The second FedEx Cup playoff event on the PGA Tour, the BMW Championship, tees off Thursday for the first time ever at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware – the first Tour event held in the state – and in a bit of a surprise, the golfer taking the most action at Caesars Sportsbook to win is Australian rookie Cameron Young. He's +2200.
Fellow Aussie Cameron Smith is No. 2 in the world and No. 3 in FedExCup points and clearly the best player from Down Under in the world, but he withdrew Monday due to inj ury. The top 30 in points after Sunday advance to the season-ending Tour Championship and Smith will advance regardless. This writer wonders whether some casual golf bettors are confusing Smith (the winner of this year's Tournament of Champions, Players Championship and British Open) and Young (yet to win on the Tour).
The 25-year-old Young is taking 11.3 percent of all action to win the tournament, nearly two percent more than No. 2 Jon Rahm (9.5 percent). Young does have an incredible five runner-up finishes this season, and is likely to win PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.
“It's the first time we're getting some PGA action in Wilmington at this particular course,” said Anthony Salleroli, Lead Golf Trader at Caesars Sportsbook. “I'm just curious to see how the PGA has this one set up, and whether it will be a birdie-fest because that's how it yielded previously. It's a lot more difficult to handicap with a new course because yo u don't have a stat database. You can look at comparable courses, but you're not getting the main kibbles and bits of what this course provides. Then there's also the Cam Smith factor, whose absence from the field definitely took an effect on the top end of the market [odds-wise].