PGA Tour preview: A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier

The 2019-2020 PGA Tour season kicks off Thursday, September 12, with A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, located in scenic White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. The event originally was played in August, moved to July, then went on a hiatus last season because of so many changes on the PGA schedule. Although many of last season’s stars will be absent, the tournament will provide numerous opportunities for rookies and other players to get a head start on the competition.

There are 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner, as well as invitations to the Masters, PGA Championship and Players Championship on the line.

A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier odds

Old White TPC presents some unique challenges

The Old White TPC was originally designed by C.B. McDonald in 1914 and has several holes built in honor of famous holes in Scotland. The 15th hole, for instance, is modeled on the Eden hole at the St. Andrews Old Course.

One oddity about the Old White TPC is that it concludes with a par 3. It’s only measured at 179 yards but has distinct tiers on the green, so correct club selection is paramount.

The Greenbrier has a rich history

This tournament entered the Tour schedule in 2010 and instantly became a hit. Stuart Appleby closed in style that year, with a 59 on his scorecard to secure the victory. The Greenbrier has continued but had to be canceled in 2016 because of extensive flooding in the area.

Greenbrier has had more than a century to stamp some history on golf. One of its former head pros was Sam Snead, who still holds the all-time PGA Tour win mark (82).

One other note in this resort’s golf history is that it hosted the Ryder Cup in 1979, which was won by the United States and was the first Ryder Cup to include European players from continental Europe.

Key an eye on Harold Varner III

A player who has been coming closer to getting his first win on the PGA Tour is Harold Varner III. In the last edition of this tournament, in July of 2018, the East Carolina University product tied for fifth.

In last season’s playoffs, he came in a tie for third at the Northern Trust, so there is good recent form to go on. With his proven form over the course, Varner is a healthy +5000 on the wagering line and merits consideration for the win, each way and matchup bets.

Viktor Hovland is on the rise

Rookies will have a chance to make noise here. None fit that bill more than Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who captured the 2018 U.S. Amateur and later earned prestigious honors as the low amateur at both the Masters and U.S. Open.

Hovland has a lot of expectations on his shoulders, but the Oklahoma State alum has all of the tools to have an impact on the Tour for a long time. He is at +2200 to win, which is lower than I like, but I’ll focus on him for the matchups.

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