Riviera In Los Angeles has long since been the host for this, one of the most prestigious events of the calendar year. The field doesn't disappoint and probably will turn out to be the strongest field of the year outside the majors. The tree lined track is challenging off the tee with fairways notoriously hard to hit. Kikuyu rough awaits errant shots and can cause huge problems. Being blocked out by trees is another factor for those straying from the tee. Good conditions await this week and certainly firmer, faster conditions than last year. Despite it being a challenging off the tee it hasn't stopped the bombers making hay here over the last number of years. Bubba, Dustin and Holmes have shared 5 of the last 6 events here and there is no doubting the sluggers will have a significant advantage. Mickelson obliged a few times also as well as fellow Masters champions Adam Scott, Mike Weir, Nick Faldo, Craig Stadler and Fred Couples. Augusta runner ups Chip Beck, Len Mattiace and Ernie Els all have wins around Riviera also so Augusta form is clearly a pointer to a potential winner here.

It is extremely hard to separate the top three in the market. McIlroy holds better claims in my eyes simply because I believe that he is in the same type of form when he went on that major spree a number of years ago. He is in tip top shape and when he is nobody can live with him. Thomas and Rahm have big chances but again it is very difficult to choose between them and there is little value in any of them when they're so closely matched. This will be fought out between some of the best in the game but there are others at more tempting prices that will make our shortlist.

CAMERON SMITH (125-1 / 6 places) sits at a huge price on the exchanges and is big enough with the bookmakers for me to get involved this week. The Aussie was hugely impressive with the way he dispatched Brendan Steele in Hawaii despite his back being against the wall for most of the final day. His clutch putting at crucial times was a sign that he has nerves of steel and I expect him to make further gains this season. He is 4 from 4 here with a 6th placed finish back in 2018 where conditions were firm and fast similar to what we will see this week. He showed what he could do in firm conditions when finishing 4th in the US Open at Chambers Bay a number of years ago. Aussies have a good record here also mostly because of their ability to cope with the Kikuyu with Scott, Baddeley and Allenby winning here in the last 20 years. I'm surprised how big he is and I think he has the nerve to win a title like this.

2pts each-way C. Smith 125/1 (1/5 6 places)

Cameron Smith - 2pts e/w @ 125/1

The calibre of champions here down the years has been second to none and it would be foolish not to include someone towards the top of the market. Cantlay was very close to being on my staking plan but I've decided to place my allegiance with XANDER SCHAUFFELE (22-1 / 8 places). Schauffele has been remarkably prolific the last two years in making the frame in big events. He has made the top 3 fourteen times in the last three years and with wins in high places I think he is the pick of the bunch towards the top of the market. With a win at East Lake, a WGC Victory and runners up East Lake, Sawgrass and two Major Championships in the past couple of years he rates the much better achiever than Cantlay. I remain convinced he is the much classier operator also. With his performances at East lake he has shown a fair ability to play tracks well where accuracy and length give you an advantage. A similar game got up into contention at Carnoustie as well. With firm and fast conditions here I think this will suit Xander where he finished in the top ten in 2018.

2pts each-way X. Schauffele 22/1 (1/5 8 places)

Xander Schauffele - 2pts e/w @ 22/1

MATT FITZPATRICK (80-1 / 8 places) tees it up here for the first time which is a fair negative but I'm convinced the course will suit. There are plenty of undulations on this course and Fitzpatrick has shown his suitability with his exemplary record in Crans. Tree lined tracks are where he makes hay with two wins in Crans and his British Masters victory. His performances in Majors are a shade underrated in my view also for someone only 25 years of age. 7th at the 2016 Masters is a positive here but it is worth noting he has finished inside the top 15 in the last two US Opens and posted three top 25 finishes in the Majors last year, making the cut in all four. Similar challenges await to those he has faced at those last two US Opens and I expect him to cope well if he can overcome the first timer hurdle. At 25 years young his achievements remain under the radar some what and big events stateside and a major win is probably on the horizon.

1pt each-way M. Fitzpatrick 80/1 (1/5 8 places)

Matt Fitzpatrick - 1pt e/w @ 80/1

Leishman could go well again and I'd fear him getting near the lead as he is an excellent closer. Kevin Na is another interesting runner given how he went back in 2018. he has been well supported though and price looks about right now. I'm drawn to JORDAN SPIETH (45-1 / 8 places) this week and although people may look at this as an obvious choice I think it's worth sticking to your conviction. Spieth topped the SG TTG and Approach last week at the two recorded rounds at Pebble and certainly looks on the road to recovery. He has an awful lot to contend with here but I can't have him a bigger price than what he was last week at Pebble. He has two top tens posted here so his course form doesn't read a whole lot worse than what his Pebble form reads. Spieth will get back to winning ways at some point and some times you need to take the chance when little other people will be getting involved. Ben Coley's expertise lead him to Spieth last week and I disagree with his own post mortem that he was wrong to chance him. Nobody knows the right or wrong answer before an event starts and coming out of left field last week can't be deemed the wrong approach. I'm surprised he is a bigger price than last week and even more surprised he hasn't proven as popular among the 'tipster' public on the twittersphere. Firm conditions will suit and he could be another Masters winner to add to the winners rota here.

1pt each-way J. Spieth 45/1 (1/5 8 places)

Jordan Spieth - 1pt e/w @ 45/1

Garcia and Scott were high up my list and hard not to back this week. Scott goes off the same price here as last year even though his lead into last years event was a missed cut. His last event this time around was a win in Australia and I think he warrants a shade more respect than what the market has given him. Chappell is another won worthy of more respect given his 25th place finish at Pebble. In a week where we saw Phoenix win the best actor at the Oscars I'll stake a few quid on another very talented Joaquin. The Chilean JOAQUIN NIEMANN (80-1 / 8 places) has achieved a lot for a 21 year old with a win already posted on the tour at the Greenbrier. Not many 20 year olds win a tour event by six shots. That's what he done last September and he went to Australia in December for Presidents Cup. The win at the Greenbrier, and top six finishes at the Memorial and Travelers suggests these type of classical tests suit the youngster. The former world no1 ranked Amateur is slowing no signs of slowing down and could well surprise a few here. Patrick Rodgers was another close to making the grade this week and I'll cross my fingers we've chosen the right bunch.

0.75pt each-way J. Niemann 80/1 (1/5 8 places)

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Joaquin Niemann - 0.75pts e/w @ 80/1