THIS WEEKS GOLF, March 19th – 22nd..

[wakeman]

Good afternoon Comrades.

Well better late than never, here is my rundown of the week’s events with hopefully a better outcome than last week.

First of all a well done to FHL for his match bet victory last week, quite convincing in the end.

Right three Tournaments this week and the one I had most problems with was the Ladies, no change there, more on that later.

I will begin with the Madeira Islands Open which surprisingly is not on the box which for a Race To Dubai event I don’t think is very clever, granted in my case I have no one playing for me regarding that but even so it would have been nice to have had a look.

It comes to something I suppose when the market leader has not won anything for 18 months or so but in saying that Bradley Dredge does have fond memories here and I was contemplating going with him earlier in the week but having had second thoughts have decided no thanks.

Others worth mentioning are Thomas Aiken on his good showing last week along with Rafael Cabrera Bello and Niclas Fasth, all three you feel could have a say in the final outcome along with Damien McGrane but I have decided to look elsewhere, although I believe this is a new venue this year, so a bit to be taken on trust here.

Main Selection.

Jose-Manuel Lara has that dubious honour although not setting the world alight recently is if in the mood more than capable of coming up trumps come presentation time on Sunday.

Next Best.

Estanislao Goya is a no more than hopeful choice but I am prepared to see what the outcome will be given that I have just put the frighteners up him by having him in my corner this week.

Longshots.

Santiago Luna is again a no more than hopeful choice but one who has interested me very much at a price is Daniel Vancsik, given he was a seven shot winner of this two years ago granted as was mentioned earlier we are on a new course this year, not much it would seem has gone his way since hence the price on offer this week but in the context of this I am more than ready to have him on my side this time.

Ok to this week’s offering State side and the Transitions Championship

A more than acceptable turnout given the WGC last week and several will be fancying there chance of glory here not least KJ Choi a previous winner of this Kenny Perry, Zach Johnson and after nearly nailing it last week Nick Watney, I had thought long and hard about Adam Scott but for me those at the head of the market will do for starters.

Main Selection.

After finishing like a train last week I am going to go again wit my old mate Jim Furyk after catching the eye last week with a fast finishing third, here’s hoping he can go two places better this week.

Next Best.

Sean O’Hair arrives on the scene next, again having won this last year and given that recent efforts suggest all is well a prominent showing you feel is certainly in the offering.

Longshots.

As with the Madeira a couple here whom I feel could make there prescence felt, those being firstly last years runner up George McNeill and again despite a mixed bag recently at the odds I could not pass up Brandt Snedeker, I will not be pleased if Bubba Watson comes along and does me although given recent ventures that seems very unlikely GET ON.

Right finally to the event that has given me quite a headache this week that being the Mastercard Classic, this week’s offering from the LPGA it is a wonder how i have any hair left after trying to solve this one .

Firstly I am more than happy to take on Lorena Ochoa given that she does not have the best of records playing in her home country whilst at the same time not suggesting that the Winners cheque could end up in her right pocket come Sunday but at present not for me thanks.

Jiyai Shin will no doubt be cock a hoop after her recent win and is again more than capable of having a say in things given she now has a victory under her belt and along with on this occasion Yani Tseng 2nd in this last year they both command the utmost respect.

Main Selection.

Those of you regular to this will not be surprised that I am going to go with my favourite Lady Paula Creamer this week it was however very touch and go, having given her the Spanish archer recently she still has performed with a good deal of credit to suggest that it could be her turn on this occasion.

Next Best.

A couple here again beginning with Katherine Hull who despite spitting the dummy out a couple of weeks ago is still performing well enough to suggest another prominent showing could again be forthcoming.

Na Yeon Choi will be fighting my corner this week given a prominent showing in this last year a return visit could spark an upturn in fortunes.

Longshots.

Just a couple who need no introduction but at the prices could very well surprise, those being Anje Monke and Anna Rawson.

Well that will do it for me so as always The Best Of Luck To Everyone.

Cheers.

Adrian.

[SwallowCottage]

Good luck to Adrian and anybody else betting on the golf this week

The race to Dubai is back on track with the

Madeira Islands Open

and this field is one of the weakest I have seen for a while and I’m confident that nobody playing in it will be contesting for the big prize in Dubai at the end of the season.
I don’t have any strong fancies but have decided to bet on 3 players with more hope than confidence –
I’ve chosen

Ignacio Garrido

simply because he is experienced and knows how to win and has recent decent form to his name ( 12th in Indonesia and 10th in Australia ).
A promising young player is the young argentinean

Estanislao Goya

who is only 20 years old. He managed to win a couple of times on the Challenge tour last season and this is his first full season on the Euro tour which he has started reasonably well. A 10th place in the Joburg open has been his best performance so far. He has the potential to be another one of the golf stars from S/America.
My optimistic e/way bet ( 130/1 win, 13/1 top 10 place ) is

Jean Baptiste Gonnet

who looks like the type of player who could win one of these weak tournaments. He has not played that good recently but neither have a lot of the players taking part.

The pga tour continues in florida for the

Transitions Championship

. I do not often bet on defending champions but

Sean O’Hair

has started the year reasonably well and obviously likes the course as he won this event last year so I reckon he is worth betting on to win.
I bet on

K J Choi

last week and he played disappointingly but the course played a lot easier than I predicted ( yes…any excuse ) so I think he is worth another chance here as he has performed with credit on this course in the past.
I always feel reluctant to bet on

Tim Clark

on the pga tour because he has played over 170 tournaments on it without managing to win. However he has won in other parts of the world including the UK and Japan and won in Australia at the end of last year and he has started the year reasonably well. He is presently rated as one of the most accurate players which could be important on this course which is why my money is on him to win this week.

Mathew Goggin

is a player who I think will be suited to this course ( 14th in 2008 ) and he improved towards the end of the 2008 pga season and also came close to winning an event in his native country. He looks worth an e/way interest at odds of 80/1
Finally

D J Trahan

does not have a good record at this tournament but he is another player who has improved in the last 12 months and he could go close if maintaining his accuracy and also looks worth an e/way interest.

The lpga continues with an event in Mexico and it’s the

Mastercard classic

over 3 days. Lorena Ochoa has never won this event or managed to finish in the top three and I will not be betting on her at the odds on offer.
Adrian will be dismayed to learn that I am backing his favourite golf lady

Paula Creamer

to win as she played very well in Singapore recently when not in good health and previous scorecards for this event suggest that this course is not that easy which may play to her strengths.
This week my three e/way bets are all S/Korean –

Jane Park

has yet to win on the lpga circuit. She has started the year promisingly with a couple of top 10 finishes in three tournaments including a 6th place in Singapore and it encouraging that she came 3rd in this event last year. Odds of 50/1 look reasonable.

Hee Young Park

looks worth another chance at odds of 66/1 judged on her performance in the Honda Thailand lpga in Thailand when she finished runner up.

Song Hee Kim

( 66/1 ) has started the season moderately but I remember watching her when she nearly won the Samsung World Championships last autumn and she looked the type of player who might spring a surprise and win this season and I think she’s worth backing here.

Happy Punting

Pete

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