The best betting props for the Bermuda Championship

Guinness. Jameson Whiskey. Pierce Brosnan. Saoirse Ronan. All fantastic Irish exports.

90s pop group B*Witched? Probably not. In fact, most Americans probably don’t even know them. And to be honest, you don’t need to – they weren’t great. But their fourth straight UK number one "Blame It On The Weatherman" might be worth humming along to when we’re watching the Bermuda Championship this weekend.

The Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda is set to see 25 mph winds and more this weekend, which Is going to make this short course a serious test. Set right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Port Royal may be short, but it’s open to the elements and accuracy off the tee is going to be more important than ever.

Brendon Todd won this event last year and he ranked fourth in driving accuracy, 10th in greens in regulation and fourth for scrambling. In fact, six of the Top 10 last year were in the Top 10 for driving accuracy, so we are looking for prop bets that reward pinpoint accuracy, a red-hot short game, and the ability to deal with the weather! 

Top 20 finish: Kramer Hickok (+350)

A lot of the PGA’s big guns are taking a break ahead of the Masters with Augusta creeping ever closer, so that opens the door for some lesser-known players to take the limelight – and I fancy Kramer Hickok to do just that.

The 28-year-old Texan ranks 19th for driving accuracy this year and has a fantastic short game. He finished 15th in this event last year in which he ranked third for scrambling. He shot under 70 in all four rounds of this event last year and comes into this tournament with some decent recent form – finishing 21st in the Corales Puntacana Resort Championship in September, and 15th in the Korn Ferry Orange County National Championship a fortnight ago.

Hickok is worth chancing to put in a Top 20 showing at a nice price. 

Group D winner: Stewart Cink (+335)

Group D comprises Stewart Cink, Henrik Norlander, Maverick McNealy, Pat Perez, and Danny Willet, but the man to be on is Cink.

Recent memory would lead you to think I’m mad, as golf fans will remember Cink shooting 81 in the final round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, but bear with me. He won the Safeway Open in September and followed that up by finishing 12th in the Sanderson Farms at the start of October. A week later and he was in the Top 10 just two off the lead after 36 holes in the Shriners. A 70 on Saturday put him out of contention, and the round of 81 was not a true reflection as I suspect Cink may have given up after a lovely run of form.

He’s taken a break and I think that could be just what he needed. The wind doesn’t worry me as Cink has two wins and three other Top 10 finishes at Harbour Town, which can get equally breezy.

Group B winner: Denny McCarthy (+335)

Another Group Winner bet, this time the nod is for Denny McCarthy who finished 15th in this tournament 12 months ago.

McCarthy caught the eye a couple of weeks ago, finishing sixth in the Sanderson Farms Championship, and he has some intriguing form on courses that are open to the elements. The American finished eighth in the RSM Classic this year which takes place at the Sea Island Club in Georgia and is notoriously windy, as well as a Top 4 finish in the Corales Puntacana in 2018.

McCarthy ranks 16th for driving accuracy this season and 22nd for shots gained putting. If he can keep it straight off the tee and the flatstick stays hot, McCarthy should be able to see off Kristoffer Ventura, Cameron Tringale, Charley Hoffman, and Rasmus Hojgaard in Group B.

Top USA player: Hank Lebioda (+7000)

I’m going to end this column with a wild shot at Hank Lebioda to be top American at a HUGE price. I may look like a genius or fool on Sunday, but that’s life. C’est La Vie, as B*Witched said in one of their other hit singles!

Lebioda finished third in this event last year, closing quickly on the leaders with a simply flawless round of 63 on the final day. He ranked seventh in driving accuracy and 18th in greens in regulation here 12 months ago and a similar performance can put him right in the mix.

The 26-year-old has solid form in the wind elsewhere as well with seven of his eight rounds at Sea Island under 70. He flashed some pieces of brilliance at the end of last month finishing 21st in the Corales Puntacana – where he ranked 25th in driving accuracy and 12th in scrambling – in what was a higher quality field.

It’s a flyer at a big price, but if there is a weekend where we might see a shock, this is the one.