THIS WEEKS GOLF.

[wakeman]

Good afternoon fellow Golfing Guru’s.

This weeks Tour takes in Arizona, Mexico, Indonesia and Thailand shame we can’t be in all places at once.

For starters then there is either the Mayakoba Classic or the Indonesian Open, then comes the Main course The WGC Matchplay and if we are still going after that then dessert comes in the shape of the Ladies and the Honda LPGA, all choices I will leave to each individual to sort out themselves in particular where dessert is concerned .

Ok then to the starters and firstly the Mayakoba Classic from down Mexico way.

For those not partaking in the WGC then there is a fine opportunity awaiting here for someone to have their moment of glory.

David Toms and Brian Gay head the market in most places and both merit serious respect in the context of this particularly in Brian Gay’s case as I’m sure he will want to put up a good defence having triumphed here last year and along with the likes of Chad Campbell, Steve Marino, Kevin Na and Charles Howell 111 you get the feeling a few of those will be in the mix come the end.

For me however it’s the invasion of the Spanish that catches my eye.

Main Selection.

That honour here falls on the shoulders of Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 50/1 who I feel must have a good a shout as anybody this week.

Next Best.

I am going to go with one of the market leaders and that being Kevin Na 33/1 who very nearly gained a victory the other week only to falter towards the end, if that has not had an adverse effect then hopefully he can be up there come the business end.

Longsghot.

Here we return to the Spanish invasion and Pablo Larrazabal 80/1, granted he does not appear to be on the case at the moment but if he can regain the sort of form he showed when triumphing in Paris last summer then the odds on offer at present certainly merit a second look.

Next we have the first of two events in the Race To Dubai this week that being the Indonesian Open, as with the Mayakoba given that many are involved in the WGC there is still I feel a more than respectable turnout here.

A new venue to contend with here but I have a feeling that last years victor is more than capable of showing up again, and along with the likes of Simon Dyson, Thongchai Jaidee, Alexander Noren, Nick Dougherty and Johan Edfors you have a handful who can certainly have a say in deciding the outcome here.

Main Selection.

Having had a more than reasonable start to the year it’s hoped that will continue here so first port of call is to my spice friend Jyoti Randhawa 25/1 in the hope that the good start to the year can continue.

Next Best.

Several contenders here most having already been mentioned but I feel that last years victor Felipe Aguilar 33/1 will have somewhat of a say in matters come Sunday.

Longshot.

From an Indian and Chilean to a Swede and someone who will I feel get a victory at some point this year that’s the mockers applied their then, so having put the frighteners up him step forward my dark horse for the year ahead Oskar Henningson 66/1.

Ok to the Main course and the WGC Matchplay the other part of this weeks Race To Dubai.

Firstly a heck of a long way to go for some if they are on the way home after the 1st round, in saying that it’s the same for everyone.

This marks the return of a certain Tiger Woods, do we see a script written already, I for one think it’s a possibility, he would not be turning up for the gig if all was not well stating the obvious their I know.

I am going with one from each group.

Main Selection.

I am going to row in with Henrik Stenson 20/1 as my main source of interest, as you will be aware he won this a couple of years ago so it holds no fears for him on that score and what’s more he is someone who likes these one on one confrontations so with that in mind here’s to perhaps another success on Sunday.

Next Best.

Sorry team at the odds available I cannot pass up Tiger Woods 11/2, as has been mentioned there is a few things to take on trust perhaps but i am more than prepared on this occasion to accept that challenge.

Two others who complete my quartet for this also if i’m not mistaken have an appetite for one to one challenges so here’s hoping that I have not put the mockers on Robert Karlsson 40/1 and Lee Westwood 40/1, wouldn’t it be nice to have all Four in the Semi-Finals , no longshots for me here this week.

Ok time for dessert now and this weeks offering from the Ladies and the Honda LPGA.

One things for sure we are guaranteed Four Rounds here .

This also marks the first appearance of the year for the Ladies No1 Lorena Ochoa and who’s to say that she cannot walk away with this but she will certainly I feel need to bring her A game to the table, just have a feeling that a watching brief is the order of the day here, we all know what happened the last time I said that Angela Stanford duly rubbed my nose in it .

Main Selection.

At first I was not going to but after a lot of thought I am going to go again with Paula Creamer 14/1, purely on the basis I have no jobs for her here this week so she can go out and earn her keep for this week , by the way she is paying for me to back her on this occassion so to reward such generosity i have had a maximum bet seriously though she put up a good show in the corresponding event last year to merit giving another chance to hopefully bring home the Bacon this week.

Next Best.

But for one round in the Australian Open who knows Katherine Hull 25/1 may have had more of a say in proceedings than she did, at the odds on offer if all is well then I feel that a reproduction of her ANZ showing could yield another victory come Sunday.

I am going to throw Helen Alfredsson 60/1 into the mix this week purely because the odds on offer certainly merit a second look and granted she is all in or not it is a chance I feel worth accepting this week..

Longshots.

No introductions required here, firstly Melissa Reid 100/1 almost did it for me in the Australian Open, granted here that a few more illustrious personnel take up the challenge this week but if she can build on that then who knows.

Finally I feel that I am going to be in Kristy McPherson’s 150/1 corner quite a bit, but if she is going to be offered at these odds then I would hate to miss out as I feel that a victory for her this year is not beyond the realms of impossibility.

Well that will do it for me for this week so the usual Best Of Luck to everyone.

Cheers.

Adrian.

[SwallowCottage]

Well done to Adrian with his winning selections last week on Danny Lee in Australia and on Phil Mickelson in California……an invitation to his celebration party is awaited

There are some interesting events this week and the main one sees the return of Tiger at the

WGC Accenture Matchplay

in Arizona which is being played at a new course this year. Top players from all over the world are competing in it and I’ve no doubt that Tiger will be ready and trying to win as usual but I will not be betting on him at the odds available.
I’m not a fan of the Matchplay format but this event has been a lucky one for me in the last couple of years with a win and a runner up place so I’m hoping my luck will continue and I’m betting on 5 players.
I can’t leave

Geoff Ogilvy

out as he has previously shown his liking for this matchplay event with a victory and runner up finish in it. He has been in good form recently with a couple of wins in the last few months.

Aaron Baddeley

reached the QF stages of this tournament in 2007 and 2008 and nearly defeated Tiger last year when having the chance to putt for a win but was unsuccessful. He lives in Arizona and is one of the best putters on tour and will have a good chance of victory if he can improve his accuracy which is a his main weakness. Odds of 66/1 were quickly taken.
One player who has improved over the past 12 months is

Camilo Villlegas

and I have a feeling that he will enjoy the matchplay style of golf ( so expect a first round exit ). He also has problems with his accuracy but he is a lot more confident than he used to be and may have to beat Tiger in the QF if he is to win.

Robert Karllson

is another player who has improved and whilst he has not played well in this event previously, he did finish 3rd in 2006 in the matchplay at Wentworth so is capable of playing well in matchplay conditions and is worth a bet in my opinion.
I was only going to bet on 4 players but when I looked at the bottom quarter of the draw, I could not resist backing the 2007 winner

Henrik Stenson

who appears to have a good chance of at least reaching the semi’s as many of his main opponents in the draw are presently not in good form including Harrington, Furyk and Kim.

There is another event taking place on the pga tour and it’s in Mexico with the

Mayakoba golf classic

and this is a good opportunity for one of the lesser known players to get their first pga win and earn a 2 year exemption on the tour. This looks very open and I don’t fancy the chances of any player strongly. My three choices are

Kevin Na

,

John Merrick

and

Dean Wilson

.

The race to Dubai moves to the island of Bali for the

Indonesian Open

and a new par 72 course is the stage for this event which may favour some of the europeans but the forecast humid conditions may help the asian players.

Nick Dougherty

is my main hope for this and he has previously won in asia and has played better recently with a couple of top 20 finishes. This event is not as strong as the ones he usually plays in and he could go close.
I may be hoping for too much by selecting the S/Korean

Seung Yul Noh

to win as he is only 17 years old but he has already won on the asian tour and was leading the Malaysian Open after the first round on a fortnight ago before finishing 11th. He looks a bright prospect for the future and could be as good as the Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa who is playing in the Masters this year.
An asian player who may do better than expected this week is the Filipino

Juvic Pagunsan

who finished 21st recently in the Malaysian Open and was 3rd on the Asian tour the previous week. He won a golf tournament in Indonesia during the 2007 asian tour.
I’ll keep faith with

Alexander Noren

who played disappointingly in Australia last week but this event looks much easier and he should like this long par 72 course. I have mentioned before that I think he can win his first event on the euro tour this year and this looks to be his best chance so far with many top players competing in the matchplay.
My final selection is

Wen Chong Liang

who also missed the cut in australia and I do have doubts about whether this course will suit his style of play but he did play well in Malaysia previously and looks worth an interest in an event which is probably going to be one of the weakest on the Race to Dubai.

It will be interesting to see how Lorena Ochoa plays in the

Honda LPGA

in Thailand but at the price, I will not be selecting her this week.
Instead I am going to ignore the missed cut by

Jiyai Shin

in Hawaii as I do not consider her to be the sort of player who will suffer a lack of confidence due to one poor performance. I think that the course in Thailand will suit her much better and she may feel more comfortable playing in Asia again where she has won many tournaments.

Na Yeon Choi

had a reasonable rookie season last year and could improve further this year. She is a talented golfer so I think she is worth backing.

Seon Hwa Lee

won twice last season and also finished a creditable 3rd in the ADT Championship and as this event may be a birdie feast then she is worth a bet in my opinion.

Katherine Hull

is my final selection and she is full of confidence after her recent performances in her native country which included an impressive victory.

Good luck to everybody betting on the golf this week

Pete

[davidbrady]

I’m going to have a punt on the golf this week, in the Accenture WGC Matchplay Championship

Henrik Stenson

is the man to trust with my cash. Won the event 2 years ago and lost in semi-finals last year, to Tiger Woods. The draw means that he avoids Woods until the final so each-way @ 20/1 will do me.

Also Boylesports are doing a special with money back on all outright bets if Tiger Woods wins the tournament. They are best price

Mickelson

(16/1),

Kim

(22/1), &

Ogilvy

(25/1) but sadly not Stenson.

[Author]

Posts