Preview
2023 ISPS Handa Championship Tips
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Event Info
Starts: 20th April 2023
Course: PGM Ishioka GC
Par: 70
Length: 7,039 yards
Type: Parkland
2022 Champion: New Event
Course Info
Course Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Par 5's: 5th & 16th
Hosted Since: 2023
Weather Forecast
Thursday
Partly cloudy. Wind 10-15mph.
Friday
Rain. Wind 10-15mph.
Saturday
Sunny intervals. Wind 9-14mph.
Sunday
Sunny intervals. Wind 5-10mph.
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
- This might be the first time PGM Ishioka GC has hosted a DP World Tour event but it hosted two events last year on the Japanese Tour. Events held last year were the ISPS Handa Championship and the Heiwa PGM Championship.
- Prior to that, the course hosted the Honma TourWorld Cup in 2015 and 2016.
- The course also hosted the Acom International on the Japanese Tour from 1999-2006.
Trends
Winning score
When PGM Ishioka GC hosted the Acom International between 1999-2006, winning scores were between -13 and -19. In each of the last four years that tournament was played the winning score was either -13 or -14. Similar scores were posted when the course hosted the Honma TourWorld Cup in 2015 and 2016. Winning scores in those events were -15 and -16.
However, when this tournament was played last year on the Japanese Tour, the winning score was -24. Winning score for last year's Heiwa PGM Championship was also better than 20 under par (it was -22). We should expect a score of around -22 to -24 this week.
Stats Analysis
We have limited stats available from last year's ISPS Handa Championship and Heiwa PGM Championship on the Japanese Tour.
Driving Distance
Three of last year's top five at the ISPS Handa were outside the top 40 for driving distance. However, it should be noted that the top two players, Yuto Katsuragawa and Rikuya Hoshino, ranked 19th and 8th respectively in this category.
The top three at last year's Heiwa PGM Championship all ranked inside the top 25 for Driving Distance. Distance off the tee certainly appears to be beneficial, even if it isn't necessary to post a high finish.
Driving Accuracy
The top five at last year's ISPS Handa Championship were all inside the top 18 for driving accuracy. However, only three of the top six at last year's Heiwa PGM Championship were inside the top 18 for driving accuracy.
ISPS Handa Championship in-play advice
Tough holes
The 11th, 4th and 6th played as the three hardest holes in last year's ISPS Handa Championship.
Easy holes
The 5th and 16th played as the easiest holes last year at teh ISPS Handa, with the short par four 12th hole also a notable scoring hole.
PGM Ishioka GC Player Quotes
"This course gives you a lot of opportunities. I have been driving the ball really nicely, missing just two fairways today. The par-three is difficult, but there are also lots of chances on the par-five. You can get to the green in two and get up and down.” Brad Kennedy, 2022
“The conditions are good and pretty soft. It's not difficult to hit it to the greens, even coming from the rough. I putted well too. That kind of put me in the position that I am.” Justin de los Santos, 2022
2023 ISPS Handa Championship Tips
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In-play
2023 ISPS Handa Championship In-Play Blog
22nd April 2023, 12:35pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Cockerill |
-13 |
| Herbert |
-12 |
| Law |
-12 |
| Hoshino |
-11 |
| Forrest |
-11 |
| Kanaya |
-11 |
| Cabrera-Bello |
-10 |
| Janewattananond |
-10 |
2023 ISPS Handa Championship Round 3 Summary
Aaron Cockerill fired a joint best of the day 64 to take control at the top of the leaderboard. The Canadian dropped a solitary stroke on a day where the greens were firmer and scoring was trickier.
Notable Round 3 ISPS Handa Championship Quotes
"I feel really good. This is the best I've hit the ball in a long time, and it's required out here with the rough being up, and it's firm. Just putting it in the fairway, and everything else has been really solid so I'll look to continue that tomorrow." Aaron Cockerill
"I played pretty well except the last hole today. I will keep this momentum tomorrow. I hope to catch up with the leader in the first couple of holes (tomorrow) and see how it goes. I'll just try to put the leader under pressure as much as possible." Rikuya Hoshino
2023 ISPS Handa Championship Round 4 Weather
Sunny intervals. Wind 9-14mph.
How do we expect the market favourites to perform?
