PGA Tour Black Desert Championship Betting Preview & Key Picks | 10/10/24

PGA Tour – Black Desert Championship
Where: Black Desert Resort (Ivins, UT)
When: October 10th to 13th
Watch: The Golf Channel, ESPN+

The FedEx Fall season of the PGA Tour continues this Thursday as a mixed field will head west to Utah to battle the scenic Black Desert golf course at Black Desert Resort. The field is a bit thinner than some other events on tour, but that adds to the unpredictability and excitement that it is bound to bring. I, for one, will never miss an opportunity to watch golf year-round, and if you’re like me, you won’t want to miss this championship event.

The golf course at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, is a remarkable destination for golf enthusiasts, known for its unique and dramatic landscape. Located amidst the stunning scenery of southern Utah, this course offers a truly distinctive golfing experience. The course is characterized by its black lava rock formations, which create a striking contrast against the lush green fairways and the surrounding red rock cliffs. This natural beauty provides a breathtaking backdrop for golfers and spectators and makes every hole a visual treat.

The course was designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Weiskopf and features a challenging yet enjoyable layout. The course spans over 7,200 yards from the championship tees, offering a variety of holes that test different aspects of a golfer’s game. The course features highly strategic bunkering, undulating greens, and drastic elevation changes. Black Desert will demand precision and thoughtful shot-making throughout the tournament. The course features a mix of par 3s, 4s, and 5s that emphasize the natural landscape and native vegetation. Natural hazards will add to the difficulty and require careful navigation from tee box to approach shots. All eyes will be on the signature par 3 7th hole, which will demand accuracy over the desert wash into a well-protected green. Proficiency on this hole and the other par 3s can make or break a golfer’s round, while others will be forced to take risks on the longer holes to make up for missed opportunities.

Key Players to Watch

The field set to take on Black Desert features a mix of seasoned pros and some rising stars. The names may not be household, but this should be an exciting tournament nonetheless. I am keeping my eye on players who have excelled in similar desert-style courses and those who have solid putting play. The greens are likely to be lightning fast in these dry conditions, and putting will no doubt be a key factor in determining how the leaderboard shakes out. Let’s take a look at who I am honing in on and placing my money on as Thursday’s round creeps in.

JJ Spaun – Top 10 Finish (+300)

One golfer that I have keyed in on for this tournament is JJ Spaun. Spaun is known for his consistency and solid all-around game as well as his accuracy off the tee and with his approach shots. He features a pretty steady putting stroke and tends to avoid big mistakes that can derail a round quickly. This year, he has posted a T3 and T9 at the Wyndham Championship and the 3M Open, which shows his ability to compete at a high level. In a somewhat watered-down field, I like his chances to crack the top 10 once again.

Lucas Glover – Top 10 Finish (+250)

Glover is one of the few golfers in this field with a major win to his name, coming at the 2009 US Open. A journeyman of the PGA, Glover has multiple PGA Tour victories and has showcased consistency and the ability to elevate his skills over the years. His driving accuracy is way above tour average, highlighted by a 1.9 true strokes gained in this phase. His accuracy off the tee box ranks in the 96th percentile of all golfers on tour, which will be a real asset here at Black Desert. He will need to improve his putting with the challenges of the undulating greens, but in his last two events, he has netted positive putting strokes gained en route to finishing positions of T3 and T13. I expect that he will ride his recent momentum into Utah and shine at this event.