Niall Lyons has picked out five selections for this week's Bermuda Championship, ranging from 28/1 to 300/1.
The Bermuda Championship 2025
The Bermuda Championship is the penultimate event on the PGA Tour this season and with the final 100 in the Fedex standings ready to be confirmed over the next two weeks there is plenty to play for. For those on the bubble there is this then the RSM Classic to secure their tour cards.
The Port Royal Golf course here at Bermuda is a quaint one measuring short of 7000 yards. It is a very undulating track which is exposed to the elements and the wind looks set to blow very hard throughout the event.
Rain is currently in the forecast also so we could see pretty tough conditions here. It was maybe no surprise we got an Irish winner of this event a few years ago as the elements played their part.
The course held the Grand Slam of Golf from 2009 to 2014 but it is the recent editions of this event that we look to as this course has held the event for the past five years.
Seamus Power came out on top two years ago and prior to that an Irish Open winner in the shape of Lucas Herbert won and he is well known for his credentials in the wind. A Scottish Open winner Alex Noren and a former Silver Medal winner at the Open Matthias Schmid were 2nd and 3rd two years ago so clearly if we can find folk with similar profiles at value prices then they'll make the staking plan.
Tip 1: Matti Schmid - 2pts Each-Way
Bet365 8 Place Market advised at odds of 28/1.
It is indeed the former Silver Medal winner at the Open Matti Schmid that heads the selections this week.
Not only does he have that accolade in his pocket, he has shown on a handful of occasions now he can cope in windy conditions on the PGA Tour.
He finished runner up in a windy edition this year's Charles Schwab Challenge whilst 3rd in the Shriners last year was another event with strong winds.
6th in Puerto Rico this year as well as another top ten at Myrtle Beach shows he can handle these types of challenges. 3rd here back in 2023 is another sign he is most dangerous when we play coastal layouts.
Having been 14th at the Sanderson he contended for a long way then last week in Mexico where his ability to make plenty of birdies shone through.
We pay a bit of a premium on his price due to that performance but he should be licking his lips at the prospect of another four rounds around Port Royal.
Tip 2: Sahith Teegala - 1.5pts Each-Way
45/1 and six places advised with BetMGM, Virgin Bet, and Sporting Index.
Sahith Theegala has been a nearly man in his PGA Tour career to date with runner up finishes at the RSM, Travelers, Sentry and Heritage events. Those fields were all stronger than what goes down to post in Bermuda.
Granted, Theegala isn't anywhere near the form that saw him post those second placed finishes, but recent weeks suggest he is improving and he's more than capable of doing a 'Finau' and landing his first victory in a weaker field.
BetMGM UK
Three starts ago he was 8th in the field for strokes gained approach then last time out in Utah he was 12th in the same statistic. 38th, 27th, 27th in his last three outings certainly hasn't pulled up any trees but his long game has been in really good nick and the putter has been the weak link both in California and Utah.
Windier conditions should level the playing field a little on the greens and Theegala is one who has proven himself to be a force in much better fields than this.
His recent form may be a little underrated by the odds compilers.
Tip 3: Seamus Power - 1.25pts Each-Way
Six places advised. 45/1 best price available when publishing.
Seamus Power is another who has been quietly going about his business of late and with four made cuts on the trot must be considered a danger heading back to the scene of his second and most recent victory on the PGA Tour.
The Irishman ranked 12th in approach play at the Sanderson then 19th in the same department in Utah. He followed that up with a top 30 finish last week and although no stats are available from Mexico it should be safe to assume his long game hasn't deteriorated. It was his work on and around the greens that suffered in October halting any progress with the long game.
Poor form with the putter really cost him in those few events as is ball striking was more than good enough to compete at the top of the leaderboard.
A victory, 12th, 23rd, 31st and 37th have been his finishes here and with sneaky form in the lead in he makes the staking plan.
Tip 4: Victor Perez - 1.25pts Each Way
Six places advised. 45/1 best price available when publishing.
It's a first look at Port Royal for Victor Perez but everything suggests it should be an ideal test for him and having shown up for a long way last week in Mexico he's trending in the right direction.
11th at Jackson four weeks ago was compiled by being really solid in all departments of the game. Utah he wasn't quite up to scratch but no disgrace whilst statistically there's a void from last week's effort.
A winner at the Dunhill Links back in 2019 and then a winner at last week's venue in Abu Dhabi Yas Links this theoretically should be a great venue for the Frenchman.
Sitting 104th in the Fedex standings he has plenty to play for in the next few weeks with both venues ready to suit.
He'll need some compliance with the putter during a week that will yield plenty of birdies but he's going well lately with that club and overall he's difficult to leave off.
Tip 5: Hayden Buckley - 0.75pts Each Way
Six places advised. 275/1 best price available when publishing.
I'll take a flyer on Hayden Buckley at massive odds this week having made his last three cuts in a row.
His iron play improved a lot at Jackson at the start of last month then really took in Utah where he ranked 5th in the field for strokes gained approach. His putter was the reason why he didn't finish higher than 27th there with that club being a total curse all season.
There haven't been many positives in any areas of his game, but that upturn with the irons recently is a good sign and this is the first occasion all year that he has managed three consecutive made cuts.
His sole victory on the Korn Ferry Tour came in Florida whilst a runner up at Waialae and top 5 finish at Harbour Town may suggest his best chances come on the coast.
At upwards of 300/1, he looks capable of landing some sort of blow this week.
