Steve Bamford supports betting on Robert MacIntyre for a bounce-back week at Harbour Town, indicating MacIntyre is well-positioned despite a disappointing missed cut at The Masters last week. Highlighting excellent earlier form with four consecutive top-11 finishes leading into Augusta, Bamford feels MacIntyre's poor Masters showing was likely a product of scheduling fatigue from earlier travel. Bamford also quotes MacIntyre, who previously declared a strong fondness for Harbour Town, considering it well-suited to his game. MacIntyre ranks strongly in recent 8-week tracking metrics, including driving, tee-to-green play, and putting, indicating his poor last week performance likely represents an aberration rather than a slump. Furthermore, Bamford notes MacIntyre's history of suddenly emerging victories following poor weeks, adding further confidence in backing him at healthy odds (40/1).

Steve Bamford strongly suggests backing Harris English at generous odds of 70/1 in the RBC Heritage. Emphasizing English's return to form this year with a PGA Tour win at the Farmers Insurance Open, Bamford details Harris's recent improving performances at prominent events including 24th at the Genesis Invitational, 30th at The Players, and a 12th-place finish at The Masters last week where his strokes gained statistics notably improved—in particular approach play. Bamford highlights that English has a strong track record on Pete Dye golf courses, including his victory at the Travelers Championship, and has previously demonstrated good performances at Harbour Town, including an 8th place finish. Bamford underscores English's suitability to this seaside, tree-lined Par 71 track and identifies him as an excellent betting value this week.

Steve Bamford makes a compelling case for Viktor Hovland at RBC Heritage, citing Viktor's recent victory at the Valspar Championship played at Copperhead, a similar Carolina-style course featuring TifEagle Bermudagrass greens like Harbour Town. Bamford emphasizes Hovland's tendency to win tournaments in quick succession, as demonstrated by his multiple victories in short spans during 2021-2022 and again in 2023. Additionally, Hovland's previous experience at Harbour Town in 2020 and 2023, including entering the weekend in contention last year before fading away, further supports his candidacy. Despite a quieter Masters performance, where Viktor still demonstrated strong ball striking and ranked 13th in strokes gained approach, Bamford sees Hovland as primed for a strong result this week.

Steve Bamford is bullish on Xander Schauffele at the RBC Heritage, referencing Schauffele's recent form and statistics. Although Xander's rib injury earlier may have impacted his previous major performances, he demonstrated major progress at the Valspar Championship and a quiet but highly impressive 8th place finish at The Masters, where Schauffele ranked highly in ball striking (1st), total driving (5th), and Strokes Gained metrics off the tee (5th) and approach (12th). Schauffele also demonstrates exceptional form at similar Carolina-style courses like Quail Hollow (two consecutive 2nd placements) and Pinehurst No.2 (7th at U.S. Open). He also has exceptional track records on Pete Dye-designed courses, including victories at TPC Louisiana and TPC River Highlands, plus strong performances at TPC Sawgrass. Overall, these converging factors make Schauffele a strong candidate for a win at Harbour Town this week.

Steve Bamford offered Rory McIlroy as his sentimental pick to finally achieve the career grand slam by winning the Masters, though he openly admitted reservations regarding Rory's short odds around 6/1-7/1. Reflecting on his successful solo-bullet strategy with Scheffler at The Players previously, Bamford mused over adopting a similar tactic with McIlroy despite short odds constraints. He expressed comfort pairing Rory as a pure win-only bet alongside mid-tier speculative selections around 30/1 or longer shots like Robert Macintyre, highlighting the romantic storyline of Rory completing the slam at Augusta despite recognizing clear risks involved betting at such short odds.

Steve Bamford expressed cautious interest in Wyndham Clark at around 70/1 odds for Augusta, citing his recent compelling performance at Houston and recent major championship pedigree. Although Clark missed the cut on his debut at Augusta last year, his notable recent showing at Houston has caught Bamford's attention. Steve acknowledged Clark's right-handed, left-to-right ball flight could pose mild concerns navigating Augusta; however, the course's wide driving corridors could offset this weakness sufficiently. Despite these slight hesitations, Bamford views Clark's recent form and major-winning experience as attractive for speculative betting or each-way DFS shares.

