Hello Gents,

Last week’s Farmers Insurance Open in La Jolla, California, saw Harris English secure his fifth PGA Tour victory, finishing at 8-under par, narrowly defeating Sam Stevens by one stroke. English’s win ended a nearly four-year title drought following hip surgery. For his performance, he earned a prize of $1,674,000. In the final standings, Andrew Novak finished third at 6-under par, while Kris Ventura and Sungjae Im tied for fourth at *5-under.

This week, we have the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which is set to begin on Thursday, January 30, featuring a two-course rotation: Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. This year, the tournament has been designated as a Signature Event, attracting a strong field of 80 professionals, including world number one Scottie Scheffler, returning after hand surgery, and Rory McIlroy, making his 2025 PGA Tour debut.

Course Details:

• Pebble Beach Golf Links: A par-72 course measuring 6,972 yards, known for its iconic coastal holes and small greens.

• Spyglass Hill Golf Course: A par-72 course stretching over 7,000 yards, featuring tree-lined fairways and challenging greens.

• Coastal winds and unpredictable weather every year

• Personal Favorite Hole: Number 6 (Par 5) super UPHILL. Watch a little demonstration of the GOAT getting up there.

Tournament Format:

• Thursday and Friday: The 80 professionals will be paired in twos, playing one round at each course.

• Saturday and Sunday: The final two rounds will be contested solely by professionals at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

With a $20 million purse and 700 FedExCup points at stake, the competition promises to be intense. Defending champion Wyndham Clark returns after setting a course record last year, but he had a tough finish to his season. It will be interesting to see how he defends his title this time around.

This golf course isn’t for the bombers, but rather for the dart-throwing wedge players. If you’re looking to make a pick or bet, go with the Wedge Wizards. With that being said, let’s dive into Brennan’s Back Nine Picks.

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Favorites

• Scottie Scheffler: Returning from hand surgery, Scheffler is the betting favorite with odds around +400. He tied for sixth in this event last year.

• Rory McIlroy: Making his 2025 PGA Tour debut, McIlroy has odds of approximately +1200. While he has struggled with Pebble Beach’s small greens in the past, his talent makes him a strong contender (though I’d honestly be shocked if he wins).

• Collin Morikawa: Also listed at +1200, Morikawa’s precision iron playsuits the demands of Pebble Beach. (Keep an eye on this guy!)

• Justin Thomas: With odds around +1400, Thomas is another player to watch, known for his strong all-around game.

• Ludvig Åberg: After a strong performance following knee surgery, Åberg is an attractive pick at +1600. (Hopefully, he’s feeling better; I love this kid).

My Picks

Straight-Up Winner: Justin Thomas (+1400)

• JT is in great form right now, and with his wedge play and accuracy, I see him being in the final pairing going into Sunday afternoon.

• Justin Thomas has come into the 2025 season with a laser-sharp focus, determined to return to the top of his game. After a strong start to the year, including impressive performances at the Farmers Insurance Open and The American Express, he’s been fine-tuning his wedge play and short game—crucial skills for courses like Pebble Beach. With his all-around talent and hunger to reclaim a major victory, Thomas looks poised for a breakout season, making him one of the top contenders at every event he enters.

Straight-Up Winners to Watch:

• Scottie Scheffler (+400): I’m strictly waiting for his odds to go down on Thursday or Friday, then I’ll take him at around 9/1 to 11/1.

• Patrick Cantlay (+1800): Cantlay has achieved four consecutive top-11 finishes at Pebble Beach, including two top-5s, highlighting his strong track record at this event.

• Dark Horse: Beau Hossler (+6000)
  • At The American Express (January 16-19, 2025), Hossler tied for 12th place with a 17-under-par score, posting rounds of 66, 70, 65, and 70.
  • At The Farmers Insurance Open (January 22-25, 2025), he secured a tie for 6th place, finishing at 10-under par. Also, the guy has a great name!

Top Picks

• Top 20 (Including Ties): +9466
  • Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Beau Hossler, Shane Lowry, Denny McCarthy.

DraftKings $200K Pitch + Putt (50K to First) Challenge (Full Tournament Challenge)

• Scottie Scheffler
• Justin Thomas
• Brian Harman
• Beau Hossler
• Denny McCarthy
• Nick Taylor

Good luck, Gents, hit ’em straight, and remember—Scottie Scheffler is back! Keep an eye on what he does on Thursday and Friday!