World Putting League Battle of Champions: Gary Hester vs. Joey Graybeal Betting Preview

The World Putting League is filling the sporting void on Thursday night by pitting two of the world's best putters in an 18-hole winner-take-all high stakes battle to determine the very first WPL champion. And we can bet on it.

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Event Details

The WPL Battle of Champions will take place at Aloha Mini Golf in Myrtle Beach, SC on July 13, 2023, putting off from 5pm ET. Inaugural World Putting League Event winner, Gary Hester, will go head-to-head with Joey Graybeal, the winner of WPL events #2 and #3. They will play one round, 18 holes, to determine the WPL
champion. The event will be streamed live and can be wagered on at DraftKings Sportsbook, Betfred and Bet365. Bets offered on the match include outright winner, total holes in 1, and specific H2H odds on each
hole.

RELATED: Introduction to the World Putting League

How Should You Bet on the WPL Battle of Champions?

WPL Battle of Champions Outright Winner

Joey Graybeal is currently riding a hot streak and is the slight favorite (-140) heading into the matchup. Throughout the WPL tour, Graybeal has consistently come through in crucial moments, showcasing a skill for sinking crucial putts and avoiding costly errors. In the recent WPL #3 at the Aloha Course, Graybeal and Hester played together in the same group with Graybeal managing to hold off a late Hester surge by executing a remarkable hole-in-one on the 18th hole, sealing the round and emerging victorious by a single stroke to advance. Graybeal's exceptional mental game could prove to be a significant factor in this unique one-on-one format.

Hester, on the other hand, is the more seasoned veteran, boasting a notably lower average round score at Aloha. Over nine rounds at Aloha since 2018, Hester has averaged a score of 29 (7 strokes under par), surpassing Graybeal's average by half a stroke. Hester also demonstrates greater consistency, achieving an ace on hole #4 in five consecutive rounds and only recording one three-putt (resulting in a bogey) in the last five rounds. In comparison, Graybeal has encountered five bogeys during the same period. This translates to a 1.1% chance of bogey for Hester, while Graybeal faces a 5.6% chance. It will be intriguing to observe whether Hester maintains a cautious approach or opts for a more aggressive strategy, considering it's a single round for all the glory.

BEST BET: Gary Hester to Win (+110 with Bet365)

Holes-in-One Props and Lines

The line for the total number of holes-in-one in the match is set at 13.5. Given their respective round averages of 29 and 29.5, which aligns closely with the 13.5 mark, this line presents a challenge. The event will take place at 5:00 PM, ensuring a somewhat sunny environment that may favor an Over. The ultimate determinant is likely the competitiveness of the match – if one player establishes an early lead, they may adopt a conservative approach, aiming for pars throughout the remainder of the round. Conversely, a tightly contested match could result in a higher number of holes-in-one.

BEST BET: Over 13.5 Hole-in-Ones (+110 with Bet365)

Hole-by-Hole Betting

For each hole, there is a moneyline for each player, as well as an option for a tie. In what is expected to be a close battle, the most probable outcome with the sportsbooks for each hole is a tie. However, there are interesting factors to consider. Hester has maintained a perfect record on Hole #4 on this course, achieving five consecutive aces in his last five outings. In contrast, Graybeal has only managed to ace the hole in four out of six attempts. With -300 odds, the expectation is for both players to ace and tie, but perhaps there is an edge on Hester to win that hole at +250.

BEST BET: Gary Hester to win Hole 4 (+250 with Bet365)

Additional Individual Hole Betting Notes

• Hole #3 is a hole that both players are exceptionally good at with scores way better the field average. This is the first of the three holes to be considered an "ace" hole. 
• Hole #9 is interesting as the smallest favorite is a “tie” outcome at -110. On this hole, the athletes attempt to bank their ball off the rocks to put it directly in the middle while it rolls down the hill. Professional mini golfers successfully ace this hole 45% of the time making it a very real possibility that one putter aces this while the other doesn’t.
• Graybeal has a distinct advantage on Hole #14 with a 38% hole-in-one rate in his career while Hester is at 20%. At +250, there is some big value on Graybeal here.
• Hole #17 is one of the few “ace” holes on the back nine. This is an important one to get as it is
  sandwiched between #15, #16, and #18, which are all difficult to get. Both are very capable
  with Graybeal securing an ace 55% and Hester 60% of the time. Both players should be focused here.

This should be a close match start to finish. Both have a ton of experience on this course, playing mini golf, and competing in big moments. Expect this match to really come down to who can get in a rhythm. With the match only one round, if either player comes out hot it will be tough for the other to catch up.

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