Jordan Spieth is a betting liability as the defending champion at the 2022 Valero Texas Open, but the other player attracting a ton of attention may come as a surprise.
Chris Kirk, who hasn't won a PGA TOUR tournament since 2015, has received more bets at PointsBet to win than any other golfer in the field and is one of the top liabilities at BetMGM.
Kirk finished T-6 in 2020 and T-8 in 2018, giving him solid course history. Outside of his missed-cut at the weather-plagued PLAYERS, Kirk has finished in the top 14 in each of his previous three starts. Plus, he needs a win to earn a bid to next week's Masters, which, in theory, adds extra motivation.
At BetMGM, his odds are down to +3000 from his opener of +4000. He's +2500 at PointsBet, where he's the bets and handle leader for the week.
Kirk does have win equity, having won four times on the PGA TOUR. He also won a Korn Ferry Tour event in 2020.
Only Spieth and Tony Finau are bigger liabilities at BetMGM.
Spieth (+1400) has the most bets and handle at both BetMGM and Caesars. He's the defending champion at TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course), a course that doesn't eliminate players for slight inaccuracy off the tee, which suits his game well.
Finau was shortened to +3500 from +5000 at BetMGM, where he's third in total bets behind Spieth and Abraham Ancer (+2200).
If there's a 'horse for the course' it's Charley Hoffman. Since 2010, Hoffman has five top-five finishes at this tournament, including a win in 2016. Only twice in that span has he finished worse than 13th.
Bettors know this, and have bet him enough to move him from 100-1 to 66-1 at BetMGM.
One longshot garnering attention is Guido Migliozzi. Migliozzi is 19th in total bets this week, forcing an odds adjustment from 350-1 to 250-1.