Steve Bamford identified Robert Macintyre as a very intriguing longshot betting selection for Augusta this year. Macintyre has recently excelled in majors, finishing eighth at last year's PGA Championship and previously securing a notable top-12 finish at Augusta. As a left-handed player, Bamford noted Macintyre has an immediate edge at Augusta due to the course traditionally favoring lefties. Bamford added that Macintyre's recent driving stats have been excellent and his short game and putting showed improvement recently in Singapore, addressing past weaknesses. With solid statistical form tee-to-green on the PGA Tour currently, Bamford strongly recommended Macintyre as an each-way bet for Augusta and an undervalued DFS prospect.

Steve Bamford sees Shane Lowry as appealing at Augusta primarily if the course plays firm and fast, conditions ideal for his elite short game and current excellent approach play. Bamford elaborated that Lowry historically thrives in firmer conditions, as opposed to softer setups which wouldn't be as complementary. Despite struggling with putting consistency, Lowry recently led the Masters in approach play, indicating strong ball-striking potential at Augusta. Bamford highlighted Lowry's consistent major performances in recent years, including two sixth-place finishes at last year's majors, reinforcing his value for DFS lineups and outright bets if a suitable price around 50/1 becomes available.

Steve Bamford identified Brooks Koepka as a potential betting and DFS selection for majors, contingent on how well he performs at this week's LIV event at Doral. Bamford mentioned he's closely watching Koepka's form, particularly his greens in regulation stats. He linked Brooks' motivation directly to clinching a Ryder Cup spot, arguing it could ignite peak performance in the four majors, highlighting his past capability to elevate his game on prestigious stages. For DFS players or bettors, Bamford suggests carefully monitoring Koepka's LIV performance because even minimal signs of life and strong ball-striking form could signal considerable upside for major tournament play.

Steve Bamford advised against betting or DFS investment in Joaquin Niemann at Augusta, noting Niemann's victories are typically at events scoring 17-21 under par or in LIV events around 54 holes. Bamford highlighted that Niemann's past tournament wins, such as at Greenbrier and Genesis Invitational, involved scoring deep under par, conditions vastly different from the firm, challenging setup expected at Augusta. He suggested Niemann's strengths better align with a softer, wet PGA Championship type layout, similar to courses like Valhalla or Quail Hollow, rather than the expected firmer and more difficult Masters conditions. Bamford believes Niemann lacks sufficient contention or performance history in major events to justify backing him at Augusta.

Steve Bamford raised legitimate concerns about Justin Thomas's inconsistent driving form this year, identifying it as a major red flag for Augusta. Even though Thomas boasts elite iron play and short game skills currently, Bamford warned that frequent wayward drives remain a consistent risk factor in his recent play. He specifically cited the potential for one destructive drive to yield a costly double or triple bogey at Augusta—a fatal blow for Masters contention historically. Because Augusta likely won't forgive these types of mishaps, Bamford remains hesitant to bet JT at his current odds (around 22/1), stressing safer alternatives.

Steve Bamford strongly urged caution against betting on Joaquin Niemann at the Masters, citing Niemann's disappointing track record at major championships as especially problematic at the demanding Augusta course. Despite Niemann's clear talent and potential, Bamford stressed he has repeatedly failed to demonstrate strong performances or true contention on golf's biggest stages, which is historically crucial for success at Augusta. Moreover, Bamford noted Niemann's odds (28-30/1) carry too much risk given this history, recommending bettors steer clear until Niemann proves he can handle major championship pressure effectively.

Steve Bamford voiced skepticism regarding Bryson DeChambeau's ability to effectively navigate Augusta National, due to his equipment setup and the nuanced demands of the course. Bamford questioned whether Bryson's one-length irons could hinder his creativity and adaptability around Augusta's challenging greens and uneven terrain. He specifically referenced last year's performance, suggesting DeChambeau benefited significantly from a favorable early-round draw rather than consistent skill or adaptability at Augusta. Given that Augusta demands significant creativity and diverse shot-making from uneven lies, Bamford sees Bryson as a poor match for these conditions and firmly advises against betting or DFS exposure to DeChambeau for the Masters.

