Korea Championship 2023 - Jack Nicklaus GC, Korea

 We found a winner last week when Lucas Herbert duly obliged via a play-off over a very unlucky Aaron Cockerill. What's more lucky is that it is now 5/5 in my last 5 playoffs which goes against the all-time success rate of playoffs (9/23 overall) and this current streak comes on the back of 8 straight losing playoffs ! I did say Ibaraki holds fond memories for me having visited during the World Cup in 2022 and so it proved again last Sunday.

Onto a new event this week in Incheon,Korea not too far from Seoul. It's a Jack Nicklaus design course as it was last week and maybe Lucas Herbert is missing a trick here as he has form on the European/DPT tour winning on Jack Nicklaus design courses but nonetheless I'm sure he's having a few tinnies this week and planning ahead. I settled on just a 10-man shortlist (below) this week and I'm not sure whether that's a good sign or a bad sign ! Anyhow, I'm keen to side with Jeunghun Wang yet again especially as this is a home game for him this week. He was very slow out of the blocks last week but with a decent start this week, he can challenge for another DPT Title. Jeunghun ranks inside the T-40 for both SG:T2G & SG:APR which could be good indicators for this. I also like the 70/1 - 8 places with Bet365.

I wanted to get onboard with Guido Migliozzi again this week but on closer look at his stats I veered away and instead went for Ryo Hisatune @ 75/1 - 8 places. Hes missed the cut in his last two outings which is a slight concern and is probably factored into his price but he's posted 3no. T-10s from his 9 starts this year on the DPT of which 2 were T-5s! He could and should feel comfortable in this field and being in Asia again for another week. Should (!)

Lastly and by no means least, I have gone towards the top of the market as I find it hard to avoid Adrian Meronk in this field and Yannik Paul is a player that I think could be winning events more often soon. The Polish lad has Nicklaus form just like Herbert when he won the Irish Open at Mt Juliet last summer, has won the Australian Open back in January and posted 3 other T-10s form just 6 starts on the DPT in 2023. 18/1 - 8 places? Yes please. The German arrives in hot form; 6th last week and 2nd in both India & Thailand before that. He sits just outside the top-100 on the OWGR rankings so he should be motivated to capitalize on his current form to improve on that and this course looks ideal. He ranks inside the TOP-10 on the DPT for SG;T2G & SG:APR and if he putts well he could push Meronk for the 1-2 here @ 200/1 with Ladbrokes 

I was close to including Mansell and Langasque here but finalized on just the four.

My Shortlist	BET365 Odds	Best Odds	Best Exchange	My Odds
Robert MacIntyre		19	19.6	19
Adrian Meronk	19	21	22	19
Yannik Paul		23	28	26
Antoine Rozner	26	26	28	29
Richard Mansell	31	34	36	34
Jazz Janewattananond	34	41	48	41
Romain Langasque	51	56	68	51
Fabrizio Zanotti	61	67	86	81
JeungHun Wang		67	108	61
Ryo Hisatsune	67	81	111	67

Selections:

1.75 pts e/w A. Meronk @ 18/1 - 8 places
1.5 pts e/w Y. Paul @ 22/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w J. Wang @ 70/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w R. Hisatsune @ 75/1 - 8 places

*updated 26/04/23 @ 13:33 - 

0.20 pts Dual Forecast A.Meronk & Y. Paul @ 200/1

ISPS Handa Championship 2023 - PGM Ishioka GC, Omitama, Japan

 A new venue this week for the first ever proper co-sanctioned DPT/Japan tour, where the Jack Nicklaus course  just outside Ibaraki hosts. I have fond memories of Ibaraki, or just about (!) as this is where the Republic of Ireland claimed a memorable 1-1 draw with Germany at the 2002 World Cup with Robbie Keane's dramatic late equalizer.

