Andrew's Visit Knoxville Open (KFT) Preview

A real delight to be able to start one of these columns not with an apology, a near-miss, or a celebration of a place finish. Seonghyeon Kim spreadeagled the field in Kansas City last week and gave us a comfortable win at 22/1, whilst everyone else worried about their money over in Carolina. The KFT circus rolls on and this week we’re in Knoxville – let’s get into it. Tomorrow we’ll be back to look at the Danish Challenge on the HPT. 

The Tournament

Unlike the HotelPlanner Tour with a new and very obscure course, we’re on familiar turf in Knoxville, which is a long-standing KFT stop and will be at Hulston Hills for the fifth consecutive time this week. It is, however, slightly different (and as I write this you have to dig for this information, though I imagine that it’ll be talked about on the KFT website at some point soon.) The course in 2024 was listed as a 7,281 yard par-70, whereas this year it is playing as a 7,267 yard par-71. The difference is on the 7th, which was the among the toughest holes on the course as a 517 yard par-4, but will be a par 5 stretched to 562 yards this year. My guess is that scoring overall will look better to par – which is of course a construct – and it was always pretty low.

This is a pretty typical KFT stop, where scores have dwelt around -20 for winners (probably -22 this year, I’m guessing) with not much of note about the course. The winning list (Harry Higgs last year, preceded by Rico Hoey, Anders Albertson and Greyson Sigg) shows that length is very helpful but hardly essential, something that you see when you look further into the statistics. Higgs was winning for the second week in a row and there’s likely to be a fair degree of cross-over with the AdventHealth leaderboard again, so current form is a huge plus. As well as form, we’re looking really for all-rounders, perhaps with a focus on putting (again, much like last week.) This is a Donald Ross design and in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, so there’s a lot of undulation, some tough greens and if it plays firm can be quite challenging. However, there’s been a decent amount of rain about and more is forecast for the coming days (possibly some disruption to play on Thursday) so I don’t think it’ll play too hard. 

Top of the betting markets is S.H. Kim as he bids to “do a Higgs” and bring in the double. He’s got to have every chance and he’s looked good all season before grabbing the win. However, I’m not tempted at the available prices and have looked elsewhere. Neal Shipley, unfortunately, doesn’t start on a week that would suit, whilst Johnny Keefer arrives on the back of a maiden major and a tough Monday trying to qualify for the U.S. Open (as I write, he’s deep into his first round and it is looking pretty good.) In fact, a number of these players were at Bent Tree on Monday and whilst Dallas isn’t far away, that isn’t great preparation. I’ve looked elsewhere.

Selections

My team is headed by Austin Smotherman, who played very nicely last week for tenth without the stress of really competing for a win – and in doing so added a sixth top-20 finish on the season as he bids to regain his PGA card. He’s on track currently, ranked 17th, but a win would give him some breathing space and he’s clearly playing well enough to compete. He’s had a very solid career at this level and in smaller and alternate PGA events, but has only won once – and that was in Tennessee at The Grove back in 2022. He can double up here.

If I had a gripe with Smotherman it would be his putting, but my second selection makes up for that. Trace Crowe is splitting his year between the KFT and the PGA and doing nicely on both. He was 27th in Myrtle Beach and, with Taylor Dickson, fourth in the Zurich Classic whilst he’s picked up five top-20's in seven starts on the KFT. He was 22nd here last year and playing much better golf now, he can add a second KFT win as he regains full playing status for the big tour.

I’m wrapping up my team with a player that the market has overlooked. Harrison Endycott may be a proud citizen of Australia but he’s a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, and this is where he plays his best golf. He won the Huntsville Championship in 2022 over the border in Alabama, and was fourth here in 2021. Now 28, he’s fighting back from injury but showed his form with a tenth in the Veritex Bank and is simply better than the market thinks he is. Playing in front of a “home” crowd, expect this highly accurate and talented player to put on a show.

• Austin Smotherman, 40/1

• Trace Crowe, 40/1

• Harrison Endycott, 125/1

  
  

All 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365.