Steve Bamford introduced Sergio Garcia as an intriguing long-shot Masters contender, driven by Garcia's strong Augusta history and proven experience navigating tough conditions. Bamford noted Garcia is among a shortlist of only seven players meeting key historical trend criteria—primarily strong recent major finishes and extensive Masters experience. Though Garcia's recent success at majors has tapered, his historical performance at Augusta (including his win) supports him as a potentially undervalued betting and DFS candidate under current betting market conditions, especially given Augusta's expected difficult scoring environment.

Steve Bamford highlighted doubts about Ludvig Aberg's chances at Augusta due to his limited experience and weaknesses in approach play compared to what Augusta historically demands. Bamford noted that Aberg's iron play, a critical skill at Augusta, is notably less precise than the required standard at the Masters, especially for someone without previous Masters experience. Furthermore, he pointed out that historically, success at Augusta normally follows multiple prior appearances where players develop course knowledge and strategic familiarity, both of which Aberg significantly lacks in his debut. Thus, Bamford urged bettors and DFS players to avoid Aberg at this Masters.

Steve Bamford strongly cautioned against betting on Scottie Scheffler at current odds (9/2), pointing out the lack of historical precedent for defending Masters champions repeating success. Scheffler's odds are nearly unchanged from last year (4/1) despite clear issues in his recent form, noted struggles over Christmas, and failing to secure recent events he previously dominated. Bamford highlighted that historically, only Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth have managed even a top-five Masters finish after winning the previous year, emphasizing how challenging it is to back up a Masters victory. He found Scheffler's current price devoid of betting value, strongly recommending bettors steer clear despite Scheffler's capability.

Steve Bamford outlined Thomas Detry as a debutant playing his first Masters, expressing clear concern due to Detry's lack of previous experience and contention at major championships. Bamford emphasized historical trends demonstrating players usually require multiple Masters appearances and prior major contention before legitimately competing at Augusta. As a first-time entrant with no significant major finishes, Detry lacks these critical experiences, causing Bamford to firmly advise against DFS or outright betting interests in Detry for this year's Masters.

Steve Bamford identified Ryan Gerard as a valuable underdog pick for the Valero Texas Open following his impressive 9th-place performance at the recent Houston Open. Gerard was particularly strong under pressure, playing in the penultimate group alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler, where he shot a commendable final-round 68. Critically at Memorial Park, Gerard excelled in key tee-to-green categories, finishing 2nd for Approach, 5th for Greens in Regulation, and 7th overall Tee-to-Green. Having previously played the Oaks Course in 2023, Gerard has important course familiarity. Bamford highlights Gerard’s strong recent progression, evident by numerous top-25 finishes this season, positioning him as a potential dark horse who can contend this week.

Steve Bamford sees Ben Griffin as a compelling pick at the Valero Texas Open, emphasizing Griffin's high motivation to qualify for next week's Masters tournament, which he can only achieve with a victory this week. Griffin comes in having arguably his best season ever, evident by three top-10 placements including recent events in Florida and Mexico this season. His strong form was underlined recently at the Houston Open, notably shooting a final round 65 and ranking strongly in key metrics: 4th in Strokes Gained Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation, and 3rd Tee-to-Green overall. Ben’s solid previous experience at the Oaks Course, finishing 39th last year despite poorer incoming form, suggests he’s poised to greatly improve upon that performance this time around.

Steve Bamford recommended Tom Kim ahead of the Valero Texas Open as an underrated option due to signs he's approaching strong form. Although Kim hasn't won since 2023 and has been experiencing a relative downtrend, Bamford sees recent encouraging metrics in his approach play. Notably, Kim ranked 1st for Strokes Gained Approach at TPC Sawgrass, and 20th at Copperhead, highlighting his iron play coming back to elite form. Bamford believes conditions at the Oaks Course, where putting prowess is less critical, can enhance Kim's strengths. Kim also has prior experience here, having seen the course 12 months earlier, demonstrating that he’s familiar with the demands at San Antonio. Bamford suggests a good week could catalyze a return to the winner’s circle, especially after close friend Min Woo Lee just earned his first PGA Tour win.