So I'm hoping for another result here that could re-enact the celebrations that followed that night back in June, 2002 in Ibaraki and I'm going to post with the stable below having finalized a 20-man shortlist based on price only below

My Shortlist	BET365 Odds	Best Odds	Best Exchange	My Odds
Christiaan Bezuidenhout	19	21	22	15
Robert MacIntyre	26	29*(5places)	30	17
Lucas Herbert	21	21	23	19
Taiga Semikawa	36	41	46	36
Adri Arnaus	46	51	49	34
Jazz Janewattananond	61	61	69	41
Romain Langasque	67	67	74	56
Pablo Larrazabal	71	71	118	61
Rafael Cabrera Bello	101	101	127	61
Paul Waring	111	111	167	81
Jeunghun Wang	81	101	110	81
Ryo Ishikawa	126	151	216	81
Brad Kennedy	151	151	245	111
Chase Hanna	176	176	225	126
Shaun Norris	226	201	245	151
Daniel Hillier	151	176	274	151
Jens Dantorp	201	201	265	176
Todd Baek	226	251	480	201
Kodai Ichihara	601	501	686	351
Sang Hee Lee	601	501	441	401

Selections

1.5 pts e/w C. Bezuidenhout @ 20/1 - 7 places
1.5 pts e/w L. Herbert @ 20/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w T. Semikawa @ 40/1 - 7 places
2 pts e/w A. Arnaus @ 45/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w J. Wang @ 100/1 - 7 places

RBC Heritage 2023 - Hilton Head

 The RBC Heritage sees it's strongest field ever this week as the PGA has decided to make this one of it's 13 non-Major Designated events and the newly crowned Masters Champion, Jon Rahm heads the field.

I was really annoyed last week when the weather put paid to JT for the 2nd time in three years and due to the Easter weekend thought my interest would wane. Russell Henley though provided a place return @150/1 whilst Jon Rahm deservedly captured his first green jacket. It was great to see a strong effort from Brooks Koepka though however it was a major shock to see Mickelson do so well. As JT missed the cut, he could be just as annoyed as myself and may want to get a W sooner rather than later and Hilton Head may present an opportunity if the market leaders are feeling the effects of a busy weekend last at Augusta. History tells us that Masters contenders d not fare well here but this however is a designated event with a much stronger field in assembly. JT's odds continue to push out and as a result I cannot ignore them and he's chanced yet again @ 25/1 - 8 places

From my shortlist below I was quite keen on Matt Kuchar but so too are the bookies. However J.T. Poston is holding his price for value as well as Sam's Ryder & Stevens who are in solid form and could pounce any given week. Taylor Montgomery may not have course knowledge this week like most other weeks but he is playing nicely and his price certainly tempts me in.  Sam Ryder tees it up having posted 6no. T-20s from his 16 starts this season despite having missed the cut here 3 times from his 4 visits. Stevens arrives on the back f 2nd in Texas, 3rd in Puntacana and here's hoping he follows the trend on his debut at Hilton Head. Poston has course form;3-mc-8-6 to date and he too is in form this season with a T-10 at the Valspar last month.

My Shortlist	Bet365 odds (less places)	Best Odds	Best Exchange	My Odds
Justin Thomas	26	26	31	21
Tommy Fleetwood	61	56	86	51
Brian Harman	101	101	144	67
Keith Mitchell	111	111	176	101
J.T. Poston	61	81	74	67
Matt Kuchar	51	51	54	46
Kevin Kisner	301	501	627	151
Taylor Montgomery	101	101	167	81
Davis Riley	151	201	304	141
Sam Ryder	141	201	308	151
Taylor Pendrith	251	301	559	201
Sam Stevens	151	201	353	176

Selections 

2 pts e/w J. Thomas @ 25/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w J.T. Poston @ 70/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w T. Montgomery @ 100/1 - 8places
1 pt e/w S. Stevens @ 175/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w D. Ryder  @ 175/1 - 8 places

The Masters 2023 - Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

 As always, the first major of the year sees us heading up Magnolia Lane in Augusta, Georgia. This will be the 87th Masters where the World Number 1, Scottie Scheffler will try and defend having won his first major here twelve months ago.He arrives in solid form too, just like he did in '22,having won The Players Championship last month. This years edition though does feel a little open and should any of the World's Top-20 players go on to win, we wouldn't be surprised. Augusta & The Masters does tend to throw up the same trends each year though where course experience has been crucial although of late Sungjae Im & Will Zalatoris have shown they can go well on debuts. Not since 1979 though have we seen a debutant win and its highly unlikely we will see that change here this week.

I do think this could be Rory's week (career) ! He is playing quite well the past few months and win inclement weather forecast this week it may be to his advantage and as always at a Major and especially here, a solid opening round is key to setting up the weekend. Twelve years since he blew up on the back-9 here would suggest those memories are well banished and the focus will be to seize an opportunity come Sunday should it present himself. The journos though will go overboard on the Rory v LIV stuff though, but it somehow may be an on-course achievement that may unite the tours. It's been refreshing to see players meet & greet each other at Augusta already this week rather than reading the snide remarks about the tours, so here's hoping its a great week of golf as always at The Masters. From a betting perspective, backing Rory @8/1 isn't appealing and I don't need to back Rory this week: if he completes the Grand Slam I'll be cheering him on and that will bring a lot of happiness itself regardless of the P&L.

