Presidents Cup predictions, picks: Three players worth a top-scorer wager

Presidents Cup predictions, picks: Three players worth a top-scorer wager
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The 2022 Presidents Cup — aka golf’s other international team event — takes place this week at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C.

The event pits 12 players from the U.S. Team against 12 from the International Team (rest of the world outside of Europe).

The U.S. is 11-1-1 all-time, and the International Team has never won the event in the States. Add in the fact that the International Team will be without Cam Smith, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer, and Marc Leishman, all of whom were banned after teeing up in a LIV Golf event this month, and it’s easy to see why the Stars and Stripes are -700 favorites to win their 12th Presidents Cup this weekend.

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Presidents Cup predictions, picks

Those odds do take some of the bite out of the event from a betting perspective, but there are still some ways to get action down on it. Sportsbooks will post lines for every match, as well as props for top point-scorer for each team and then overall in the tournament.

The Presidents Cup consists of 30 matches played over four days. There are 18 team matches (nine foursomes and nine four-balls) on Thursday through Saturday and then 12 singles matches on Sunday. Each match is worth one point.

Here are three player props worth betting before the event kicks off on Thursday:

All odds are provided by FanDuel and were accurate at the time of publishing..

Justin Thomas to be top point scorer (+1000)

Justin Thomas has been steadfast in his commitment to sticking with the PGA Tour over LIV Golf.Justin ThomasGetty Images

There are plenty of players on Team USA who you could see running away with this honor and that makes this a little difficult to handicap, but there is reason to skirt the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay or anyone else on Davis Love III’s team and go with Thomas. The Louisville native has been nails in this event and the Ryder Cup in his career. Thomas has posted a 12-4-3 record in both events, which includes going 3-1-1 in each of the last two Presidents Cups.

Hideki Matsuyama to be top point scorer (+1800)

If you’re looking to have some exposure on the International Team, backing Matsuyama is a good way to get down. He’s the biggest name on the International Team and will be relied upon heavily by captain Trevor Immelman to provide a foundation for his team to build upon. Matsuyama showed no signs of rust at last week’s Fortinet Championship, finishing T25 and posting a -7 on Sunday to go into the tournament feeling good about his game. We know Matsuyama’s ceiling is quite high, so if the International Team has any chance at upsetting the odds, he’ll likely be the engine of the stunner.

Hideki MatsuyamaHideki MatsuyamaEPA

Max Homa to be top American point scorer (+1000)

This one comes down to form and course history. Fresh off a win at the Fortinet Championship in California, Homa returns to the track where he captured his first PGA Tour title back in 2019. While most of Team USA has been inactive since the Tour Championship back in late August, Homa played superbly over the weekend and won a trophy.

The Californian claims he’s coming to the event with a chip on his shoulder since he’s heard the whispers that he wouldn’t make this team if the LIV defectors weren’t banned, so we’ll see a pumped-up, confident Homa at a course that fits his eye.