Predictions and Picks for the CJ Cup – PGA Tour Best Bets

A robust field of 78 descends on the ultra-private oasis in Summerlin for the fifth edition of the CJ Cup. Carved into the base of Red Rock Canyon and featuring unobstructed views of the Strip, the Summit Club is packed with unmatched amenities that would impress any Vegas high roller.

Designed for the “1% of the 1%,” a piece of dirt inside the confines recently sold for $36 million. Rather than dive into the gaudy lot prices and/or the six-figure membership fees, let’s get straight to the good stuff.

Here are my best CJ Cup betting picks.

Jason Kokrak rode his distinct course knowledge at last year’s CJ Cup all the way to a victory (at Shadow Creek). The MGM Resorts ambassador has played the Summit before, but there’s one man in this field who knows this layout like the back of his hand.

That same man also happens to be the third-ranked player in the world.

This is where Morikawa spends countless hours honing his craft. The Las Vegas resident and member of the Summit battled back issues down the stretch of the 2020-21 PGA Tour season, but as we saw at Whistling Straits, Collin’s “back” to “all systems go.”

Morikawa’s precision off the tee (10^th in total driving) and accuracy into the greens (5^th in GIR) has him lined up to attack the relatively benign par-72 layout. Let’s not forget that he putted the ball beautifully at the Ryder Cup, and let’s highlight the fact that he’s shot 62 here before.

All signs point toward Collin’s backyard affair turning into a fruitful week.

Louis made his hay last season by rolling the rock better than anyone else on TOUR. After watching him stripe the ball all week long at TPC Summerlin (+8.886 SG: Tee-to-Green), I expect the peaceful South African to light it up at the Summit.

Louis Oosthuizen very quietly finished T14 last week, but was third in SG Tee-to-Green. He lost 1.88 strokes putting, which is uncharacteristic for the no. 1 putter on TOUR last season. pic.twitter.com/ITrocPfeqX

— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) October 11, 2021

On the heels of a solid performance at the Shriners, Louis has now landed 18^th or better in 9 of his last 11 starts. That stretch includes a trio of 2^nd-place finishes (two in majors) and a T3 at The Open.

Lurking at all of the top golf betting apps at +3000 to win, Oosthuizen’s one of my “can’t-miss” CJ Cup at Summit predictions.

17 of the 24 Ryder Cup participants are teeing it up at the Summit. So are a bunch of International studs like Sungjae Im, Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Smith, Abraham Ancer, and the aforementioned Louis Oosthuizen.

And yet there are still plenty of intriguing names after scrolling past these individuals. 

Here are two that stick out like sore thumbs.

Playing some stellar golf over the last few months, I wanted to see a bit more out of Aaron Wise and his broomstick before I went back to the well. After ranking 26^th in SG: Putting and 15^th in putts per GIR last week, I’m ready to invest.

Everything’s starting to click as Aaron’s a sizzling 32-under par in eight rounds this season. (67.5 scoring average). Perhaps it all comes together in the city he used to call home.

Standing in the par-5 9^th fairway on Friday (his final hole of the day) some 261 yards away from the hole, Henley needed to get up and down just to make the cut. He did, then he proceeded to shoot 66-67 over the weekend and vault into a tie for 21^st.

Riding the momentum from a solid finish, Russell now makes the 10-mile trek south to a golf course that should suit his eye to a tee. This Tom Fazio design is a sanctuary for elite ball-strikers – nobody hit their irons better than Henley did last week (1^st in SG: Approach).

Henley clocked in 6^th last season in SG: Approach, but his numbers early on in 2022 are nothing short of staggering. 

Between the four CJ Cup picks promoted on this page, you could be in for a serious sweat on Sunday. Sungjae Im and Matthew Wolff were both tabbed in last week’s PGA best bets column – let’s see if we can hit a winner for the second straight week.