Aaron Cockerill may be leading but it is Lucas Herbert who continues as favourite with the bookmakers. The Aussie can be backed at a best price of 14/5 to claim his third DP World Tour title. Herbert has a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Golf Betting Club Pressure Performance Rating and he's certainly the rightful favourite.
Aaron Cockerill held the third round lead going into the ISPS Handa Championship in Spain almost twelve months ago to the day. He would finish third that day and he'll certainly be hoping history doesn't repeat itself. He has since become a father though and the Nappy Factor may well see him go close tomorrow. Leaders haven't had the best of weeks here though and we can see someone posting a low round from off the pace.
Where is the value?
We've seen the lead change hands every day this week, a player from off the pace shooting a low round to assume control each day. We are of the opinion that this tournament will be won from off the pace and are focusing on the players at nine under par.
Round 4 Bets
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21st April 2023, 10:35am (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Janewattananond |
-10 |
| Herbert |
-10 |
| Forrest |
-10 |
| Kieffer |
-9 |
| Germishuys |
-8 |
| Kanaya |
-8 |
| Smith |
-8 |
| Fourteen Players Tied |
-7 |
2023 ISPS Handa Championship Round 2 Summary
It is very much all change at the top of the leaderboard as Grant Forrest, Jazz Janewattananond and Lucas Herbert all fired rounds of 63 or better.
Notable Round 2 ISPS Handa Championship Quotes
"I'm feeling good, feeling comfortable on the golf course, not so tense. I used to play on the JGTO (Japan Golf Tour Organisation) so it’s good to be back here in Japan playing a similar golf course to what I used to play back in 2019, so it’s good to be back." Jazz Janewattananond
"I’m looking forward to the weekend. The course is firming up a bit. There have been some tucked pins and I imagine it will stay the same going into the weekend." Grant Forrest
2023 ISPS Handa Championship Round 3 Weather
Sunny intervals. Wind 9-15mph.
How do we expect the market favourites to perform?
Lucas Herbert has taken over as market favourite and is available to back at 7/2. The Australian only arrived the night before the tournament after having travel problems after playing on the PGA Tour last week. We had thought he might struggle this week due to the travel. That looked to be the correct decision when he was one over par through his opening six holes yesterday but to his credit he has battled back well and is now the man to beat.
Jazz Janewattananond (7/1) is second in the betting. We advised him to subscribers at the start of the week at odds of 55/1 after a run of hot form. Three top 10 finishes in his last three starts indicates he is full of confidence and he ranks highest for SG: Tee to Green out of the three players at the top. A six time winner on the Asian Tour, he's more than capable of winning this week.
Where is the value?
We saw today just how quickly the top of the leaderboard can change and with conditions set to be favourable again tomorrow, we could see some low scores. We're focusing on the group at seven under par.
Round 3 Bets
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20th April 2023, 4:35pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Sullivan |
-7 |
| Kim |
-7 |
| Cockerill |
-6 |
| Bjork |
-6 |
| Germishuys |
-6 |
| Eight Players Tied |
-5 |
2023 ISPS Handa Championship Round 1 Summary
A total of 81 players broke par in the opening round of the ISPS Handa Championship. Four of the top five played in the morning wave but conditions were favourable for both sides of the draw.
Notable Round 1 ISPS Handa Championship Quotes
"Me and my coach have been working on going back to when I was playing my best, around 2015, 16, so we’ve looked at swings from there and almost tried to mimic that. It’s getting close, feel confident with the irons. Driver is still taking a bit of work. On the whole the game is feeling good. It feels a lot more under control again, less of the erratic shots." Andy Sullivan
"I feel good because I didn’t make any bogeys today. My shots were not in good shape at the beginning. However, it seems I putted well, so that helped today’s score. I hope it goes well tomorrow. I will be able to play with less stress because I played well today." Yeongsu Kim
2023 ISPS Handa Championship Round 2 Weather
Cloudy. Wind 9-15mph.
How do we expect the market favourites to perform?
Alexander Bjork is 10/1 favourite after an opening round of 64. He's definitely respected but this contest is much too wide open to consider taking the odds currently available.
Andy Sullivan and Rasmus Hojgaard can be backed at 14/1 but it is the Dane who would be preferred at those odds. Sullivan alluded to the fact he's not entirely confident with the driver and that could hamper him later in the week.
Where is the value?
With 48 players within four shots of the leaders, we're focusing on value prices further down the leaderboard. Sign up using the link below to get all our tips!
Round 2 Bets
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