Australian PGA Championship Betting Preview: Adam Scott Leads Golf Odds Board

Australia's short-lived summer of serious golf winds up this weekend on the Gold Coast, with Adam Scott the clear favorite to win his second Australian PGA tournament at Royal Pines.

The world No. 7 is the $4.50 top pick to add to his success at this tournament at the same venue three years ago, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, but he does need to find his best touch after a couple of flat weeks on home soil so far.

Scott may be the only player in the world top 50 in the tournament, but he was good only in patches at the Australian Open two weeks ago. The highlight was a 65 on the second day, but constant battles with the putter saw him finish off with 73 on Sunday to end up in a tie for 14th, six shots shy of the winner.

He went to the World Cup of Golf last week at Kingston Heath, where he partnered with one of his rivals this week, Marc Leishman. Neither player was particularly impressive, and after a slow start, they never looked likely to defend their title.

It's telling that Scott will take a 10-week break from the game after this week. He decided on playing this tournament rather than the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, which features most of the world's best players, including Tiger Woods. Dustin Johnson is the betting favorite at that event.

If you are looking for a player who is fresh and in form, it's Cameron Smith. The 23-year-old secured his 2017 U.S. tour card with a second-place finish in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship in September and followed that up by finishing 10th and 11th in consecutive U.S. tour events.

He then returned to Australia and produced a brilliant final round of 66 at Royal Sydney to earn a spot in a playoff with Ashley Hall and Jordan Spieth, which Spieth unsurprisingly won.

Smith vaulted 53 spots up the world rankings with that performance to No. 113, 30 short of the career high he reached shortly after his breakout performance in the 2015 U.S. Open, where he finished tied for fourth.

Leishman, who remarkably has never won a tournament on the Australasian Tour, shares second spot on the betting market with Smith at $15.

Nathan Holman has endured a tough 12 months since winning this European Tour-sanctioned tournament 12 months ago, and a title defense is rated a $51 chance.

Former champion Greg Chalmers, who defied Scott to win in 2014 and also won in 2011, when the tournament was held at Coolum, is at $34. Englishman Ian Poulter, known as much for his colorful pants as his work with the putter, is $34 as well. He will look to find his best form and fitness after a four-month spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.