Steve Bamford highlighted Daniel Berger as a strong candidate for the Valero Texas Open, pointing to Berger's solid recent form and his historical success in Texas. Berger arrives off five consecutive top-25 finishes, including a commendable weekend performance at The Players Championship where he shot -3 to tie 5th with elite golfers like Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Texas has historically suited Berger's game, proven by finishes of 10th at TPC Four Seasons, two 5th-place finishes at the GC of Houston, 3rd at TPC Craig Ranch, and notably, a win at Colonial in 2020. While his previous visits to the Oaks Course yielded no results (two missed cuts), Bamford believes his current accuracy off the tee (10th in Driving Accuracy), strong Tee-to-Green metrics (15th ranking), and solid putting form indicate that Berger is primed for a breakthrough performance this week.

Steve Bamford strongly recommended betting Corey Conners at the Valero Texas Open, citing multiple compelling reasons. Conners' game aligns perfectly with the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, as evidenced by his victories at this course in 2019 and 2023. His strengths—particularly tee-to-green play and precision driving—fit the profile of a Valero winner perfectly. Recent form supports this thesis, as Conners produced consistent top-10 finishes at tough events including 3rd at Bay Hill, 6th at TPC Sawgrass, and 8th at the Copperhead course. Across these events, his robust tee-to-green stats (ranked 5th, 12th, and 8th respectively) and positive performances across all Strokes Gained metrics (including putting) indicate he's in great form and ready to compete.

Steve Bamford picks Aldrich Potgieter at significant longshot betting value at the Houston Open, highlighting his immense driving distance and ability to score well on long courses. Potgieter’s standout performances on lengthy tracks include a runner-up finish at VidantaWorld and T15 at the Genesis at Torrey Pines (7,765 yards). His potent combination of length off the tee and recent spike in putting (gaining 9.165 strokes at VidantaWorld) align perfectly with the demands of Memorial Park. With the course's generous fairways and minimal water, Potgieter's game matches ideally, representing considerable betting appeal at such high odds.

Steve Bamford suggests betting on Kevin Yu at Memorial Park due to his affinity for bomber-friendly setups combined with trending recent performances. Yu's driving power (12th in Driving Distance All drives and 8th SG Off the Tee in 2025 PGA season) should offer an advantage here. Recent standout performances at correlating courses such as Torrey Pines (6th & 17th) and the Country Club of Jackson (winner in 2024) show Yu's suitability to long layouts like Memorial Park. Also, his strong putting rounds last week at Copperhead on Bermuda/Poa surfaces are highly encouraging despite struggles in the final round paired with Justin Thomas, making Yu a sleeper bet with significant upside.

Steve Bamford picks Jake Knapp as excellent betting value at the Houston Open due to strong correlating form on bomber-friendly layouts, notably VidantaWorld (winner), Mexico Open (3rd place), Torrey Pines (top 3 finish), and his recent performance at difficult, overseeded Bermuda/Poa courses like PGA National (6th) and TPC Sawgrass (12th). Although Knapp missed the cut at Memorial Park last year, Bamford suggests this was overshadowed by his Masters participation the following week. Knapp’s Texas form (T8 at TPC Craig Ranch in 2024) further supports his case here. His recent peak performances and liking for these putting surfaces clearly identify him as an undervalued contender this week.

Steve Bamford advises betting on Taylor Moore at the Houston Open, highlighting Moore’s suitability to Memorial Park Golf Course. Moore previously won at the Valspar Championship at a similar price, proving he can thrive on tough courses. His ability to drive long, his high ball flight, plus solid approach metrics (17th at The Players for approach play), positions him well at Memorial Park. Moore's prior course experience (2nd place at Memorial Park in 2024) and proven affinity for Bermuda/Poa Trivialis greens (strong showings at Harbour Town, Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana, Sedgefield, and here at Memorial Park) give additional confidence. Given his Texas roots and motivation for securing another Masters berth, Moore offers clear betting value according to Bamford.

Steve Bamford strongly recommends Aaron Rai as a bet at the 2025 Houston Open due to his strong combination of form and course history. Rai has finished 19th (2021), and then notably improved to 7th in both 2022 and 2024 at Memorial Park Golf Course. Rai previously won the Wyndham Championship, a similar putting-oriented test, proving his capability on courses requiring significant strokes gained with the putter. His consistently strong putting performances at Memorial Park (gaining 3.71 and 4.48 strokes on the greens in his last two visits) indicate strong course suitability. Additionally, Rai's current form places him in the top 11 for Off the Tee, Approach, Tee to Green, and Putting in Bamford's 8-week tournament analysis, and he sits top-4 for strokes gained current form behind elite golfers such as Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. Rai's motivation to make Europe's Ryder Cup team adds extra incentive to perform well here against a strong field, positioning him as a compelling betting choice.

