Perry’s ZOZO Championship Betting Picks and Preview: Harman Is Worth a Look as a Longshot

Perry’s ZOZO Championship Betting Picks and Preview: Harman Is Worth a Look as a Longshot article feature image
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Matthew Bolt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Brian Harman

  • The 2020 ZOZO Championship will take place on Thursday at the Sherwood Country Club in Lake Sherwood, California.
  • Joshua Perry broke down his betting card ahead of the tournament and shared why he thinks Brian Harman is worth a look as a longshot.

Much like last week's CJ Cup, the 2020 ZOZO Championship is headlined by a venue shift.

After the event debuted with a Tiger Woods win in Japan, it will move to Sherwood Country Club in Los Angeles for the 2020 edition.

Sherwood has never hosted an official PGA TOUR event, but it was the home of what is now the Hero World Challenge from 2000-2013. Woods won five time during that stretch so he should feel comfortable about his chances to defend his ZOZO title.

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The Course

Sherwood is pretty short by TOUR standards, measuring just 7,073 yards for a par 72. It includes five par 5s, all easily reachable for most of the field, so I'd expect the winner to get close to 20-under par again this week.

Outside of Tiger Woods, the other previous winners resemble something we'd see at a course like Harbour Town. Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson and Luke Donald each won here, while Graeme McDowell has a pair of victories at Sherwood.

If the bombers can keep it in play, they have the advantage like usual. But given how short the course is, precision players who find a lot of greens should have be able to hang with the big hitters.

With the shift back to California for the first time since the PGA Championship, you may want to keep your eye out for good Poa putters.


[Track all of your PGA TOUR bets by downloading the free Action Network App.]


The Favorites

Jon Rahm and last week's runner-up Xander Schauffele opened as the co-favorites at +1000 with Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy right behind them at +1200.

If I had to pick someone from this section of the board I'd ride with Thomas since he's usually the best iron player of that crew, but I'm not really looking to back any of them this week.

That said, I will start my card in this range with Webb Simpson (+2000). Simpson is in a great run of form with six top-20 finishes in his last seven outings. And since Harbour Town seems to be a good corollary course with Sherwood, I'm happy to back Simpson, who won at Harbour Town in June.

[Bet Webb Simpson at bet365. NJ only.]

The Mid-Tier

With a play at the top of the board, I'll be pretty limited in this range. I do like Brian Harman at +9000, though.

Harman is a good wedge player and has good putting numbers on Poa. The 33-year-old has been consistently playing well and was able to work himself into contention at the Shriners two weeks ago, though a poor final round dropped him outside the top-10.

With this course being on the shorter side, it should favor Harman's style of play.

[Bet Brian Harman at bet365. NJ only.]

The Longshots

My last play will be on Lanto Griffin at +11000.

Griffin is a solid iron player and is coming off a top-10 finish at the CJ Cup. The 32-year-old seems to be dialed in and has only lost strokes on his approach once in the last four months.

Griffin is typically a good putter who struggles off the tee, but there's a chance that length won't be as important this week, so that weakness could be masked a bit.

[Bet Lanto Griffin at DraftKings and get a $1,000 sign-up bonus.]

The Zozo Card

  • Webb Simpson +2000 (1.65 units)
  • Brian Harman +9000 (.37 units)
  • Lanto Griffin +11000 (.3 units)

Total Stake: 2.32 units

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