There are certain events on the PGA Tour that are a little more iconic than others. The majors are, of course, at the top of the list, but there are also a few that always seem to draw a quality field of players. The Desert Classic, which has been around since 1960, is one of those tournaments, with the 2019 version set to go this weekend at the PGA West Stadium Course in La Quinta, California.
This event has delivered some memorable moments, including a stunning 59-shot round by David Duval back in 1999. It is Jon Rahm who is in as the defending champion this weekend, but this is an event that never seems to see a player repeat. Let’s take a look at the favorites at latest golf betting odds for the 2019 Desert Classic.
2019 Desert Classic Odds & Golf Expert Preview
2018 #FedExCup Champion @JustinRose99 gets 2019 underway at the @Desert_Classic. https://t.co/t4BbVAWPX4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) 16 de enero de 2019
- Location: La Quinta, California & Palm Desert, California
- Established: 1960, 59 years ago
- Course(s): PGA West Stadium Course, PGA West Course La Quinta Country Club
- Par: 72
- Organized by: Desert Classic Charities
- Tour: PGA
- Format: Stroke Play
- Prize fund: $5.9 million
- Live Stream: PGA Tour Live
Jon Rahm
- 2019 Desert Classic Odds to Win: +650
At just 24 years of age, Rahm is very much on the brink of having a breakthrough year in the PGA. As mentioned earlier, he was the winner at the Desert Classic in 2018 and is once again the favorite this time around.
The issue with Rahm, who has 2 career wins, is that he is more often than not a top 5 or 10 finisher than one who lands at the top of the leaderboard. Rahm has played a couple of tournaments in the early part of the season and has just one top 10 finish to his name. He is a deserving favortite, but as we said, this is a tournament that never delivers a repeat winner.
Justin Rose
- 2019 Desert Classic Odds to Win: +900
It was a stellar year for Justin Rose in 2018, as he closed out the season as the FedEx Cup Champion, a win that took him to #1 in the world rankings.
He has deservedly taken some time off since that win, but he did deliver a solid performance in the single tournament that he played in this season, finishing 3rd in the World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions event. That would suggest that Rose is ready to carry over his success from last season into 2019. With that in mind, I think that Rose will come out on top on Sunday afternoon.
Patrick Cantlay
- 2019 Desert Classic Odds to Win: +1600
Cantlay only has a single career win on the PGA Tour, but he has made a very good start to the 2019 season. He already has a pair of top 10 finishes under his belt, with his best showing being a second-place finish at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open.
Cantlay is currently ranked in the top 20 in the world rankings and his fast start to the season has him in at the #11 spot in the FedEx Cup rankings in the early going. I don’t see Cantlay winning this one, but he may be a solid top 5 bet.
Charles Howell III
- Desert Classic Odds to Win: +2000
At 39 years of age, Howell III is a PGA Tour veteran, and while he has had some success over the years, he does only have 3 wins on his PGA resume.
That said, one of those wins came this season, with Howell III landing at the top of the leaderboard at the RSM Classic. Besides that win, he also has a pair of top 10 finishes this season, with that fast start vaulting him up to the #5 ranking in the FedEx Cup. He may well be a solid dark horse bet here.
Last 10 Champions
- 2018: Jon Rahm
- 2017: Hudson Swafford
- 2016: Jason Dufner
- 2015: Bill Haas
- 2014: Patrick Reed
- 2013: Brian Gay
- 2012: Mark Wilson
- 2011: Johnattan Vegas
- 2010: Bill Haas
- 2009: Pat Perez
