PGA Austin Championship

The first place to start with this weeks new event is to start with last weeks event and the one thing I noted was the performance of those players who weren't playing for next years rights but already had those secured. Blades Brown was already safe and interestingly so was Mexican Alvaro Ortiz who finished a respectable 6th. This week there are a few more players who fit that particular bill and my eyes are first drawn to Tommy Morrison who like Ortiz last week is playing on a sponsors exemption. The reason why is he is a Texas Longhorn who played out of Austin so has local ties. He secured his card very quickly after turning pro with a run of 10/5/2/1/2 in the Summer making him surely another one of the "bright young things" like Brown. Interestingly his win came at the Glen Club which is similar to this weeks course in that it is a Fazio designed Parkland course. Prices are a bit up and down this week but he is around the 66/1 mark and as always get all the places you can.

With my mind now set in that mode I turned to see who else has done well at the Glen Club and the year before we had Johnny Keefer who has been vying for favouritism at some Fall events but has now drifted out to 40/1. The reason for the drift is the back to back missed cuts in Mexico - but that's nothing new having had a missed cut and a withdrawal on his two other starts there. He already has a 3rd and 9th on the PGA tour in Texas this year and his other Korn Ferry tour win also came in the State.

Last of those to note who already has playing rights due to his Korn Ferry exploits and has local ties is former Vanderbilt standout Cole Sherwood - also plays out of Austin. The added bonus with Sherwood is he also has shown a liking for Fazio designs - his win at the Woodcreek Club came on one and he can also boast a 2nd at the Landings Club. He is priced around the 80/1 mark

Lastly I can't help but mention Kensei Hirata who is making a big push to save his card and has just gone 11th and 4th. He is finally showing the quality of golf that netted him four titles at home in 2024. He played solidly at the Glen Club last year to finish 3rd and odds of 125/1 ew could be a little on the generous side