The PGA Tour retakes center stage again this week as all the big hitters are back for the CJ Cup, and with the world’s number one ranking on the line, we take a look at the latest odds and bring you our latest free golf betting tips.
This week we will see Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Rory McIlroy in action. In total, 15 of the world’s top 20 are competing here, so it should be competitive.
And it’s Rory McIlroy who looks set to be the center of attention as he attempts to take the number one world ranking away from current incumbent, Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler assumed the position from Jon Rahm in early 2022.
Many top European players have been in their home continent over the past few weeks. It all started with the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in early September. Then some stuck around to play in a combination of the Alfred Dunhill Links, the Italian Open, and the Spanish Open.
The leading players are back stateside now, and they will all be looking to get going again in the warmer climates of South Carolina at the Congaree Golf Club.
The CJ Cup is a newish tournament, having only been on the PGA roster since 2017. It has been staged at Nine Bridges, Shadow Creek, and most recently, the Summit Club in Las Vegas.
This is the first time the competition has been staged at the Congaree Golf Club, a new venue, having only been established in 2018. The course is 7,655 yards long, as is par 71.
As we’ve just mentioned, this is the first time this event has been held here. Previously, the course hosted the Palmetto Championship in 2021. This was a one-off event created to fill gaps left in the schedule by the global pandemic. That competition was played in June 2021 and was won by Garrick Higgo with a score of 273 (-11).
For the record, Rory McIlroy is officially the CJ Cup defending champion. The current world number two won the event in Las Vegas last year with a 263 (-25) score. One stroke ahead of Collin Morikawa.
While that may not be relevant to the course used this week, it is relevant for world ranking points. McIlroy is on a charge this season, and he may well use the defense of his title as extra motivation.
Not that McIlroy should need much more with the possible world number-one ranking on the line this weekend.
No major surprises here. Rory McIlroy at +700 is the favorite to win the 2022 CJ Cup with the best online golf betting sites.
The popular Irishman is leading a strong looking market where he is followed by Jon Rahn at +1000, Scottie Scheffler at +1200, Justin Thomas (+1400), and Matt Fitzpatrick (+2500).
Full odds can be found below from BetOnline. More great betting offers can be found by reading our BetOnline sportsbook review.
| 2022 CJ Cup Winner Betting |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | +700 | +700 |
| Jon Rahm | +1000 | +1000 |
| Scottie Scheffler | +1200 | +1300 |
| Justin Thomas | +1400 | +1300 |
| Matt Fitzptrick | +2500 | +2200 |
| Viktor Hovland | +2500 | +2200 |
| Sung Jae Im | +2500 | +2800 |
| Sam Burns | +2500 | +2500 |
| Jordan Spieth | +2800 | +2800 |
| Tom Kim | +3000 | +3300 |
| Max Homa | +3300 | +3000 |
| Cameron Young | +3300 | +2800 |
| Collin Morikawa | +3300 | +3000 |
| Shane Lowry | +3300 | +3300 |
| Keegan Bradley | +4000 | +4500 |
The first player I’m looking at this week is the obvious one, Rory McIlroy. Now before pouring scorn on that and saying anyone can tip him, consider this.
McIlroy is the defending champion, and he could go number one this week if he wins the event. His recent form reads Alfred Dunhill Links 4th, Italian Open 4th, BMW PGA T2, and PGA Tour Championship 1st. That’s not to mention his 3rd place at the British Open, his T5 at the US Open, what looks a poor 8th place at the US PGA Championship, and his 2nd place at the US Masters.
McIlroy cannot be left out of any betting picks at the moment. He simply can’t, and I make McIlroy my first betting pick to win at +700.
The big hitting Spaniard started the year at the world number one and the betting favorite with all the best golf betting sites to win all four of golf’s major championships.
Rahm wasn’t long after losing the world number one spot to Scottie Scheffler. And his performances in the US, and the majors in general, have been disappointing. I don’t know if it was his trip across the pond, but in recent weeks, Rahm’s form has picked up.
He finished T2 with McIlroy at Wentworth in BMW PGA Championship, and he then went on to win the Spanish Open by six shots in his last outing just over a week ago.
Rahm is short at +1000, but I think he is worth a shot and I make him my second betting pick.
I’m sticking with the European contingent for my betting picks, and another name that just leaps out at Vegas golf odds of +3300 is Shane Lowry. The Irishman is having an outstanding year, culminating in a win at the aforementioned BMW PGA Championship in September.
Different conditions to stateside, yes, but he is full of confidence and has been playing well on the PGA circuit all season, and I’m making Shane Lowry my final betting pick.
