As the PGA TOUR heads to Texas for a stop at TPC Craig Ranch for the AT&T Byron Nelson, bettors are leaning on local flavor in the final tuneup before the PGA Championship.
According to data released by BetMGM on Wednesday, Will Zalatoris, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth are the three most popular bets this week.
Zalatoris and Spieth were both born in Texas, with Spieth also attending the University of Texas. That's where Scheffler played in college as well, so the public is banking on familiarity at the top of their betting cards.
Of course, there's on big difference separating those three. Scheffler is the No. 1 player in the world and Spieth has multiple major wins. Zalatoris is still looking for his first victory on the PGA TOUR.
Scheffler is the favorite at every book, listed as short at +700 at DraftKings but +1000 at BetMGM. Zalatoris and Spieth are each +2200, although DraftKings is off market with Zalatoris at +1400 odds.
Zalatoris finished 16 under, nine strokes back of winner K.H. Lee at last year's event. Spieth was 18 under par. Scheffler, who was winless at the time, was 11 under for the event.
Scheffler has won three of the last five tournaments he's played as an individual, including the Masters in April.
Spieth was his last start at the RBC Heritage in a playoff win over Patrick Cantlay.
Sam Burns (+2000) and Dustin Johnson (+2200) are the other two golfers among the top five in bets to win. Justin Thomas (+1200) is third in total dollars.
Maverick McNealy has seen his odds shorten noticeably ,as he's top 10 in bets and handle. McNealy has dropped to +5000 from his opener of +6600 odds.
The triple-digit longshot getting the most attention at BetMGM is Kurt Kitayama (+10000). Kitayama is 15th in total bets. He's finished 15th and second in his most recent two starts.
