking numbers have been great the past four months. He’s gained strokes in every event off the tee since the restart and only lost on approach once (WGC-St. Jude).
In a limited field, I think he can ride that ball-striking to a solid finish on what looks like it could be a difficult course.
[Bet Conners at BetMGM and get an INSTANT $500 deposit match.]
Chris Murphy
Matthew Fitzpatrick Top-10 Finish (+300)
Matthew Fitzpatrick has been rounding into form over on the European Tour the past two weeks. He made the cut at the Scottish Open two weeks ago, then was in contention last week at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth before finishing in a tie for 7th.
In an event where we will see many of the top names playing in their first event since the U.S. Open last month, I love that Fitzpatrick has been working on his game in tournaments.
The Englishman also has a history of playing well in no-cut events like we will see this week at Shadow Creek. He has a total of 10 Top-10s in stateside tournaments over the last five years and exactly half of those have come in no-cut, WGC events.
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Matt Vincenzi
Louis Oosthuizen Top-10 Finish (+300)
Louis is playing well and tends to play his best golf in events with strong fields. He frequently finishes in the top-10 in majors and WGC’s and feels like a great fit this week.
He has gained strokes tee to green in his past eight events and has had a pretty hot putter to go along with the ball-striking.
While he has never won on American soil, I see a lot of value on him to finish in the top-10 at Shadow Creek.
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