2019 Australian PGA Championship Preview

Some of the best in the world will make their way to Australia and the RACV Royal Pines Resort for the Australian PGA Championship this week. While Adam Scott is the top-ranked player in the field by far, Cameron Smith is the two-time defending champion looking to make it three in a row this time around. Co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia, 121 players will tee off in the Gold Coast this week for the opportunity to earn their share of an impressive $1.5 million purse.

DETAILS

EVENT: AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
CATEGORY: EUROPEAN
DATE: DECEMBER 19TH-22ND, 2019
LOCATION: RACV ROYAL PINES RESORT, GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA

PAST FOUR WINNERS AT GOLD COAST

2018: CAMERON SMITH -16
2017: CAMERON SMITH -18
2016: HAROLD VARNER III -19
2015: NATHAN HOLMAN E

Smith followed up an impressive winning score of 18-under in 2017 with a 16-under here a year ago to successfully defend his title. While his course form is second to none over the past couple of years, he will have some tough competition in the form of Scott, Jason Scrivener, Cameron Champ and more this time around.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE COURSE

The Royal Pines course will host the Australian PGA Championship for the seventh time. While the course is generally flat for the most part, water will come in to play at 13 different holes. Temperatures are usually fairly normal for this time of the season. However, the fact that the course is located so close to the coast means there is always the prospect for rain. Following a major redesign in 2014 and 2015, those that have teed off here in recent years should have an edge when it comes to what to expect at this venue.

A GOOD MATCHUP TO BET: ADAM SCOTT OVER CAMERON SMITH

For as impressive as Smith has been in the last two renewals of this event, it’s almost impossible to expect him to win it a third time in a row. At the same time, Scott has finished in all three podium positions at Royal Pines since it first hosted this tournament, including a win here back in 2013. The Australian will be looking to capitalize on the opportunity to unseat Smith and win this event for a second time in 2019. Considering that Smith is due for regression, this looks like a solid matchup to bet on. With such a mediocre field beyond the betting favorites, it makes sense to stick to this spotlight matchup and take Scott over Smith at this year’s Australian PGA Championship.

5 TRENDS WORTH NOTING FOR THE AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

-Adam Scott has placed first, second and third at this event since it moved to Royal Pines

-Calum Hill is already a three-time winner on the Challenge Tour and could surprise at decent value

-Jason Scrivener is a native Australian worth keeping an eye on this week after a solid string of performances despite just one victory over the past two years

-Australians have won every renewal of this event but one dating back to 1999 (Harold Varner III, 2016)

-Greg Chalmers is another two-time winner of this event dating back to its time known as the PGA Tour of Australasia and is available at 100/1 odds

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