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The WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession Golf Club is the first leg of the four-tournament World Golf Championship series. After four years south of the border when played as the WGC-Mexico Championship at Chapultepec, the event returns to Florida. Doral was host for 10 years and to show that the top players can win everywhere, the three winners in Mexico – Dustin Johnson (twice), Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed – had already won this event at the Florida track. But while the Blue Monster at Doral became a familiar viewing experience, this week’s course is brand new to most. The Concession is being used for the first time on the PGA Tour although it did stage the 2015 NCAA Men’s Championship, a huge event in men’s amateur golf. Intriguingly, the winner back then was a much younger and slimmer Bryson DeChambeau while others in the field included Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele. Early reports from the course suggest it will be a good test and the difficulty and headaches provided by the green complexes have given The Concession a well-used nickname – the concussion! The course gets its name from the famous putt conceded by Jack Nicklaus in the 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale. The Golden Bear’s sporting gesture towards Tony Jacklin allowed the event to end in a 16-16 tie. Jacklin never forgot and he approached Nicklaus to design this week’s course. Angles to consider 1/ Strokes Gained: Around The Green There are no stats from the 2015 NCAA but quotes from then and pre-tournament ones for this week keep mentioning the need for a sharp short game and creativity around the greens. It suggests this is a key category. 2/ Driving Distance Nicklaus courses typically offer room off the tee and Patrick Reed confirmed that in his Tuesday press conference. Concession member Paul Azinger also says the big hitters will be able to clear the water hazards that will be in play for others. 3/ Florida form While it’s a new course, it makes sense to cash in on the familiar traits that are part of other Florida tracks. That includes Bermuda grass and it being relatively flat with wind a factor. Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Bryson DeChambeau While picking the player who has a course win seems obvious, DeChambeau also ticks the boxes mentioned above. He’s the PGA Tour’s biggest hitter, has a great touch (18th SG: Around The Green) and was fourth on his last start in Florida. He missed the cut last week but did so with a second-round 69 and his price more than compensates for the odd doubt. Scottie Scheffler The Texan is getting his feet under golf’s top table, putting himself in the mix in some big events. He blasts it a long way and is in the top 20% on the PGA Tour for Strokes Gained: Around The Green. Scheffler was 4th in that category when T20 at Riviera last week while he posted T7 in his previous event at TPC Scottsdale. He can handle the wind and made the top 15 at Bay Hill in his one Florida start on the PGA Tour. Louis Oosthuizen Oosthuizen gives it a good whack off the tee and has a brilliant short game too, ranking 21st for SG: Around The Green. He’s been a runner-up in two of his last nine starts in Florida (2019 Valspar Championship and 2017 Players Championship) and his game is in good nick after T11 in Phoenix last time. Tips: 2-1; +7.33pts 1.5pts e.w. Bryson DeChambeau at 20/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 22nd 1pt e.w. Scottie Scheffler at 40/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 5th 0.5pts e.w. Louis Oosthuizen at 60/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 6th
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