Here's everything you need to know about 2024 Pebble Beach Pro-Am first-round leader picks — our expert FRL bets for this week's PGA Tour event.
With the Farmers Insurance Open in the rearview mirror, we now look forward to this week's Pebble Beach Pro-Am. This unique event features a two-course rotation, as the golfers split the first two rounds between Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill, while the remainder of the weekend is played solely on Pebble Beach.
Find my 2024 Pebble Beach Pro-Am first-round leader picks below.
2024 Pebble Beach Pro-Am First-Round Leader Picks (Spyglass Hill Only)
Jason Day +2500 (FanDuel | 0.21 Units)
First-Round Tee Time: 1:21 p.m. ET
Both of my first-round leader picks are exclusively from golfers playing Spyglass Hill in the first round. Spyglass Hill has historically played tougher than Pebble Beach, which is why I want to get rid of half the field that is playing the easier course and instead back two golfers who can stand out at the harder track on Thursday.
That brings us to Jason Day, who completely refound his game in 2023. He began that season strong with a T8 finish at the Shriners Children's Open, which began a stretch of making 21 of 27 cuts with nine top 10 finishes, including his win at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
His putter has been tremendous, gaining True Strokes on the greens in 18 of the 26 events that recorded ShotLink data. Strokes Gained: Putting is the most important metric to take into account at this venue, given the difficult Poa annua greens.
Maximize your first-round leader action with our FanDuel promo code.
Last season, three of the top-six finishers ranked seventh or higher among the field in Strokes Gained: Putting, the only metric in which that occurred. This trend bodes well for Day, who has gained strokes on the greens thus far this season and finished last season ranked 37th on Tour in the same category.
With a strong putter, it is not shocking that Day has thrived at this venue. He has made all 13 cuts in his career at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a staggering eight top-seven finishes.
Day handles the Poa annua greens as well as anyone as he is also a two-time winner of the Farmers Insurance Open, a tournament that is contested at Torrey Pines (which also features Poa annua greens). There is a lot to like about Day this week, and at 25/1, it is worth taking a shot on him to lead after the first round among the 40 who are playing Spyglass Hill.
Beau Hossler +2800 (FanDuel | 0.12 Units)
First-Round Tee Time: 1:33 p.m. ET
You can't talk about strong putting without talking about Beau Hossler. He was outstanding on the Poa annua greens at Torrey Pines, gaining 1.68 True Strokes putting en route to a tie for sixth.
Not only has he gained True Strokes Putting in each of his two tournaments thus far this season, but he currently ranks third on Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting. It is perhaps the best club in his bag and has completely transformed his status among golfers over the past few months.
In fact, he has failed to miss a cut since last season's Wyndham Championship (eight events) and has posted four top-15 finishes over that stretch. With a strong putter, it is not shocking that he has had success in this tournament as he finished third in 2022 and tied for 11th in 2023.
Considering his recent form, strong putter and previous success at this venue, it is worth taking a flyer on Hossler at 28/1 among those teeing off at Spyglass Hill on Thursday.
My full betting card for this event is below:
- Max Homa Outright Winner (+1850 at Circa) – 0.42 Units
- Jordan Spieth Outright Winner (+2000 at Circa) – 0.31 Units
- Jason Day FRL (Spyglass Only) (+2500 at FanDuel) – 0.21 Units
- Beau Hossler FRL (Spyglass Only) (+2800 at FanDuel) – 0.12 Units
- Denny McCarthy Top Five (+1200 at FanDuel) – 0.12 Units
- Nick Taylor Top 10 (+700 at FanDuel) – 0.16 Units
- Chris Kirk Top 20 (+240 at FanDuel) – 0.21 Units
- Si Woo Kim Top 30 (+120 at DraftKings) – 0.26 Units
- Mackenzie Hughes Top 40 (+100 at DraftKings) – 0.31 Units
