Forget that Hurley is going through the most emotional day in the biggest tournament of his life, on the biggest stage of his career, in a position he has been in only once before with 100% of the world pulling for him.
I mean c'mon, a Naval Officer who worked his way on to tour after serving his country then lost his father to suicide two weeks after asking the world to help him find that same father who had gone missing during this same tournament last year in which he finished a career best T4, now gets a sponsor exemption and shoots 64 in the first round and holds the 2nd 54 hole lead of his PGA Tour career, its like a movie script.
How can you not want to see this great American pick up his first win ever in front of the whole country in the nation's capitol? …You lay a few units on Els (+105), that’s how!
38 yr old journeyman Billy Hurley III is out of his league here. He is matched up with one of the greatest players of all time on a major championship course that Hall of Fame Member Ernie Els loves so much that he looks and feels like he is in his prime again. He actually says he hit the greatest shot of his life in 1997 on #17 (now #18) en route to winning the US Open.
BH3 is giving up 10-30 yards per hole on one of the longest courses in the history of golf, set up with Sunday pins, to a world class player who is scoring so well this week he is -13 under and in solo 2nd despite only hitting 50% GIR..
Els is really rich, I would even call him wealthy. He has been smart with his money. He is also a great guy, genuine and polite. I remember when he closed down the bar at the club where I used to work with about a dozen members and a few bottles of Johnny Walker one Sunday night after he finished like T25 at The Buick. He treated those guys like they were long lost family and he had just won The Masters! The staff as well. Incredibly cool and gracious. Over tipping and apologizing for keeping them late. Hurley even mentioned how nice Els has been to him when asked about the final pairing with the South African hero.
Here's the thing, Els will honestly be pulling for Hurley tomorrow, he really will. Ernie Els has more money and respect from the game of golf and his peers than he ever dreamed of having. He also has a great heart. He really wants to win but he would love to see Hurley win as well. When Hurley hits a good shot it won't bother Big Easy at all. It might even make him feel good inside, which brings me to my final point. Billy has a 2 shot lead, he can afford to surrender a stroke and still pull off the greatest win of the year and dare I say, in modern military golf history. Els backers can root for a miracle, maybe even witness one, and still collect with a clean conscience!
E. ELS (+105) over B. Hurley III (-125) for my max, 5 units.
Two other plays I like:
T. Finau (-105) over B. DeChambeau (-115) / Really simple, the longest player on tour vs a rookie with a kooky swing on a lonnnnnng courrrrse on a Sunday. 1 unit
R. Garrigus (-115) over H. Varner III (-105) / I have made 10 units this week betting Garrigus over shorter players (Molanari and Hearn). HV3 is not short, he's actually pretty long, but the rookie finished Saturday's round eagle, birdie, birdie to match 70's with RG and all three hole outs were minor miracles (80 yds, 60 feet and 18 feet from the fringe at the last). He probably feels like he just won the tournament, but he has the toughest day on tap and Garrigus (#2 in SGP this week) is salty after bogeying #15 and #18. Look for the vet to hit more than 7 fairways Sunday and continue to make his share of putts while eyeing his biggest check of the year plus British Open exemption, a tournament which he is desperate to play in as he knows he has the game to win a major. I feel like Varner would do well to shoot even par and would probably sign for 71 happily if offered before his final round on this beastly setup. 3 units