Wednesday 25 August 2010

Johnnie Walker Championship 2010

Bank Balance after Czech Open + 183.37

The final event before Monty names his team Sunday evening tees off in Gleneagles tomorrow. Peter Hanson's win last week has given Monty a headache now with a big decision on who to pick as his 3 wild cards. Hanson's win for me means that Edoardo Molinari may miss out, or will he? Harrington & Casey will be picked so its the 3rd pick that is really up for grabs. Rose? No thanks, Donald, for me no thanks but there seems to be a lot of talk of him getting the pick. He plays mainly in the US so for me that in itself is a reason to pick a European Tour player and that means one of Rhys Davies, Edoardo Molinari, Alvaro Quiros of Ross McGowan. I would pick Rhys Davies, he's Welsh its being held in Wales and has shown great attitude all season. Interestingly he has been paired with Tomas Bjorn & David Howell, Monty's advisers. He can be backed at 25/1 with Extrabet to make the team. I hope he gets the pick, that said Quiros would be good for the team and would be good partner for Jiminez, but he needs a good 4 days at Gleneagles to swing it and the course should suit him but the weather may not! Edoardo has won already in Scotland this year and will be looking for another win to clich a spot on the team but the pressure to do so will go against him.

TIP 1: 1 pt e/wNicholas Colsaerts
@ 40/1(betpack): Ross Fisher is favourite this week and I am very tempted at 18/1. However , there is some value to be got this week if we look hard enough as the bookies have the odds fairly bunched this week suggesting this could be won by anyone. One player that has been ultra consistent this year is long hitting Nicolas Colsaerts who has caught my eye time and time again and see no reason why this week he can finally cross the winning line and capture his first title. 40/1 is about right for him this week.

TIP 2: 1 pt e/w Rhys Davies @ 40/1(betpack) : As mentioned above the Welshman has the potential and attitude to represent the team well and he may just fancy his chances of going well here this week. Whether Monty picks him or not he will be going for a best effort this week.

TIP 3: 1 pt TOP 10 Finish Rafa Echenique @ 10/1(betpack) The long hitting Argentinian (how come all the Argentines hit it a mile?) is coming back into form and has had decent enough form at this course. Worth a bet @ 10/1 for top 10 finish

I am not taking a 4th selection for the Johnnie walker this week as the Barclays kicks off the FEX Ex playoffs this week also. There is plenty of value in this event with Tiger somehow leading the betting! Two I do like are Hunter Mahan & Jeff Overton at 33/1 & 66/1 respectively

TIP 4: 1 pt e/w Hunter Mahan @ 33/1 (Paddypower). Recent winner and loves the big events. Has the game in shape right now to contend.

TIP 5: 1 pt e/w Jeff Overton @ 66/1 (Paddypower): Despite a poor PGA Championship, Overton has posted 6 top 10s in his previous 11 starts. Ultra consistent this year and could surprise over the next 4 weeks.

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Czech Open 2010

Bank Balance after US PGA Championship + 192.87


The Birdieclubtipster secured its second winner in 3 events by tipping 55/1 Martin Kaymer to win the US PGA Championship last week bringing the profit for the blog to +192.87 pts. It was a great win by the Dusseldorf native, first of many I think. The balance of the blog now means that the 5% of bank has increased to 9.6 pts, so for a weak field this week in the Czech Republic, delicate consideration is required.Iits 4 picks this week for a total of 9.5 pts investment.

Tip 1: Miguel Angel Jiminez. The Spaniard has won twice on tour this year and is playing in his last tournament before the Ryder Cup team is announced Sunday week at Gleneagles. He co-designed this course so should be familiar with it but its the incentive to win to make the team that inspires the first selection this week. He would be a great assest to the team and this could be his last as a player. 18/1 is good value for a proven winner, his experience will be vital and should be thereabouts come Sunday. 3.5 pts win @ 18/1(Paddypower)

Tip 2: Oliver Wilson has had a mixed season following a minor injury but is still a winner in waiting. Numerous runners-up positions eventually lead to the winners enclosure and he should be well rested for this. 1 pt e/w @ 28/1 (Paddypower)

Tip 3: James Morrison is a player that I have grown to like over the course of this season, already a winner and also lost a playoff at the Open de Espana. He has the game and again in this class of field he can be expected to challenge. 1 pt e/w @ 66/1 (Boylesports)

Tip 4: Fabrizio Zanotti has not had such good season as last but has shown a vast improvement the past few weeks. He did well here last year (different course though) finishing in the top 20.
1 pt e/w @ 80/1 (Paddypower)

