Wednesday 26 May 2010

Madrid Masters 2010

Please note change in price taken for G.McDowell- bet placed with ladborkes @ 40/1 as opposed to PP @ 30/1 (post updated from this morning)

Luke Donald provided this blogs 5th 2nd placing this season last week at Wentworth but it was a great opportunityfor for both Donald and the blog missed, as just one birdie on either of his final two holes would have been enough. Donald is favourite with most bookies this week but I doubt he can lift himself to go and win on Sunday, its over 4 years since he last won. Sergio has NOT been in great form but will relish being home but he's too short for a man with little form. Martin Kaymer was rusty in his opening round last week and its best to observe this week especially at odds of 16/1, but he is of such quality that it would not surprise me if he won this week, but the price is just a bit skinny(20s and i would be investing).
Graham McDowell on the other hand, is gradually finding some form,just in time too as the big events draw nearer and he is the e/w bet this week in tandem with james Morrison who is in excellent form having won the US open qualifier on Monday (he did miss cut at Wentworth though). At odds of 30/1 & 80/1 respectively, these are the two selections taken this week.
I have opted for a 1 pt e/w bet on the 1st rd leader again this week following the successful bet on James Kingston 2 weeks ago and this is on Thomas Aiken, based on the tee time - 3rd group out. he is 66/1 on Betpack.

Bank Balance after PGA Championship + 96.62

Madrid Masters Selections:

1 pt e/w T.Aiken 1st rd leader @ 66/1 (4 places)
1 pt e/w G.McDowell @ 40/1 (Ladbrokes)
1 pt e/w J.Morrison @ 80/1 (Betpack)

Wednesday 19 May 2010

BMW PGA Championship 2010

The Europeantour cranks up a gear this week with the best line-up of the year apart from the Open. The newly revamped West Course means oustpoken Padraig Harrington tees it up this year having sidestepped the event the past few years due to "awful greens" as well as one or two other players. Sadly, Retief Goosen has had to remain on the injured list but his compatriots are sure to go well this week, indeed, its Ernie Els that all the attention will be on as it he who was given the task to redesign the course! "The Big Easy" loves Wentworth, multiple matchplay winner here, he is playing very well and had another strong finish last week in Texas, but its the attention regarding his involvement in the course that makes me want to leave him out of my selection process this week.
They say "beware the injured golfer!" and there are a number teeing it up with firm prospects of succeeding come Sunday afternoon. Padraig himself will take to surgery next Tuesday for a "small procedure" on his right knee before returning for the St Jude as a warm up for the US Open so he may just test himself to see how he can challenge come weekend, but given his feelings towards Wentworth the past few years he may just come up short, and its the tournament winner I am looking for this week. Ian Poulter is also suffering with his neck and one I was considering for the event, and Paul Casey, defending champ, likewise is returning from injury so again I will opt to leave them be.Luke Donald is a player in excellent form and his rare appearance back in Europe may become memorable. His game is well suited to this course and he could be the champion, and he is one of my two main selections this week at 25/1.
My main selection therefore is Martin Kaymer, for me the best young player on the European Tour at present and this course is right up his alley, with some fine performances the past couple of years also at this tournament. He hasn't done too well in the US, but seems to excel back in Europe and the 20/1 on offer is a great price.
Of the favourites, Lee Westwood is being branded a choker on some blogs, and although I disagree with that tag, the thoughts will surely start to enter his mind and at 11/1 to prevail I dont think these are value odds for such a class field, same of Rory McIlroy, the sensational victory at Quail Hollow has put a bit a pressure on him but also given him renewed confidence and although I fancy the Ultserman to go well, 12/1 is not great value.
Local pro, Ross Fisher came so close to winning this last year, I would love to see him win this week, but his odds are too skinny for a man looking to kick start his season. He will be happy to be at home while he plays this week and I'm sure he will be targeting a top 10 finish himself and he has a great advantage of playing the opening two rounds with Els & Rhys Davies, 2 players that will be steady enough so he can gauge his own game against.
My 3rd selection this week is to have a small interest in a top 20 finish @ 20/1 on Jeppe Huldahl, who does tend to go well in the occassional event and can surprise this weekend in a tournament that either produces a shock winner or favourite winner. He has had some decent enough showings already this year, albeit in weaker fields, but he is improving and can sneak a top 20 finish.

