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While it may seem like fun and games, the QBE Shootout offers a hefty prize pool to the winners in this unofficial PGA Tour event. The fun and frivolity at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla. puts an end to the 2021 portion of the Tour season with the fun and unique format consisting of 12 two-person teams playing a different stroke-play format over three days. The team of Harris English and Matt Kuchar go for their second straight title and fourth overall as the third favorite on the opening golf betting lines.
There are several notable differences between the QBE Shootout and other PGA Tour events. The first obviously is the team format. Also, the tournament lasts only three days covering 54 holes instead of the usual four-day, 72-hole events we see throughout the year. And every day features a different scoring format. Friday’s opening round will be a scramble followed by a modified alternate shot format on Saturday. Sunday’s final round will be a better ball.
English and Kuchar lapped the field last year with a record score of 37-under to win by nine shots. It was the sixth time the duo played together and their third win. They also took home the hardware in 2013 and 2016 while also finishing as runner-up twice. At No. 17 English is the second-highest player in the Official World Golf Ranking. The win here last season was one of three for English, who also toppled the field in the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Travelers Championship.
The team of Sam Burns and Billy Horschel has the shortest gold odds on the board, which isn’t a complete surprise since Burns is the highest ranked player in the field at No. 13. Outside the top-150 earlier this year, Burns made a move up the rankings with six top-10s in his last nine starts. His worst finish in that stretch was a T21 in THE NORTHERN TRUST and he captured the title at the Sanderson Farms Championship in October. With his strong close to the year Burns has emerged as an early favorite in PGA golf odds to win the 2022 FedExCup.
Odds to win QBE Shootout
Sam Burns / Billy Horschel +385
Jason Kokrak / Kevin Na +550
Harris English / Matt Kuchar +705
Max Homa / Kevin Kisner +725
Jason Day / Marc Leishman +815
Corey Conners / Graeme McDowell +1050
Ian Poulter / Lee Westwood +1085
Sean O’Hair / Will Zalatoris +1250
Brian Harman / Hudson Swafford +1350
Ryan Palmer / Matt Jones +1450
K.H. Lee / Brandt Snedeker +1650
Lexi Thompson / Bubba Watson +3050
It is a fun event and being the last tournament before Christmas some players could be in Holiday mode. There is a good sum of money to the winning team, however, which will certainly help defray the cost of gifts this season with prices rising all over the place. But I digress. It’s hard to find value with a small field and the team concept isn’t used that often. I guess you’re only as good as your teammate so bankrolling pairings with highly ranked players is a good move. I guess that’s why Burns/Horschel is sitting atop the odds board.
The tandem of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood has some value to it. Both have played below their capabilities this year, which is why their price is where it is. The Brits teamed up previously earning a third-place showing in 2013. Poulter is on the fringe of the top-50 and Westwood has been a force on the PGA Tour and international tours for years. He hasn’t been at the top of his game, but he’s still a magnificent player and this team has plenty of upside with a nice price.
Australian’s Jason Day and Marc Leishman are joining forces for the first time in this event, though they are not strangers to the competition. Day won the title in 2014 with a different partner and Leishman captured the Zurich Classic of New Orleans earlier this year with Cameron Smith. Together they should form a captivating duo that has a strong chance of coming out on top.
It’s not an official tournament on the PGA Tour schedule and some players could also be in Holiday mode, but it is a competition with a good chunk of change on the line and sportsbooks have golf odds this week for the winning team. You can find those odds at Sugarhouse.
