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Once an opposite field tournament, the Buterfield Bermuda Championship has become a normal event, more out of good fortune than any other reason (the inability of the WGC HSBC Champions to return to the schedule post-lockdown). That has not impacted on the quality of the field, however, because this is very much an opportunity for the circuit’s journeymen and up-and-comers. To the latter category we can add DP World Tour hopefuls. Indeed, it was one of them – Lucas Herbert – who claimed the win last year. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. design is short at a touch over 6,800 with a par of 70 and (of course) Bermuda grass on the greens. Patrick Reed played here last year and said: “It's one of those golf courses that if they didn't have wind around here, you'd go out and you'd destroy. They need the wind here to be kind of a defence mechanism.” The scores down the years back up that notion. The first edition was flat calm and Brendon Todd won with 24-under. The last two years the wind has blown and 15-under prevailed both times (Brian Gay in 2020, Hebert las year). The wind looks set to be relatively calm on Thursday but become a more important factor as the tournament heads into the weekend. We noted last year that Matt Fitzpatrick had been pointed to this event by his stats team who focussed on the ability to play in wind, plus control of the ball from the tee and with approach play. Two veterans have added interesting thoughts. Ryan Armour (a two-time top-10 finisher) said: “It's not the easiest golf course. It's got its quirks and you've kind of got to go from point A to point B and take your chances with how many looks you get throughout the day.” While Boo Weekley added: “This is a great little golf course. It’s very similar to Hilton Head (where he is a winner). It just ain’t got the trees. Kind of got to hit it in the right spot and leave yourself, you know, certain clubs.”
Angles to consider 1/ Conditions Windy, coastal golf on Bermuda (or grainy) grass. So we’re thinking Waialae (Sony Open), Harbour Town (The Heritage), Corales (Corales Puntacana), Grand Reserve (Puerto Rico Open) and ... 2/ El Camaleon Of all those similar tests the host of the Worldwide Technologies Championship stands out the most. Todd won at Port Royal and on his next start, two weeks later, won at El Camaleon. Gay won the second edition here and was a previous winner at El Camaleon. Herbert went straight from his win here to El Camaleon and missed the cut. But celebrations and/or an emotional drain might explain a first round 75. He very nearly made the cut after improving to 68 in the second round (and putted well there). 3/ Putting There are no Strokes Gained stats collected in this week so we have to lean on old numbers. Todd ranked third for both putting categories, Gay was sixth and fourth, Herbert was 10th and sixth (the two men he edged out were first/second and fourth/sixth).
Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Russell Knox The Scot has played here three times logging 11th, 16th and 12th. At El Camaleon he has eight top 40s in nine starts including three top 10s (he was second and third back to back in 2015-16). He’s also got four top 10s at Harbour Town, including second in 2016. He was seventh at Waialae this year. Garrick Higgo Go back 18 month and the South African was on fire winning three times in five starts around the world. Does that spell drop hints for this week? His first two wins (and an eighth in-between) came on the Canary Islands – resort courses, Bermuda greens, sea breezes. And his third win was at Congaree, the course the PGA Tour played last week but which his category was not good enough to earn him a spot. It's a guess, but it might niggle. He’s missed a lot of cuts this year but was third two starts ago, on Bermuda at Jackson CC when he ranked seventh for Putt Average. Cameron Percy An awful lot of the Aussie veteran’s best golf since he moved to the States has been played when the first or second tier ventures beyond the States itself. He’s got multiple top 10s in Panama, Mexico and Brazil, and top 20s in the Bahamas, on the Korn Ferry Tour. In Puerto Rico he has six top 30s in nine starts including seventh in both his last two starts, He’s 3-for-3 at Corales including eighth and fourth in the last two years. He’s had a top 20 at El Camaleon, is 2-for-3 here and has three top 30s in his last four starts including eighth at Sedgefield.
Tips: 0-3; -6.00pts 1pt e.w. Russell Knox at 40/1 (Unibet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) 49th 1pt e.w. Garrick Higgo at 66/1 (Unibet, Coral 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) 29th 1pt e.w. Cameron Percy at 80/1 (Unibet, Coral 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) 35th
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