Humana Challenge 2015 Preview

Patrick Reed will be seeking a unique, back-to-back double bonanza when he tees off in this week's US PGA Tour event, the Humana Challenge in Partnership with the Clinton Foundation.

Why so?

Well, if he can triumph in this event which is played over three PGA West courses at La Quinta in Southern California, it will not only give him a second victory in only his second start this year, but it will also give him his second successive Humana Challenge title.

Yes he won this event last year when he posted a dazzling 28-under 260 in the two rounds he played at the Palmer Private and his one each on the Nicklaus Private and the La Quinta Country Club courses and if he can come up with some more of the spark he showed at Kapalua two weeks ago when he came from behind with a closing 67 and 21-under 271 total and then beat Jimmy Walker in the playoff, there is no reason why he can't pull off this unique back-to-back double.

The 24-year-old Texan, who came across as something of a surly character in his Ryder Cup debut last year, also won the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship in 2014 and is clearly one of the USA' brightest new talents.

There is certainly every justification for the UK sports bookmaking brigade to install him as their tournament favorite at 11/1 ahead of fellow Americana Matt Kuchar at 14/1, Ryan Palmer, Bill Haas and Keegan Bradley at 22/1 and multi major winner Phil Mickelson and Harris English, another of the bright, up-and-coming young US stars, at 25/1

After shrugging away his Kapalua disappointment and storming back to win the Sony Open at Waialae a week later, Jimmy Walker would certainly have been right up there with the favorites if he hadn't decided to sit this week out - just as Reed did last week.

But Walker or no Walker, if you thought his winning Waialae score, a 23-under 257 which put him nine shots clear in the end, or the 21-under 271 he shared with Reed at Kapalua were exceptionally low, just wait for Sunday.

Our forecast for the week is fine, sunny weather with no rain and hardly any wins so expect the pack leaders, regardless of whether they include Reed, Mickelson, Kuchar or Haas, to go out with teeth barred and savage the three PGA West golf tracks that year after year have been ranked as the three easiest par-72 courses on the US PGA Tour.

The winner might not break Reed's phenomenal 28-under 260 tournament record of a year ago (it was made up of two eagles and 30 birdies, but they are sure to get close in what could be the birdie binge of 2015.

HUMANA ODDS - TOP 15

These were Bet365's Top 15 on Tuesday afternoon. For all the bookmakers' odds, you should go to http://www.oddschecker.com/golf/humana-challenge/winner

Patrick Reed       11/1
Matt Kuchar       14/1
Ryan Palmer       22/1
Bill Haas             22/1
Keegan Bradley 22/1
Phil Mickelson   25/1
Harris English     25/1
Webb Simpson 30/1
Zach Johnson     30/1
Jason Dufner     30/1
Ryan Moore       33/1
Billy Horschel     35/1
Charley Hoffman              35/1
Brendon Todd   40/1
Brandt Snedeker              40/1

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