Monday 9 August 2010

USPGA Championship

Bank Balance after WGC Bridgestone + 129.12

The final major of the year gets under way on Thursday at Whistling Straits GC, where Vijay Singh won his title in 2004. The Straits course has almost 1000 bunkers on it, so avoidance could be the buzz word in Winsconsin this week. That should mean players who can scramble and keep it straight off the tee with some distance should go well, but the essence once again this year could be on how to play the wind, with wind always a factor along the holes by the lake and also the fear of forecasted wind/rain come Friday & Saturday. The past few weeks, especially in Europe, have seen plenty of wind and Ireland's 3 time Major winner, Padriag Harrington has been playing well in it. Second in Killarney and tied 9th on Sunday suggests Padraig is close to his A game and he will be very comfortable on this "linksy" course this week and is great value @ 20/1 with Paddypower (paying 1/4 odds for 6 places too). He can outgun Rory McIlroy who should also contend but odds are not representing good value in my eyes.
Europe's best player (other than Lee Westwood, who incidently has pulled out due to injury) is Martin Kaymer. The affable German played well last week but could not finding his putting touch, hopefully its saved up for this week, and with odds of 55/1 Paddypower I simply have to take him.
My third selection is Retief Goosen who recorded his 8th top 10 on the PGA Tour this year on Sunday. His reaction to overshooting the 72nd hole on Sunday was very un-Goose like but it tells me the South African wants to win again, has won 2 US Opens on tough courses, had top 5 finish at St Andrews again this year and will be ready for this one this week. He is 35/1 with Paddypower
As I always take an extra selection for a major, the fourth selection for the week is Jeff Overton @ 60/1, again with Paddypower. He ranks 2nd overall on Tour for overall play and was last week at Firestone ranked T2 in birdies, T6 in putting, T7 in greens, and 12th in fairways ! That form can not be ignored especially with his performances the past few weeks with 6 top 10 finishes in 11 tournaments. He tees it up with Darren Clarke who will be comfortable on the course also and Kenny Perry.

USPGA Championship Selections:

1 pt e/w P.Harrington @ 20/1
1 pt M.Kaymer @ 55/1
1 pt R.Goosen @ 35/1
.5 pts e/w J.Overton @ 60/1

Wednesday 4 August 2010

WGC Bridgestone Invitational 2010

Bank Balance after Irish Open +136.12 pts

The action returns to the USA this week(and next) where Tiger Woods normally just turns up and takes home the title and the cash! But its a funny old world and who would have thought 12 months ago that we would be looking at a different Tiger for the event this year ? Tiger has won 7 of the 10 events at Firestone and finished no worse then 4th in the other 3, so the argument is strong in support for Tiger's return to form may happen this week. However, if there had been better putting displays this year, then maybe, but to win the event I am not convinced. He should make top 10 though through experience and least we forget, he simply is the best golfer we have ever seen and could very well excel to quash the hopes of Westwood & Mickelson taking his Number One Status. The course is often advertised as one to need to have gained experience on for one to compete and win. That being the case none have greater form other than Tiger than Jim Furyk. Twice winner on tour this year and 6 top 10 finishes in the event, another top 10 finish last week suggests his game is in good shape and his game will definitely meet the "find fairways & green" strategy requirement this week. Ladbrokes are best priced at 40/1, great value of his calibre and Firestone form.
Last weeks winner in Killarney, Ross Fisher, put up by this blog, could also go well again this week but I dont tend to go for back-to-back winners so on that basis alone I will standaside. The runner-up though, Padraig Harrington showed his game is in good nick and relished the challenge in front of his home crowd and will be excited about this week and next week's PGA Championship and he too has good form here, Ladbrokes again are best priced 25/1 on the Dubliner prevailing which represent value also.
I am a big fan of Martin Kaymer, but until recently was not certain about his US form but his top 10 US Open finish has changed my opinion and he will take a lot of confidence from the phenomonal success of Europeans in the US this year and he will also be looking forward to the next 2 events, he is well rested having not played since St. Andrews , Paddypower are best priced @ 45/1

As the bank increased again last week, a small investment is being made on Stuart Appleby to finish in the top 10 at Firestone. The Aussie wont let his incredible 59 last Sunday get in the way and his temperamant should compliment the increased confidence in his own game for this week, 7/1 Paddypower is great value for top 10 finish in the 80 man field.


WGC Bridgestone Invitational Selections:

1 pt e/w J.Furyk @ 40/1
1 pt e/w P.Harrington @ 25/1
1 pt e/w M.Kaymer @ 45/1
1 pt Top 10 Finish S.Appleby @ 7/1