Bank Balance after Iberdrola Open + 94.37 pts

BMW PGA Championship Selections:

1 pt e/w M.Kaymer @ 20/1 (Betpack.com)
1 pt e/w L.Donald @ 25/1 (Betpack.com)
1 pt Top 20 finish Jeppe Huldahl @ 20/1 (Paddy Power)

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Iberdrola Open

A bit frustrating last week after Alejandro Canizares could only manage to finish tied 10th having been joint leader after 8 holes of his 3rd round. The amount of bogeys back to back, indeed 3 in a row both Thursday & Friday, seemed to be his undoing. Alas, having stated that he was coming into form it was a good bet nonetheless which came up just short. Same with James Morrison the week before when he was beaten in a plaoff, just coming a bit short lately. In fact, the Englishman's 2nd spot was this blog's fourth runner up in 9 events ! The winner can only come soon and the Pula Course this week in Mallorca may just provide that, not in the shape of Canizares but that of fellow countryman, Jose Manual Lara @ 28/1. His game should suit this short course and locals tend to go well in Mallorca. Being a windy enough track, I have also taken a punt on the Korean, Seung-Yul Noh @ 28/1 also. he won recently at the Malysian Open,(windy week) and has shown great promise and this is the kind of field (mediocre in fairness) that he could shine. The 3rdselection this week is South African, James Kingston @ 80/1. He does tend to be a steaky player, although he missed the cut badly last week, he has had two top 10s in 8 events this year. He is out early enough tomorrow too, and its a punt on first rd leader also for the 45 yr old @ 60/1.

Bank Balance after Italian Open +50.37

Iberdrola Open Selections:

.5 pts e/w James Kingston 1st rd leader @ 60/1
.5 pts e/w James Kingston @ 80/1 (Ladbrokes)
.5 pts e/w JM Lara @ 28/1 (Boylesports)
.5 pts e/w SY Noh @ 28/1 (Boylesports)

Wednesday 5 May 2010

McIlroy for Sawgrass- 4 for Italy

Its almost incredulous that the very weekend (or pre-weekend) that Tiger Woods produces his worse display for years, Ryo Ishikawa, 18 years of age and Rory McIlroy, aged 21 (yesterday) the pretenders to Tiger's No 1 throne in the future, produced some stunning golf last Sunday to win their prospective tournaments with an astonishing 58 & 62 respectively. Now it could be argued that Rory's 62 was better in a better class of field and better course,but a 58 is a 58 afterall and one can imagine the hype when both players tee it up in the same tournament soon. As for Rory, this is a kid that excels on confidence, whipping the big guns last week by playing the weekend in -16 at Quail Hollow can only mean 22/1 for the players (Bet Pack) is a steal. 1 pt e/w is the bet of the weekend.
Kevin Na is 2nd tip for Sawgrass and at 80/1, paying 6 places with Paddy Power, a player who has great form at The Players and has been in decent form lately and is worth .5 pts e/w also.

In Italy, pressure is on Edoardo Molinari to win on home soil having elected to play his national Open , whereas his younger brother, Francesco has opted to take his chance to play the Players. Chances of a repeat home win following Alvaro Quiros winning in Spain last week seem to be good with all the bookies as he starts favourite but I have selected 4 that I simply can't ignore for various reasons other than the odds being quoted. Alejandro Canizares is a player due to win and his form is excellent the past two months and is climbing the leaderboards and the hope is that he will start with a good opening round being in the 2nd group out and that he can take advantage of the soft greens. Thomas Aiken is taken at .5 pts e/w simply because I have to "keep the faith" with a player that will either shoot low or shoot high on any given week. I am backing James Morrison again this week following his play-off defeat last week, he is still at 33s but this is a player improving week by week and could be a star in the future and likewise with mcIlroy, confidence is key to playing well. My 4th tip is Simon Dyson @ 40/1. This is a player that seems to thrive on tournaments like this one as the field would not be considered a great one and the odds are just too good to be ignored.

Players Championship Selections:

1 pt e/w R.McIlroy @ 22/1 (1/4, 1-6)
.5 pts e/w K.Na @ 80/1 (1/4,1-6)


BMW Italian Open Selections:

1 pt e/w J.Morrison @ 33/1
1 pt e/w A.Canizares @ 35/1
1 pt e/w S.Dyson @ 40/1
.5 pts e/w T.Aiken @ 45/1