Bet365 bonus code: BMW Championship odds preview, best bets and what to know about Olympia Fields CC

Catena Media provides exclusive sports betting and casino content to NJ.com, including picks, analysis, tools and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly.

The second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs begins this week at the BMW Championship, with 50 golfers vying to earn a top-30 finish and qualify for the TOUR Championship.

With 24 of the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 25 teeing it up at Olympia Fields, fans will be treated to elite golf at one of the PGA Tour’s most difficult venues. You can further enhance your viewing experience with our Bet365 bonus code, which unlocks an opportunity to wager $1 and receive a $200 bonus, win or lose.

Below are our three bets for the BMW Championship, and our review of the best golf betting sites is a helpful resource if you’re searching for a sportsbook that fits your needs.

Located 30 miles south of Chicago, Olympia Fields CC has welcomed golfers since 1915. Since then, the track has hosted two US Opens and two PGA Championships.

Dating back to 2003, the PGA Tour has only returned to Olympia Fields for the 2020 BMW Championship. It proved to be a challenging course, as only five golfers finished under par.

In that event, Jon Rahm beat Dustin Johnson in a playoff after a tie at -4 forced extra golf. We learned from the 2020 BMW Championship that despite Olympia Fields’ lack of run on the PGA Tour, it still holds up as a track challenging enough to host majors.

Olympia Fields is a 7,366-yard par-70, which is longer than the average par-70 PGA Tour venue. The course layout is unchanged from 2020, with the only difference being the addition of spectators and grandstands, as neither were present during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What makes Olympia Fields so difficult is its Bentgrass surface paired with thick roughs and firm greens. Golfers with well-rounded skillsets will succeed this weekend, but those that can also hit the long ball off the tee box possess an added advantage.

Not only did Jon Rahm claim victory at the most recent PGA Tour event held at Olympia Fields CC, but he’s also one of only eight golfers playing in this year’s tournament who finished top 15 at the 2020 BMW Championship.

The Spaniard’s excellent approach shooting will come in handy this week with limited scoring opportunities available. Rahm ranks third on Tour in SG: ATG and greens in regulation percentage. For approach shots within 200 yards, he’s the fourth-best in golf.

Rahm’s superb putting accuracy will also come in handy on Olympia Fields CC’s Bentgrass greens. He ranks 24th in SG: putting and second in putting average.

Shooting low at Olympia Fields CC is so trying due to the course’s lack of par 5s. There are only two, and each measures over 600 yards.

Patrick Cantlay’s 4.44 par-5 scoring average is tops on the PGA Tour, with Rahm tied for second at 4.45. The California native also ranks first in total driving, putting from three feet and approach shooting from 175-200 yards.

Cantlay is coming off a second-place finish at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, losing to Lucas Glover in a playoff. Look for Cantlay’s skills from tee to green to shine as he keeps the positive momentum rolling.

Avoiding mistakes and capitalizing on scoring opportunities are equally important at Olympia Fields CC. Tyrrell Hatton’s 13.73% bogey avoidance rate ranks 17th on Tour, setting him up for a dominant showing at the BMW Championship.

Given the course’s abnormal length for a par-70, Hatton’s ability to place lengthy and accurate drives off the tee box will elevate him past Max Homa this weekend.

In the 2020 BMW Championship, Hatton finished T16 while Homa struggled, placing T59. Look for Homa’s frustration at Olympia Fields CC to repeat itself, with Hatton performing well.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net