Instead, I'll be swearing at the screen when JT misses a chip or a putt. He hasn't won this season yet which is a slight concern and more so that he hasn't challenged for a win but he has shown at Augusta previously that the course suits and all those practice rounds with Tiger is paying off. Add in the experience of  Bones Mackay who caddies for him now and the knowledge is immeasurable- now is the week for the execution. We have a much mature JT these days and with two Majors under his belt, he can approach each one now with a little more confidence as he tries to reign in his buddy Jordan Spieth's tally of 3 Majors. There's a been a lot of top golf played this year already on the PGA Tour and I do wonder if some players come in a bit overplayed whereas JT arrives having played no more than 3 tournaments in a row. I could make the same and better argument for Rory who has played a lot less than his PGA Tour peers too. Then I could say the same re: LIV Tour players who I do think are way undercooked and may not have a competitive edge this week, barring Smith, Koepka & DJ (noted all Major winners too). Justin Thomas will tee it up at The Masters for the eighth time this week having posted recent returns of 8-21-4-12-17-22-39. Finishing 4th to Matsuyama about the closest he's challenged when rain interrupted the Saturday and Hideki seized his moment. His price draws me in here though @ 20/1 - 8 places

I was keen on Tony Finau this week, as I'm sure a lot of others are but I made him 28/1 and can't now take him at 25s, especially pre-Tee Times. With the weather forecast in place, it may be prudent to revisit the market when those tee-times are announced and see if there is any reaction but I highly doubt as money is already pouring into Betfair (€2.6M+ already traded). 

I do find this a right conundrum this week and therefore won't be going in with a full stable as I normally do at the Majors and instead I'll take a punt on a couple of players that I think could play well and grab some enhanced place money in the shapes of Russell Henley & Chris Kirk @  150s & 100s respectively with 10 places on offer. The latter hasn't been here since 2016 but was raised in Georgia and played college golf for the University of Georgia. Kirk is revitalised this season and returns to Augusta bringing a vital "trend" in that he has won on tour this season (Honda Classic). He may have missed the cut here in '16 but in his other two appearances he finished 33rd and 20th on debut in 2014.  Four T-10s from his 13 starts this season sees Kirk in fine form and he should relish his Masters this week. Henley too is a native of Georgia hailing from just two hours away but what has drawn me to his chances this week is that he has the putting skills to master the Augusta greens. This will be his 7th Masters having posted 30-15-11-21-31 & mc on debut.He too has a win this season but form hasn't held up from a solid 2022 although he finished T-20 at Sawgrass last month.

I'll sit back and enjoy the Masters this year, whether I'm glued to the TV or its brilliant app on my phone I'm not sure yet and I'll be looking out for Gordon Sargent the NCAA Champion who apparently could be the next best thing....but we are saying this alot nearly every year now such is the quality these days but it's all very exciting nonetheless ! Sargent added to my shortlist below just so I can mark him a favourite on the app

My Shortlist	OWGR	Bet365 odds (less places)	Best Odds	Best Exchange	My Odds
Scottie Scheffler	1	8	8	9.04	11
Rory McIlroy	2	8	8	8.84	11
Jon Rahm	3	10	10	11.1	11
Jordan Spieth	16	17	17	21	17
Patrick Cantlay	4	21	21	24	17
Justin Thomas	10	21	21	19	23
Collin Morikawa	12	26	26	30	26
Tony Finau	13	26	26	29	29
Jason Day	35	26	26	30	34
Dustin Johnson	69	26	29	33	36
Cameron Young	14	29	29	34	34
Max Homa	5	31	31	40	36
Sam Burns	11	41	36	48	36
Justin Rose	36	61	67	78	81
Tommy Fleetwood	27	56	67	74	81
Corey Conners	28	46	41	53	81
Russell Henley	38	151	151	245	126
Chris Kirk	32	151	151	274	151
Gordon Sargent	-	751	1001	960	501

Selections

3 pts e/w Justin Thomas @ 20/1 - 8 places

1 pt e/w R.Henley @ 150/1 - 10 places

1 pt e/w C. Kirk @ 100/1 - 10 places