Johnson and Matsuyama favourites for WGC HSBC Champions

The new PGA Tour season is in full swing now, and this weekend sees the first of the WGC events take place.

The Tour heads for the HSBC Champions in China, with more than £7m in prize money to be won.

Dustin Johnson will be commencing his season this weekend, and the American has gone straight in at the top of the betting.

The 8/1 favourite won this event in 2013, and has won five WGC events in total.

Historically this event hasn’t favoured those coming in cold however, so many may choose to swerve a potentially rusty DJ.

That should favour Hideki Matsuyama. The reigning champion is a 10/1 shot, and opened his campaign nicely with a share of fifth at the CIMB Classic a fortnight ago.

But at this stage of the season there’s always value to be had a little further down the market.

Marc Leishman should appeal at 16/1. The Australian won two PGA Tour events last season, and came home a fine sixth at the Open.

The 34-year-old has maintained that form, and was runner-up to Justin Thomas in the CJ Cup last week.

But even Leishman’s recent success can’t hold a candle to Tyrrell Hatton. The 26-year-old Englishman’s last four events read 1/1/3/8.

He is very much the form man, so at 25/1, Hatton is sure to be a popular pick this weekend.

Ross Fisher could also be worth a look at 25/1, having finished second to Hatton in the last two tournaments.

And 33/1 shot Daniel Berger was runner-up in this event 12 months ago.

As for a lengthy each-way chance, Paul Dunne warrants consideration at 80/1.

The Irishman won the British Masters in earlier this month, and followed that up with a T7 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing