Waste Management Phoenix Open - 2013

Following Tiger Woods win on Monday in San Diego, the second event already this year to go into an extra day, the PGA Tour moves onto Arizona for the eagerly awaited Phoenix Open sponsored  by Waste Managaement to be held at the TPC Scottsdale course. I say eagerly awaited as the fans attending this week will be the most vociferous on tour all year, where beer will fuel the "get in the hole" roars, especially on the stadium 16th par 3.Its an event that I'd love to see hosted either the week before or the week after The Masters!
This year we have a very competitive field assembled and entails quite a number of the European players with the likes of Martin Kaymer, Padraig Harrinton, Ross Fisher and Nicholas Colsaerts. The betting is headed by Jason Dufner and Rickie Fowler at 14 & 16/1. Dufner left it a bit late last week in Qatar to get going but the trip to the Middle East may have freshened him up for this one, but I am going to swerve him this week as I seek better value elsewhere.
Despite no return last week for our picks in San Diego, I thought if both Bill Haas and Hunter Mahan had holed some putts they would have been in contention. Mahan missed a lot of putts inside 10 feet, and if he plays as well as he did he is sure to go well again this week. Both Mahan & Haas make my staking plan again this week at @ 35/1 and 33/1 both with Betpack.
My third selection is Russell Henley, rookie winner in Hawaii @ 66/1, again with Betpack who are paying 6 places. Henley looked the real deal in Hawaii and was well in contention at The Humana until one horrific hole ended his chances.He'll be at home on this course I feel and the price is just too big for me to ignore.

Hopefully in Arizona the weather will ensure we have 4 days uninterrupted and come Sunday our picks will be in the mix so I can grab a beer from my fridge and roar them on in the manner that the Phoenix gallery will do.

TIP 1: 1 pt e/w H.Mahan @ 35/1 Betpack

TIP 2: 1 pt e/w B.Haas @ 33/1 Betpack

TIP 3: 1 pt e/w R.Henley @ 66/1 Betpack

Omega Dubai Desrt Classic 2013

The final leg of the Desert Swing takes place at the Emirates GC in Dubai with Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood heading the field, which in fairness is a bit lacking from the previous two weeks. These two rightly go off as the bookies favourites and Garcia in particular looked sharp last week and will be hoping to go one better this week.
Last week, our four selections were on the fringe of things throughout the tournament with the 80/1 shout, Victor Dubuisson just missing out on a place by a single shot. He proved again though that certain golfers will play some of their best golf on courses that they like. This week we will try look for the same credentials and oppose Garcia & Westwood. My first selection this week is Henrik Stenson. We backed him last week and got off to a flyer in round 1 only to drop 3 shots over his closing 5 holes in that round. With Stenson, you need to factor in his temperament but he fought back well the weekend to merit consideration again this week on a course he won back in 2007, not to mention 3 Top 10s since as well. The Swede can be backed at 14/1.
My second pick this week is Stephen Gallacher @ 66/1 or 60/1 with Betpack (paying 6 places again this week). The Scot has great form in this event, and showed some good form last week despite a poor result, but he has two Top 10s here in the past couple of seasons and his record here has shown a marked improvement each time he plays. The wind is forecasted this week and this will play into his hands. A good start is vital if he is to contend, but he will be looking forward to playing on the Emirates GC again.
Third pick this week is Thomas Bjorn who needs no introduction when playing on this type of course and in the wind. Three top 10s here also shows he too likes the place and at 50/1, that's a price not to be overlooked. He played well last week and can build on that this week.
My fourth pick is Soren Kjeldsen @ 150/1. He too has decent form here with a couple of Top 10s also. He missed the cut last week, only just, but he was well down the field in Qatar last year too before finishing 5th in Dubai. He can repeat that form again. He has yet to return to the form he was in back in 2009 but recent events indicate that return is not far away and at these odds he is worth a small interest.
My fifth pick this week is Dutchman, Robert-Jan Derksen @ 225/1 with Bet365. The big hitter is not the most consistent but has a top 20 here and some decent enough results. He started well last week in Qatar also before slipping back. That early new year rustiness will hopefully have been dusted off and with a fairly mediocre field this week, I'll take a chance for a player that has won twice on the Tour but again at smaller stakes.


TIP 1 : 2 pts WIN H.Stenson @ 14/1 Paddypower

TIP 2: 1 pt e/w S.Gallacher @ 60/1 Betpack

TIP 3: 1 pt e/w T.Bjorn @ 50/1 Ladbrokes

TIP 4: 0.5 pts e/w S.Kjeldsen @ 150/1 Betpack

TIP 5: 0.25 pts e/w R-J. Derksen @ 225/1 Bet365

Farmers Insurance Open 2013

The PGA moves onto San Diego this week and to Torrey Pines GC for the Farmers Insurance Open, formely known as the Buick Invitational and San Diego Open. There are two courses in play this week for the opening two rounds before the action continues on the South Course, host of the 2008 US Open where Tiger beat Rocco Mediate in a playoff (when Westwood should have won)
The top players seem to prevail here and the honour roll backs that up. So this week, with length off the tee of critical importance and the stats backing up the theory that course knowledge is essential I have finally agreed on my lineup to tackle it this year.

First up is Hunter Mahan who has scored well here over the past couple of seasons with 6th place finishes as well as a top 15 in 2009. He has already dusted off the cobwebs at Kapalua so I expect that rustiness to have been shaken off as he looks to build towards a successful 2013. At 33/1, the odds are a must for someone who relishes the bigger events and with the quality field assembled here I expect him to raise his game once more.

 My 2nd pick this week is Bill Haas. Again, in 8 visits here he has recorded 5 top 20s so he obviously is comfortable on this course. he was tied 4th here last year and can go even better this year. A stack of top 20s on tour last year including a win at The Northern Trust, Haas is becoming ultra consistent since his FedEx Cup win in 2011. Currently 50/1 with Betpack, who are paying 6 places this week, I cannot ignore him given his course form here.

I cannot really decide who to back between Dustin Johnson & Bubba Watson for my final pick but due to course form, the latter gets the nod. He won this in 2011 and seems to be playing his best on the tougher, longer tracks. Seems to be fully content in his life too which always helps the mindset when playing golf.  He finished 4th at Kapalua and will take that as a positive season opener into Torrey Pines this week. 16/1(same odds as DJ) just about value .


TIP 1: 1 pt e/w H.Mahan @ 33/1

TIP 2: 1 pt e/w B.Haas @ 50/1 with  Betpack (paying 6 places)

TIP 3: 1 pt e/w B.Watson @ 16/1

Qatar Masters 2013

Having gone so close in Durban with Scott Jamieson the week before, the blog quickly established some early profit for the season when Jamie Donaldson duly obliged in Abu Dhabi at 60/1 with Betpack/Stanjames/Paddypower. Part 2 of the Desert Swing tees off in Qatar on Wednesday (not the usual Thursday) to allow the locals to support on Friday & Saturday so if placing bets make sure to do so tomorrow as the event starts Wednesday morning at 3:30 GMT. This event has not been kind to me the past couple of seasons and my notes from last year suggested avoiding this year if weather conditions suggested doing so. However, I feel a bit like a player who has just grabbed the honour on a  220 yd par 3 over water this week as I have received alot of messages and tweets following the 60/1 win with kind words of congratulations. Thanks all and lets hope we can add to the bank again this week.(and make birdie on that par3!). Speaking of twitter, I did ask local Doha PGA Pro, Steven Troup via twitter this morning what the weather forecast would be for the week and Steve informs me that it will be "Beautiful v slight wind fcast for much the same all week. Rough not as thick as prev .." (You can follow me on @birdieclubtips and Steve on @stroup1) . So then, if the wind,as in previous years, does not show itself, the course could be there for the big hitters and therefore the players at the head of the betting must be considered.
 Of the leading players I like Jason Dufner & Martin Kaymer. The latter never really got going in Abu Dhabi but is definitely getting back to his best. He definitely needs to get a low one early if he is to win soon. Dufner has been a bit of a surprise to me on his recent events outside of America with a 2nd in Perth and a top 10 last week. And because of those performances I think he can go well this week now having settled in. At 16/1, he just about gets my attention ahead of Martin.
 I like the chances of former winner, Henrik Stenson this week as well. But for a poor 76 in round 3 last week, the Swede would have been in contention or at least recorded a top 10. He is a recent winner in South Africa and despite poor results here in Doha the past 2 years, he has recorded a win , 3x 2nds and a 7th the previous 5 years. He will be looking forward to it this week and I look forward to getting a run at 33/1 with him.
My third selection this week is Thorbjorn Olesen. I tipped him in Durban 2 weeks ago and he almost made a playoff with Donaldson on Sunday last. He will bring that confidence with him this week and if he drives as well he did last week I'm sure he will make plenty of opportunities to score. At 30/1 also, the Dane makes the staking plan.
I am adding a 4th player this week in the shape of Frenchman, Victor Dubuisson. Two top10s here the past 2 years should mean he likes the course. His performances last year from 20 events saw him make top 10 on 5 occasions and appears to be improving all the time, despite a missed cut (only just) last week and at 80/1, he is added to the lineup for this week.

TIP 1: 2 pts WIN J.Dufner @ 16/1

TIP 2: 1 pt e/w H.Stenson @ 33/1

TIP 3: 1 pt e/w T.Olesen @ 30/1

TIP 4: 0.5 pts V.Dubuisson @ 80/1