Wednesday 24 February 2010

Phoenix Open

With the European Tour taking a break this week, I will opt once again to have a bet on the PGA Tour. Phil Mickelson is going for his 3rd title at Scottsdale, a course thats suits his left-handed game very nicely and I am very tempted to back him even at 8/1 (www.paddypower.com) A win bet for 1.5 units is the suggestion on the grounds that "Lefty" enters well rested having skipped the matchplay last week and he is back in the state that he learned his trade so I expect him to be in upbeat form. JB Holmes is another fancied to go well over this course, the long hitting should serve him well and odds of 20/1 (www.coral.co.uk) despite being tempted to back Nick Watney at 35/1 (www.boylesports.com)
Ian Poulter is the type of player that exudes such an amazing amount of confidence that he could very well go back to back this week especially if he plays as well as he did last week and both Coral's & Boylesports have him chalked up at 28/1 which seems very generous. Iam tempted to back him but have decided that Phil "is the man" for this raucous gallery at Scottsdale this week. I will also have an eye on Ryan Moore who is not far away from winning shortly but 55s on offer this week are a little bit short for my liking.

Phoenix Open Selections

1.5 units WIN Phil Mickelson @ 8/1 (www.paddypower.com)
.5 units e/w J.B Holmes @ 20/1 (www.coral.co.uk)

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Mayakoba Golf Classic

Finally stopped the rot last week with Barry Lane finishing in the top ten. This week the attention turns to the WGC Accenture matchplay which I will avoid as its difficult to predict a winner over 18 holes never mind over 6 matches! I would like to have a chance on Steve Stricker at 161 but I will opt for a small wager this week on Gerry Kelly at 40/1 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Kelly is the sort of player who can shine in a "weakened" field and the odds are quite good for a player of his calibre.

Mayakoba Golf Classic Selections:

.5 unit e/w Gerry Kelly @ 40/1

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Avantha Masters

A somewhat dimisinished field this week with Jeev Milka Singh the highest ranked player in the field starting out as favourite, but again at just 10/1 for a player that has just celebrated the birth of his first child, the odds are not great. Its an ideal chance for Darren Clarke to shine, but this week I am punting on old reliables with potential to do well on a fairly short course. The greens will be tricky but if they are nice & wet it should help the good approach players such as Fabrizio Zanotti especially at odds of 150/1 (www.Ladbrokes.com) despite his very poor start to the season. Mark Brown won on this course last year (Johnnie Walker) and he tees it up with compatriot Danny Lee the first two days so this could be ideal for the kiwi at odds of 80/1. I was tempted to take a punt on Joost Luiten at 66/1 but Mark Brown's odds have swayed the decision. A solitary unit on a top ten finish is wagered on Barry Lane at 22/1 (www.betpack.com)

Avantha Masters Selection

1 unit e/w F.Zanotti @ 150/1
1 unit e/w M.Brown @ 80/1
1 unit Barry Lane TOP 10 finish @ 22/1

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Dubai Desert Classic

Rory McIlroy defends this week in Dubai in a star studded lineup and goes off the 8/1 favourite which is a bit too short for such a line-up. I am in two minds as to who will give him the best run for his money, Martin Kaymer has great form here at the Emirates but Henrik Stenson also has brilliant form on this course the past 4 years. Even though he is just 16/1 this week, he is my main tip this week. Looking for value down the field I will take a chance on Thomas Bjorn, former winner also here and one who likes this course and had a decent enough tournament last week (8th place), so the offer of 100/1 is taken.

Dubai Desert Classic Selections:

1 unit e/w H.Stenson @ 16/1
1 unit e/w T.Bjorn @ 100/1