By J.T. CHADWELL
RECAP
Matt Fitzpatrick continues his white hot streak this season and alongside his brother Alex Fitzpatrick grabbed his second straight win, which also helped Alex get his PGA Tour card for the remainder of this season and next season. The Fitzpatrick brothers were the morning line favorite for the event, holding off tip sheet favorite Kristoffer Reitan and his partner Kris Ventura. As we put New Orleans behind us, the next stop is Doral Golf Club in Miami.
With the upcoming tournament being essentially a new event, past history and trends become fairly irrelevant. The last time this event was held was 10 years ago when the World Golf Championships were the equivalent of today’s Signature Events. Doral is a typical South Florida Bermuda course that some familiar faces have had success with, but have never seen this course in competition. A few players in the field this week have played here and had a little bit of success. But, overall this is a very long golf course that will require lots of length off the tee and a good week with the mid to long irons.
THE BETTING CARD
It looks to be another week where we don’t have a ton of data or trends to use for research. Scottie Scheffler is in the field again, and we will look to play away from him in the without market. Here are a few players this week that could take advantage of what Doral has to offer.
- CHRIS GOTTERUP (+2200) – Gotterup remains one of the top players in the field each week he tees it up. His length will be an asset this week on a golf course where the likes of Dustin Johnson, JB Holmes, and Bubba Watson all have had success.
- SAM BURNS (+2450) – Not my favorite player to have on a betting card, but Burns is really playing well right now. He has plenty of length to overtake this golf course and really putts Bermuda greens extremely well.
- KURT KITAYAMA (+3100) – Kitayama went through a downturn in form at the end of 2025 and the beginning of this season, but has really turned it around as of late. A previous winner of the Bay Hill Invitational where long drives and good long irons are a must. He should love the setup here as well.
- AKSHAY BHATIA (+4100) – Bhjatia has cooled off a little bit since winning the Bay Hill Invitational earlier this season, but it’s been more due to inconsistent golf than it has been bad golf. His short game hasn’t been great the last couple events, and he played a terrible round at The Masters. I like him to get back into contention this week.
- GARY WOODLAND (+6000) – Woodland will be a popular pick this week, but with his length and his current run of form, it is rightfully justified and this number is impossible to ignore. Plus, I cannot get the visual of his shot into the 18th green at Harbour Town on Sunday out of my head. The eagle from 204 yards out into a howling wind into the Sunday pin on 18 is one of the best shots I have seen.
- ALDRICH POTGIETER (+11500) – So the course requires length and iron play? Look no further than big Aldrich. He is the longest professional in the world and can eat this course up if he can keep his ball dry. More impressively, I am very optimistic about his finish at Harbour Town on a golf course that doesn’t suit his game in the least bit. Potgieter was in contention for a little bit before fading on Sunday to a T25.
- NICO ECHAVARRIA (+29000) – Another previous winner in South Florida this year, Echavarria has the ability to finish first or last every time he tees it up. He grades out as one of the best Bermuda grass players when in Florida. That’s enough for me to jump at these odds and hope it is one of his good weeks.