The ISCO Championship takes place at Hurstbourne Country Club for the second year in a row this week and an intriguing battle is anticipated in this co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
While the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club will garner much attention this week, the 11th edition of the ISCO Championship, known as the Barbasol Championship from 2015-2023, has still attracted a quality field.
Jackson Koivun, who missed the cut on his professional debut at last week's John Deere Classic, is the 14/1 favourite to claim the spoils in Kentucky, with his fellow American Max Homa next in the betting at 16/1.
Thunderstorms are threatening from Friday to Sunday, but there are no such fears for Thursday's action and day one looks like it will be the best time to shoot a low score.
ISCO Championship First-Round Leader Tips Summary
Best Bet - Lee Hodges each-way @ 45/1
Alternative Bet - Beau Hossler each-way @ 45/1
Alternative Bet - Patrick Fishburn each-way @ 60/1
ISCO Championship First-Round Leader Prediction
Best Bet: Lee Hodges each-way @ 45/1
It has been nearly three years since Lee Hodges broke his PGA Tour duck at the 2023 3M Open but he came close to ending his long wait for a second title at the John Deere Classic, finishing in a tie for third.
The 31-year-old started off that event with a round of 64, leaving him just one off the early lead, and he has a habit of getting off to fast starts of late, as he also signed for a 64 to share the Charles Schwab Challenge after day one.
Hodges also found himself at the top of the Players Championship leaderboard after the opening 18 holes and it is no surprise to see him ranked sixth in round-one scoring average on the US circuit this season.
Full of confidence after his John Deere showing, Hodges can impose himself early at Hurstbourne Country Club.
Alternative Bet: Beau Hossler each-way @ 45/1
Beau Hossler has been producing his best form over the opening 18 holes this season, as he sits second in round-one scoring average on the PGA Tour, and another quick start is anticipated.
The American impressed on his Hurstbourne debut last year, opening with a round of 67 before eventually settling for a share of 14th position for the week.
A solid short game proved crucial to William Mouw's ISCO victory last year and Hossler has been thriving on and around the greens, as he is third in scrambling and ninth in strokes gained putting.
Alternative Bet: Patrick Fishburn each-way @ 60/1
Still chasing his maiden PGA Tour title, Patrick Fishburn has endured a difficult 2026 and his best finish was a tied-19th effort at the Myrtle Beach Classic.
However, that top 20 came in a field similar to the level of this week's and he may be able to make the most of the leading players in the game playing over in Scotland instead of Kentucky.
Fishburn has been sitting sixth and seventh after the first round in his last two tournaments and he will relish coming back to Hurstbourne, where he was tied sixth on debut last year.
Key Tournament Stats
Hurstbourne Country Club hosted the ISCO Championship for the first time last year, with William Mouw winning on -10
Mouw opened with a round of 67, leaving him six shots behind the early pacesetter Chan Kim.
Eleven of the 18 holes played over par last year
There are 12 par-fours, four par-threes and two par-fives on this par 70 course measuring 7,056 yards
Lucas Glover and Zac Blair were tied for the lead after day one of last week's John Deere Classic
Beau Hossler is second in round-one scoring average on the PGA Tour this season
Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
