Tuesday 29 September 2009

Dunhill Links

This week sees the action return to Scotland for the Dunhill Links where the pros play alongside the celebrities. Whilst Padraig Harrington has done well in this event over the years and he is seeking his 7th top 10 in a row, he cannot be backed at 9/1 this week considering the field he faces. The Bookies too, fear quite a few of the big boys as the marker is a bit tight at the top with McIlroy, Westwood, Fisher, Hansen & McDowell all to challenge. Of the big boys I do like the shape of "The Big Easy" this week- he has shown a return to form lately and plays this event well, so a win bet at 16s is taken. Peter Hedblom has had a great season and will be going into this week with confidence and an eye on some Ryder Cup points and with odds of 100/1 on offer he has to be taken simply for value reasons. Thomas Aiken is also taken this week at 125/1, only because he has had a better season than his results show and he is the type who can perform and his performance at this years Open suggests he can play this type of course.

Bank Balance after Tour Championship (YTD) + 165.93

Dunhill Links selections:

4 units win E.Els @ 16/1
2 units e/w P.Hedblom @ 100/1
1 unit e/w T.Aiken @ 125/1

Tuesday 22 September 2009

PGA TOUR Championship

With no event this week in Europe, attention is focused on the US and the final FedEx tournament. Tiger Woods will be all out to secure the Playoff title and its still very hard seeing him not winning here. Accuracy off the tee could be his downfall but I doubt it. I would like to have a punt on Padraig Harrington who is chasing his 6th top 10 in a row but his odds are a little skinny despite the field being reduced to just 30. Zach Johnson has posted 6 scores in the 60s in his last 8 rounds at East Lake so with odds of 12/1 without Tiger he is tempting, he is 20/1 with Tiger in the market. Hunter Mahan is a player who could click this week and he too has shown good form here and Dustin Johnson's length off the tee may see him make the frame, having secured two top 15 finishes in three of the playoffs so far. He is 45s with Tiger but the option of 25s w/out Tiger is taken. With my bad run ended last week with a place collect on Oosthuizen, perhaps the switch to the US can result in a much needed win.

Tour Championship Selections:

2 units e/w Zach Johnson w/out Tiger @ 12/1
1.5 units e/w Hunter Mahan w/out Tiger @ 20/1
1.5 units e/w Dustin Johnson w/out Tiger @ 25/1

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Austrian Open

A frustrating run lately can only end some time and what a weekend to try and stop the rot with a difficult tournament in Austria where Soren Hansen starts as favourite, but at 15/2 he can't really be invested in.(though surely he is the form player in the field) So a few outsiders are considered with previous selections this season taken into consideration, namely Andrew Coltart at 125/1. He has been playing fairly well without really securing a top 5 finish so hopefully he can do this week. I also like the odds on offer for Louis Oosthuizen at 50/1, who has been in good form during the summer. David Howell a former World top 10 player is showing signs of form since his injuries and odds of 60/1 maybe the best that may be offer for awhile. Ross McGowan is hoping to make Dubai and his recent showing in Switzerland gives me hope he can repeat in the neighbouring country at odds of 60/1.


Austrian Open Selections:

1.5 units e/w L.oosthuizen @ 50/1
1.5 units e/w D.Howell @ 60/1
1 unit e/w R.McGowan @ 60/1
1 unit e/w A.Coltart @ 125/1

Thursday 10 September 2009

Mercedes Championship

A hard lesson learned last week, when inexplicably I dropped my men Alexander Noren & Thomas Aiken for the European Masters. Both played very well, with Noren going onto win at 80/1 !! As I have said throughout the year, both players would do the honours this year so first reaction is to include the South African this week. Hopefully Noren will kick on now and rise through the Order of Merit but I will give him a break this week from his efforts of last week. That means to apply the "keep the faith" principle I will again back Alvaro Quiros, Thomas Aiken and a small wager on Michael Campbell who had 3 decent rounds last week and is back on a course that he loves this week, 150/1 is too tempting to pass up on.

Mercedes Championship Selections:

2 units e/w A.Quiros @ 50/1
2 units e/w T. Aiken @ 100/1
1 unit e/w M. Campbell @ 150/1

Wednesday 2 September 2009

European Masters

Lee Westwood is the favourite this week and is tipped to end his winless streak. The course and layout is to his liking and even though he is just 10/1 a win bet is a must this week.Alvaro Quiros has found some confidence over the summer and the long layout will again suit him and I will opt for the Spaniard over Rory McIlroy simply because Westwood is backed at 10s, whilst the Ulsterman is only 11s.

Bank Balance after Johnnie Walker Championship (YTD) + 175.68

European Masters Selections:

6 units win Lee Westwood @ 10/1
2 units e/w Alvaro Quiros @ 33/1