Mark Hubbard vs Hayden Buckley Prediction: Day one action to go in Buckely’s favor

In the American Express golf tournament, Mark Hubbard and Hayden Buckley are slated to compete against each other in day one action at La Quinta Country Club PGA West in the 2-hole matchup. How do you anticipate the outcome of this particular match?

Mark Hubbard is an American professional golfer with a notable career. In 2009, he earned the distinction of being a first-team all-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honoree and qualified twice for the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship, in both 2009 and 2011. Transitioning to the professional circuit in 2012, Hubbard achieved a significant milestone in September 2013 by clinching his first PGA Tour Canada victory at The Wildfire Invitational.

During his inaugural season on the Web.com Tour, Hubbard showcased impressive skills, securing six top-10 finishes, including a runner-up position. His consistent performance led to an 18th-place finish on the regular-season money list, earning him his first PGA Tour card. Although his debut season on the PGA Tour in 2014 saw him making 15 out of 25 cuts, his best finish was T20. In 2019, Hubbard achieved a significant victory on the Web.com Tour at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, contributing to his return to the PGA Tour by finishing ninth on the regular-season money list.

Charles Hayden Buckley is an American professional golfer associated with the PGA Tour. He officially turned professional in 2018. During the 2019 season, Buckley participated in all 12 PGA Tour Canada events, demonstrating consistent performance by making 11 cuts and achieving six top-10 finishes. Notably, he secured his first Mackenzie Tour victory at the ATB Financial Classic and claimed a commendable sixth-place finish on the Order of Merit, consequently earning Korn Ferry Tour membership.

In February 2021, Buckley celebrated his inaugural Korn Ferry Tour title, accomplishing this feat in his 17th career start with a decisive birdie on the first playoff hole at the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Adding to his achievements, in January 2023, he secured a runner-up position at the Sony Open in Hawaii, finishing just one shot behind Kim Si-woo.

Predicting this outcome is challenging, considering the performances of both golfers leading up to this stage and the potential they bring. Although Hubbard is strongly favored in this scenario, I remain unconvinced about his capabilities, and I believe the advantage may actually be in Hayden Buckley's favor.