Steve Bamford backed Collin Morikawa confidently heading into the 2025 THE PLAYERS Championship following a strong runner-up finish at Bay Hill. Morikawa delivered an outstanding tee-to-green performance—ranking 4th for strokes gained off the tee, 5th for strokes gained approach, and 5th around the green—only to fall just short because of merely an average putting week. Bamford emphasized that winners at TPC Sawgrass typically don't need to putt extraordinarily well, making Morikawa's solid approach and tee-to-green play a perfect fit. The course's newly extended yardage (7,352 yards) and soft conditions following recent rain only further play into Morikawa's elite ball-striking ability. Although Morikawa's previous course record (41st, MC, 13th, 45th) is average, Bamford pointed out his promising 3rd place halfway standing in 2023, reinforcing the notion that a positive putting week could lead to victory.

Steve Bamford recommends Shane Lowry as a solid value play for THE PLAYERS Championship, given his strong history and current form in tough, grinding conditions. Lowry thrives specifically on challenging Florida courses, with strong previous results including winning the 2015 WGC Bridgestone Invitational and contending in several tough Major tests—3rd at Augusta, runner-up at Oakmont in the U.S. Open, and multiple top-10s at PGA Championships on demanding layouts. Lowry enters the week fresh from excellent Florida form—11th at PGA National and 7th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, playing well tee-to-green and putting solidly. At TPC Sawgrass, he's ranked top-20 strokes gained tee-to-green in four straight appearances (2021 to 2024), indicating his consistent comfort on this Pete Dye layout. Bamford also highlighted Lowry's past success at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club—a course strongly correlating with Sawgrass—further strengthening his case.

Steve Bamford identifies Sepp Straka as a prime value play at TPC Sawgrass, emphasizing his stellar record on Pete Dye-designed courses. A consistent contender on Bermudagrass greens—winning at PGA National in 2022 and PGA West (similar overseeded greens) earlier this year—Straka delivers his best golf in Florida conditions. Across four THE PLAYERS Championship appearances, Straka has two top-20 finishes (9th in 2022, 16th in 2024), further confirming his suitability for the layout. Bamford noted Straka's additional Pete Dye course success, including wins at PGA West, and strong finishes at Harbour Town (3rd, 4th) and TPC River Highlands (10th). Currently ranked 13th in the OWGR and motivated to secure a spot on Team Europe, Straka is poised for another strong showing.

Steve Bamford suggests Aaron Rai as an undervalued play heading into TPC Sawgrass. Rai, now settled locally in Ponte Vedra Beach and regularly practicing at Sawgrass, is well suited to the course's fairway-and-greens game plan. Rai finished 19th in his debut and was notably 4th entering the final day in 2023. His recent form is encouraging, highlighted by an 11th placing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, showing improvement on courses far longer than Sawgrass. A winner on tight, Bermudagrass-based courses like Fanling (Hong Kong Open) and Sedgefield (2024 Wyndham Championship), Rai's consistent tee-to-green excellence—ranking 4th and 9th in his last two events—positions him to capitalize at a course favoring accuracy over length. Slower greens anticipated this week could further improve his putting numbers and enhance his chances.

Steve Bamford highlights Michael Kim as an intriguing longshot candidate at this year's THE PLAYERS Championship, noting his strong momentum and extra motivation to secure a first-ever invitation to Augusta National. The in-form Kim has surged to career-best 52nd in the OWGR after impressive performances: 2nd at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, 6th at Cognizant Classic and 4th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, excelling against elite fields. Ranked 5th this season in strokes gained tee-to-green and 1st in bogey avoidance, Kim possesses key attributes suited perfectly to TPC Sawgrass—a course punishing mistakes. Bamford emphasizes Kim's current confidence and form outweigh previous records and suggest Kim as a value-added sleeper poised for a big week.