Prop Farm: Chris Kirk, Michael Thorbjornsen seeing some Utah love
The article discusses the upcoming Black Desert Championship, a PGA TOUR event being held in Ivins, Utah, for the first time. This is the first time a full-field event has been hosted in Utah in over 60 years. The course at Black Desert Resort is known for its stunning landscape, featuring emerald fairways and greens set against black lava rock and red-orange desert mountains. Designed by the late Tom Weiskopf, the course is lengthy at nearly 7,400 yards but will play shorter, around 7,000 yards, due to the altitude at 3,000 feet above sea level. The weather forecast for the event indicates light winds, meaning the course might be conducive to low scores, though opinions differ on whether it will be a birdie-fest.
Las Vegas oddsmaker Jeff Sherman noted that the over/under for the winning score opened at 262.5 (21.5 under par) and moved to 263.5 (20.5 under par). The unfamiliarity of the course adds complexity to predicting outcomes, so bettors are looking at performances on other Weiskopf-designed courses for insights, such as TPC Scottsdale and TPC Craig Ranch.
The article highlights some key betting trends. Keith Mitchell, a favorite in the tournament, has received little public support following a rough finish last week at the Sanderson Farms Championship, where he missed a playoff due to a three-putt on the final hole. Meanwhile, Michael Thorbjornsen and Hayden Springer, both of whom tied for eighth place last week, have seen growing support from bettors. Chris Kirk has emerged as a liability for sportsbooks, with his odds shortening after sharp bets came in. Additionally, there has been action on Chan Kim and Lucas Glover in the First-Round Leader market.
Players with ties to Las Vegas, such as Harry Hall and Kurt Kitayama, are also being scrutinized. Hall, who attended UNLV and lives in Las Vegas, is a strong putter and recently won the ISCO Championship, making him a contender this week. Kitayama, also a UNLV alum, hasn’t attracted much betting attention despite his local connections. Other players like Daniel Berger, Andrew Novak, and Justin Lower are highlighted as potential outright winners based on their current form and past performances on similar courses.
In conclusion, the article emphasizes the unpredictability of this inaugural event at Black Desert Resort, as the course’s lack of history makes it difficult for bettors to establish a clear favorite. Nonetheless, certain players, especially those with local ties or recent strong performances, are drawing significant interest.
