The QBE Shootout returns to Naples, Fla., for one of the more fun events of the golf season. This event dates back to 1989, and Greg Norman always has been the host of this team competition. What most will remember as the Shark Shootout is played at the Tiburon Golf Club on a Norman-designed course. The format for this three-day event is unique, with a scramble on Friday, modified alternate shot on Saturday and Fourball on Sunday.
The co-favorites at 5/1 are the teams of Bryson DeChambeau/Kevin Na and Cameron Champ/Kevin Kisner. DeChambeau is the highest-ranked player participating here and won four events in 2018 and Na also got back in the winner’s circle at Greenbrier. If there were odds on slow play, these two technical junkies might be the inverse as 1/5 favorites.
The plays: Billy Horschel/Brandt Snedeker (11/2)
An elite ballstriker (Horschel) and an elite putter (Snedeker) should make for a solid combination. Horschel garnered two thirds at the Northern Trust and BMW Championship before a season-best second at the Tour Championship. Snedeker got back in the winner’s circle at the Wyndham and also finished tied for second at the Safeway Open.
Tony Finau/Lexi Thompson (15/1)
They are very much a long-shot duo, but they did finish fourth here last year. Finau came up short of a win again last week at the Hero World Challenge with another second-place finish, but for the first time in his career he is now a top 10-ranked player in the world (at ninth). Meanwhile, Thompson won the CME Group Tour Championship on this very course just three weeks ago. This week’s setup will be around 700 yards longer than what she played at that event but the format here should help mitigate the length disadvantage.
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