The Cambia Portland Classic Recap: Georgia Hall Overcomes Thorny Conditions & Playoff for Second Win

Top 10

1) Georgia Hall (-12) (+9000)

T2) Ashleigh Buhai (-12) (+30000)

T3) Yealimi Noh (-11) (+10000)

T3) Moriya Jutanugarn (-11) (+5000)

T5) Robynn Ree (-10) (+30000)

T5) Inbee Park (-10) (+1800)

T5) Caroline Masson (-10) (+4500)

T5) Mariah Stackhouse (-10) (+50000)

T5) Jasmine Suwannapura (-10) (+30000)

T5) Mel Reid (-10) (+20000)

T5) Cheyenne Knight (-10) (+14000)

Picks

Danielle Kang at 7.5 units (+1600)- T12

Stacy Lewis at 5 units (+2500)- MC

Sung Hyun Park at 5 units (+5500)- MC

Megan Khang at 2.5 units (+5500)- T51

Hannah Green at 5 units (+6600)- T12

Total Units Won: 82.5

Total Units Bet: 175

ROI on the season: -53%

This whole event was a borderline surprise that it happened, which is why the picks posted as late as they were this week. Portland had the worst air quality in the world early last week, and players did not see the course until Thursday to practice on site. The tournament, usually 72 holes, became 54 due to the inclement air conditions.

That is less preparation than most players see before an LPGA tournament, but it didn't stop Georgia Hall and Ashleigh Buhai getting into a playoff at (-12). Hall recorded two pars to outduel the South African. The Englishwoman and Buhai were four and seven off the lead heading into play Sunday. The story for the picks lies with Hannah Green, the defending champion who was two off the lead going into the final round.

Green had a chance to mirror her 2019 road to victory at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. Quietly be in contention down the stretch, and make a move at the end to secure the victory. History was on the line, with Green aiming to join the historic company of Hall of Famers Kathy Whitworth, Annika Sorenstam, and the winningest Canadian of all time Brooke Henderson as the only players to defend their title at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Instead, the city of roses turned prickly to Green as she set up her run. After getting to (-13) following a birdie on 12, the final par 5 of the day, the two-time winner missed three consecutive putts inside of 10 feet from the 13th to the 15th. Green imploded thereafter, bogeying the last three to drop out of the top ten.

The road to glory for the picks was washed away with Green's close, as the rest of the picks failed to perform up to par. Kang made a notable charge Sunday with a 65, but the odds of victory when you're teeing off on ten instead of one are minuscule.

Sung Hyun Park continues to mystify in her odds and her performance. The No. 4 player in the world was tied for 19th most likely to win in the field this week. As reported by the Golf Channel during the ANA Inspiration, she's recently recovered from a shoulder injury. I may lay off these odds for a bit until Park shows some life late in a tournament. The seven-time winner was tied for 2nd during the second round Friday in Rancho Mirage in her return to the tour but did not maintain the pace.

Megan Khang carded her worst career performance in four starts at the Cambia Portland Classic, and Stacy Lewis missed the cut.

On the aggregate, the larger picture is the lack of attention the bookkeepers paid this week. Four players in the top 10 in the world withdrew due to the poor air quality Portland faced. Yet, MyBookie left all of their odds as they were. Nelly Korda, Sei Young Kim, Nasa Hataoka, and Henderson all WD during the week. With that much talent no longer in play, everyone's odds should become slightly lower. It's easier for everyone else to win. That is a rare edge the house is ceding to the bettor simply because they aren't paying attention.

It's like a dealer is playing blackjack and throwing in an extra chip to the pot that players don't have to call. It's just sitting there to be added to whatever bets are being made. It is further reason to continue betting the LPGA Tour, even if hitting winners feels like lightning in a bottle.

There's no event on the LPGA calendar next week. The next post will be picks of the week for the 72-hole event at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.