This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
This week the PGA Tour heads to South Korea for the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges. This will be the second installment of this event as it made the cut for the 2018-19 schedule. The event will again be held at The Club at Nine Bridges, which means we have course history to use, albeit severely limited. As always, use caution when using big names during the fall portion of the season as there's no way to tell where their minds are. Motivation is a huge factor during fall, and a lot of guys just don't have as much as they will during the heart of the season.
This week: The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges - The Club at Nine Bridges, Jeju Island, South Korea
Last Year: Justin Thomas shot a final-round 70 on his way to a playoff victory over Marc Leishman.
FAVORITES
Justin Thomas (5-1)
Thomas enters this week with the same odds as last week. Thomas failed to win last week, but he played well on his way to a top-5. Thomas is the defending champion this week and is close to top form. The field has a little more punch this week, but Thomas is the clear favorite once again.
Brooks Koepka (8-1)
Koepka enters as the second favorite, but his name is likely driving up these odds. Koepka did not play this event last year, which means he'll be a first-timer here this week. Normally that wouldn't be a big deal, but considering it's
This week the PGA Tour heads to South Korea for the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges. This will be the second installment of this event as it made the cut for the 2018-19 schedule. The event will again be held at The Club at Nine Bridges, which means we have course history to use, albeit severely limited. As always, use caution when using big names during the fall portion of the season as there's no way to tell where their minds are. Motivation is a huge factor during fall, and a lot of guys just don't have as much as they will during the heart of the season.
This week: The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges - The Club at Nine Bridges, Jeju Island, South Korea
Last Year: Justin Thomas shot a final-round 70 on his way to a playoff victory over Marc Leishman.
FAVORITES
Justin Thomas (5-1)
Thomas enters this week with the same odds as last week. Thomas failed to win last week, but he played well on his way to a top-5. Thomas is the defending champion this week and is close to top form. The field has a little more punch this week, but Thomas is the clear favorite once again.
Brooks Koepka (8-1)
Koepka enters as the second favorite, but his name is likely driving up these odds. Koepka did not play this event last year, which means he'll be a first-timer here this week. Normally that wouldn't be a big deal, but considering it's been a couple months since Koepka was at his best, he seems a bit overvalued.
Jason Day (12-1)
Day finished T11 at this event last year, which happened to be the same spot he finished in his other fall start last year. Day appears to have the motivation to succeed whenever he plays, but he didn't have his best form at the end of last season and unless he found it the last few weeks, he's overpriced like Koepka this week.
MID-TIER GOLFERS
Marc Leishman (14-1)
I normally shy away from the guy who won the previous week, but it was just over a year ago that Leishman went on a tear and showed us what he's capable of when he's in a groove. He's definitely in a groove now, and he had little trouble getting around this course last year on his way to a playoff loss to JT.
Cameron Smith (28-1)
Smith shot 16-under last week and still finished 10 shots behind the winner. The course was obviously as easy as it gets on the PGA Tour, but four rounds in the 60s is impressive nonetheless. On a much more difficult course, the one they are playing this week, Smith shot 8-under last year, which was good for third place.
Emiliano Grillo (35-1)
Grillo did not fare well here last year, as he finished T40. But he enters this year's event in much better form, which will surely result in a better showing. Grillo was at the front of the pack that was miles behind Leishman last week. In other words, he finished T2 at the CIMB Classic.
LONGSHOTS
Kevin Na (50-1)
Na didn't fare well at this event last year, but, as mentioned, with such a limited course history, there are any number of reasons why a specific golfer would have played well or poorly here last year. What we do know is that Na is in pretty good form entering this week, having shot all four rounds in the 60s last week.
Abraham Ancer (66-1)
Ancer continues to fly under the radar even though he's played at a high level for the better part of the last three months. Included in that run was a top-5 last week at the CIMB Classic. Ancer is a first-timer this week, but that was the case entering last week's event as well and that turned out OK.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Optimal pick: Justin Thomas - For those who faded Thomas last week, he is again the best option for the one-and-done format. Thomas is the defending champ and played well enough to win last week, but he and everyone else ran into the buzzsaw known as Marc Leishman.
Buyer beware: Brooks Koepka - Koepka will be a mainstay on this list this season unless it's the week of a major. Koepka admitted after his PGA Championship win that he has a hard time getting up for non-majors, and considering he's won three in the last two seasons, there's no reason to use him prior to the first major.
Last week: Justin Thomas (T5) - $237,300; Season - $247,415
This week: Marc Leishman - There will be a couple good spots to use Leishman later in the season, but if he's about to go on a run, then I might as well use him now. Leishman destroyed the field last week and if he carries any of that momentum into this week, he'll be in the mix come last Sunday.
FANDUEL PICKS
High/Mid/Low: Justin Thomas ($13,100)/Marc Leishman ($11,700)/Abraham Ancer ($8,700)
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: no cut; Streak - 1
This week: no cut
