Tuesday 25 August 2009

Johnnie Walker Championship

Another top 20 finish for Zanotti last week and again another Sunday where he played par golf when I was looking forward to a move into the top 5! The bookies have him at 66/1 this week, although tempting, I am also tempted to go back to a couple of players that I have backed throughout the year who I hope will have a good week this week. Alexander Noren had a good week in Holland so I will opt for the Swede this week and hopefully he can claim his maiden title. Thomas Aiken I said would win this year, he has been up & down but at 50/1 this week, I can't ignore him. My old favourite, Michael Campbell tees it up in his ancestral home, he does play well on this course and despite having an awful time of it this year, odds of 225/1 are not to be dismissed so its a small investment on Cambo this week - he is persevering and is very confident within himself on clicking one of these weeks, hope he does, and I may as well be on him at 225/1 and not 33/1 when he hits form again.

Bank Balance after KLM Open (YTD) + 185.69

Johnnie Walker Championship Selections:

2 units e/w A.Noren @ 40/1
2 units e/w T. Aiken @ 45/1
1 unit e/w M. Campbell @ 225/1

Tuesday 18 August 2009

KLM Open

Lee Westwood again went close last week and ensured a small profit for me on the PGA Championship (+2.75 units) although he never quite got to within a challenging position for the title. Zach Johnson eventually finished T10th despite a bad opening day so just outside the 6th place required for a return.
This week, a weakened field in comparison to what squared up at Hezeltine, assembles at the Kennemer Links course in Holland. The Dutch Open does have an impressive roll of honour, but this years event is shaping up to be a wide open affair. Of the favourites I would be interested in Gareth Maybin but his odds of just 28/1 are too small for an open event and a man seeking his maiden win. So this week I am looking to invest my 10 units on outsiders. Noren at 50/1 is tempting but as he has yet to have a decent event this year following his return from injury, I will overlook him again and opt once again for Fabrizio Zanotti, a player that has impressed me this season and at 80/1 cannot be overlooked. Callum Macauley is a player that can get in a zone and deliver as his early season form showed, and this being a links course, just might be to his liking, odds of 125/1 have to be considered. I will add a third this week in the shape of recently turned Dutch pro, Reinier Saxton, who has played a lot of continental links courses in his amateur days so a little investment at 200/1 is the choice for the third selection.

Bank Balance after PGA Championship (YTD) +195.68

KLM Open Selections:

2.5 units e/w F.Zanotti @ 80/1
1.5 units e/w C.Macauley @ 125/1
1 unit e/w R.Saxton @ 200/1

Wednesday 12 August 2009

PGA Championship

Almost a great win last week when Padraig Harrington went so close @ 66/1. A mistake on my part so for not backing him without Tiger ! Nonetheless, it was a good bet that nearly came off. Padraig unbelievably is now 2nd favourite to defend his title at Hezeltine this week so at odds of just 16 & 18/1 on offer I have to look elsewhere. I am sticking with Lee Westwood, he is in good form and shot a superb 65 last Sunday at Firestone and at 30/1 the odds are good for a player who hits his driver straight, a must for the PGA course this week. Hunter Mahan is in great form at present and has a great attitude, would have considered betting w/out Tiger but I'll chance the 35/1 odds this week. Zach Johnson has also been very steady lately and despite not having the length off the tee , he could go close. His namesake, Dustin, has had a good season although a bit quiet lately but his odds of 175/1 cannot be ignored especially with 6 places on offer. Its with regret I leave out Harrington, Fisher, Quiros, the odds dictating the selections. (i do expect Tiger to challenge in the last major this year)

Bank Balance after WGC Bridgestone (YTD) + 192..93

PGA Championship Selections:

1.5 units e/w L.Westwood @ 30/1
1.5 units e/w H.Mahan @ 35/1
1 unit e/w Z. Johnson @ 66/1
1 unit e/w D.Johnson @ 175/1

Wednesday 5 August 2009

WGC Bridgestone Invitational

No luck last week in the Czech Republic, the weekend did look promising with Fabrizio Zanotti just off the pace but he just could not get on a birdie roll to challenge and eventually settled for tied 17th.
This week sees the action return to the US with the 3rd World Championship of the year, the Bridgestone Invitational, a tournament practically owned by Tiger Woods at this stage. The course suits the bigger hitters and the more accurate the hitter the better! That means I must opt once again for the two men that I have shown great faith in time & time again this year- Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher. Rory McIlroy is also tempting at 50/1 whilst Padraig Harrington can be got at 66/1 with Ladbrokes, I firmly believe he will click soon and why not this week, a week ahead of defending his PGA Championship.

Bank balance after the Moravia Open (YTD) + 194.18

WGC Bridgestone Selects:

2 units e/w L.Westwood @ 28/1
1.5 units e/w R.Fisher @ 50/1
1 unit e/w R.McIlroy @ 50/1
.5 units e/w P.Harrington @ 66/1