The next Pro League Network event is rapidly approaching, with World Putting League #3 set to tee off from the Aloha Island Course in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at noon ET on Monday (watch live on YouTube).
And yes, you can bet on it — in Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Tennessee, and Wyoming — at books like bet365.
The competition begins with four groups, then the winner of each advances to compete for the outright title.
You can learn more about betting mini golf here, but read on to learn more about the storylines to watch on Monday, plus each group (group-by-group background courtesy of the PLN).
Mini Golf Betting Odds
Odds To Win WPL #3
- Greg Newport: +400
- Gary English: +400
- Joey Graybeal: +550
- Randy Reeves: +600
- Tony Varnadore: +800
- Field: +1200
Newport and English are co-favorites to win WPL #3 — they’ve been clutch throughout their careers and can consistently deliver aces.
Graybeal, the winner of WPL #2, has been hot lately but faces an uphill battle in Group D.
Holes in One Odds
- Hole #4: 9.5 (-150/-110)
- Hole #8: 0.5 (-150/-110)
- Hole #12: 4.5 (-140/-200)
- Hole #17: 6.5 (-120/-120)
- Total Holes in One: 95.5 (-120/-120)
WPL #3 Group A Odds
- Greg Newport: +120
- Rick Alessi: +150
- Michael Rutledge: +175
Group A features some of the most intriguing competition in WPL #3.
At a 2021 tournament in Burlington, Newport and Rutledge were tied atop the leaderboard going into the 18th hole. Newport just missed his tee shot, while Rutledge aced his for the victory. Newport hopes to avenge the loss in a very tight Group A.
Newport is the most accomplished of the three golfers and is one of the few people in the world who has shot a perfect 18. Newport also captained Team USA to a top-three finish in the 2018 World Adventure Mini Golf Masters and has won four major championships in the past 10 years. With over 30 years on the pro tour, Newport will be a tough out at WPL #3.
Alessi’s career earnings on tour are just shy of $100,000, but his most important accomplishment is running charity tournaments for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He and his wife Carol live less than a mile from the Aloha Mini-Golf Course.
Rutledge has been playing competitive mini golf off and on his whole life. He’s been a police officer for over 20 years and survived a devastating accident on the job. He's leaned on mini golf throughout his rehabilitation process. Will the comeback kid get it done?
WPL #3 Group B Odds
- Andy Reeves: -150
- Tony Varnadore: +100
- Niko Manou: +600
Reeves is a classy veteran and the rightful Group B favorite. He has tons of experience and familiarity with all the WPL courses and holds the Pro Mini Golf Masters record for lowest score. Reeves’ game fits quite well on the Aloha course as he specializes in “bank” shots — an approach where he uses the rock or bricks to direct his ball into the hole.
Varnadore is the wild card for WPL #3. He currently holds the Aloha course record (22), which he recorded in the 2017 Masters. Varnadore has struggled since that record-setting performance and missed the cut in WPL #1 and WPL #2, but perhaps playing his favorite course will help him get back on track.
Manou, the inventor of the schlub, is the long shot in Group B — the schlub is a “shoe-club” attachment that mitigates Manou’s disability and enables him to compete with the world’s top putters. Manou battles severe arthritis, which makes it impossible for him to grip a putter. Instead, he opts for a kick of the ball with his metal attachment. Manou has the ability to heat up at any given time and registered a top-three score at WPL #2.
⇾ Watch World Putting League #3 on YouTube
WPL #3 Group C Odds
- Gary English: -110
- Daniel Tatum: +175
- Robert Morris: +200
The elder statesman of the tournament, English is ready to compete. The 70-year-old Georgia resident was an avid golfer throughout his early days and won state championships with his high school golf team. He joined the pro putting circuit in 1972 and has played competitively ever since.
English is the favorite to win the group and recently shot a 25 on this course. Additionally, English has registered a sub-30 score in four of his past seven outings on the Aloha course.
Tatum is a lifetime PGA club professional. A strong, consistent putter without much flare to his game, Tatum is a safe bet to shoot a solid round.
Morris is newer to the competitive putting tour and although he doesn't have a ton of experience playing on the Aloha course, anything can happen in one round.
WPL #3 Group D Odds
- Joey Graybeal: +150
- Gary Hester: +150
- Brian Johnson: +150
Group D features the top-three players in WPL #3.
Hester and Graybeal, the winners of WPL #1 and WPL #2, headline the group, but don't sleep on Johnson.
Johnson hasn't secured a title recently, but finished second, third and fifth at his most recent big events. Johnson’s favorite course is Aloha, where he has the lowest average round score (28.5) of the field.
WPL #3 Storylines To Watch
Now that we've met the cast of characters, here are the storylines to watch:
- Will the course record-holder Tony Varnadore get back on track?
- Will Brian Johnson escape the group of death?
- Will Niko Manou's foot finally lead him to a championship?
- Can Robert Morris make a splash in his WPL debut?
- Will the winner of Group D be the golfer to beat in the finals?
