Niall Lyons Golf Betting Tips for the 2026 Biltmore Championship

The fall series is now upon us on the PGA Tour and we move onto The Cliff at Walnut Grove, a course that we'll be seeing the very first time. This course is a couple of thousand feet above sea level so altitude will mean the ball will fly further and the task for caddies and players alike becomes all that tougher. There are courses on the circuit which will give us a pointer though. TPC Summerlin that holds the Shriners is a course played at altitude and although the last time we saw this course was six years ago the former venue of the Barracuda Championship may be worth a second glance. That was the Montreux Golf and Country Club, another Nicklaus design that was played above sea level. It's a shame we don't have some more recent golf on that track as it would give us some crucial clues but nevertheless results there will be part of my thought process. 

Top 50 players in the Fedex Cup standings remain eligible for the fall series with their spots guaranteed in the biggest events next year. Places 51-60 will play their way into some signature events this year and of course we'll have the all important battle for tour cards coming to the fore in two months time.

Biltmore Championship Tips

Jackson Koivun at 12/1 (WIN)

14/1 has been gobbled up by the shrewdies on Monday about the favourite but I for one am still keen on his chances. Jackson Koivun has got that winning feeling with seven victories in his last seventeen events. Now all but one of those were as an amateur but it is no surprise that he has hit the ground running on the PGA Tour and has already landed his maiden win. That was at the 3M Open, a couple of weeks after he had finished 10th at the ISCO Championship. Koivun was a general 14/1-16/1 shot for the ISCO where a solid effort made him a 30/1 chance a few weeks later at the 3M Open. He obliged there, in a stronger field to what presents itself this week and I believe he is entitled to go off a few points shorter than what he currently is. He isn't the typical new star that bombs it a million miles off the tee, there is much more nuance to his game. In fact he is a solid all rounder on evidence thus far and that should translate well to a Nicklaus design that usually requires greater skill the closer you get to the greens. If Koivun turns out to be the player many think he is 12/1 in fields such as this might become a thing of the past very quickly so I'm happy to ride the wave for now and take my chances.

3pts WIN K.Koivun 12/1 Bet365 Enhanced Win Market

Andrew Putnam at 90/1 (Eight Places)

Wide fairways often doesn't translate to bombers dominating and I'm happy to take the chance with someone struggles to make any gains off the tee but whose rest of their game will match some of the best in this field. Andrew Putnam is one of the shortest hitters on tour so a track at altitude must be music to his ears. In terms of approach play, around the green and putting Andrew Putnam is as consistent as they come but with the modern game pimping itself out to the longest drivers in the game he has struggled to breakthrough in recent years. His consistency in other departments make him the perfect journeyman but it is worth noting his sole victory on the PGA Tour came at the Montreux golf course just outside Reno. Add four top 20 finishes at altitude in the Shriners Childrens Open and we have someone clearly suited by these conditions. A top 5 at Muirfield Village is another positive. His results lately don't tell the full story as from the second shot onwards in the past few months he has been generally superb. He simply loses too many shots off the tee to compete most weeks but this course should give him some grace in that department. Nicklaus courses are renowned for being second shot golf courses onwards and with his history at altitude he rates one of the better bets in the field. 

1.5pts each-way A.Putnam  90/1  (1/5 8) Bet365

Taylor Pendrith at 55/1 (Eight Places)

We selected Taylor Pendrith a few months ago at the ISCO and he really ought to have won. It was disappointing that he didn't manage to get over the line at the 33/1 mark. Since then he has missed three cuts then finished 38th at the Wyndham Championship. His ball striking that week at Sedgefield was really good and like a lot of others in this field has been forced to take a break due to not qualifying for the subsequent events. That makes him dangerous for me as he is someone I look to who has a lot more talent than many other 60/1 shots around him in the market. It's the price that entices me in here as I don't see a big reason why he should almost double in price for this event than what he was for the ISCO five starts ago. The course may not be ideal at altitude as it curbs one of his main strengths but I'm always happy to get involved at these numbers when the field strength is relatively low.

1pt each-way T.Pendrith  55/1  (1/5 8) Bet365

Cameron Davis at 400/1 (Eight Places)

Somewhat outrageously I find myself drawn to Cameron Davis this week at a whopping 500/1. It feels like the week to take a chance on some prices and Davis has shown enough lately to perk my interest. It has been an extremely dull 18 months for the Australian with not much work on Saturdays or Sundays. However it was in July that there was a glimmer as he gained strokes through the bag to finish 21st in the Scottish Open at the Renaissance. Three missed cuts have followed but it's worth noting that his iron play was solid both at TPC Twin Cities and at Sedgefield. His game off the tee remains a bit of an issue but events held at Nicklaus tracks are seldom decided by what you do off the tee. A repeat of his effort two months ago in Scotland would see him go close enough here and for that I'm willing to pay at 500/1. 

0.5pt each-way Cam Davis  400/1  (1/5 8) Coral, Ladbrokes