THIS WEEKS GOLF, March 5th – 8th.

[wakeman]

Good morning fellow Golfers.

No Race To Dubai Tournament this week .

First and foremost a big well done to Pete with regard his victory in the WGC Matchplay last week, not only did Geoff Ogilvy himself have a good time of it but his victory also catapaulted Pete to the head of the Race To Dubai standings in our Mini League so even more reason to celebrate .

Ok onto this week and two Tournaments for me those being this weeks offering from the PGA the Honda Classic from Florida and on the Ladies front the HSBC Champions from Singapore.

Beginning with the Honda Classic.

A few have travelled on here following there exploits from last weeks WGC and of those it would appear at first sight that Ernie Els is the one most likely to be victorious come Sunday as he bids to follow up last years success, however I still feel that all is not quite right with him and along with Sergio Garcia and Camilo Villegas will be passed over this week.

Main Selection.

Of those at the head of the market and having also had the seal of approval from Geoff Ogilvy last week I am going to row in with Rory Mcilroy again to hopefully continue his rise up the ladder, one small note of caution perhaps it his the first time he has played here that aside having won in Dubai albeit a little shakily at the end coupled with his fine showing last week he comes here in good enough nick to hopefully come up trumps again.

Next Best.

I am again going to be in the corner of JJ Henry to begin with, having very nearly hit me where it hurts last week having gone with him previously granted some would say it was a second rate Tournament but there was enough evidence again to suggest that perhaps his next victory may not be too long in coming.

Another trying it here for the first time as far as I can remember is Andres Romero and as with Rory Mcilroy if he takes to it who knows he could have a say in things come Sunday.

Longshots.

A couple to contemplate here in my opinion both also appearing to be having there first taste of the scenery.

Firstly Miguel Angel Jimenez comes here in pretty good nick I feel and at the odds on offer I cannot pass that up, so I will be having a packet of Panama’s on him this week in exchange for hopefully some Export’s come Sunday .

Finally another one who I have latched onto this year and who figured last week after having missed his three previous cuts, it happens to most at some point, but in the hope that he can continue from where he left off last week then Kevin Streelman could again I feel have some kind of say in matters.

Right to the HSBC Champions then and having shot myself very firmly in the foot by suggesting that Lorena Ochoa will not have things her own way this year she well untruly kicked me in the nether regions by coming from behind to nail Paula Creamer with what Paula said was as good as she has seen her play, so coupled with her routing of a field in this last year which included the now retired Annika Sorenstam is there any point in opposing her this week the answer probably not.

For me however I will take up the challenge but without the company of some of my usual suspects, those being Paula Creamer on my head be it and Katherine Hull, Helen Alfredsson gave me a reasonable run last week but at half the odds this week against a similar field not for me thanks.

Main Selection.

I am going to side with Angela Stanford on this occasion just juggling the pack really, she certainly comes here in rude health given three wins in her last eight Tournaments and a lowest place amongst those of seventh, going to have a say again you feel whilst at the same time a mare awaits.

Next Best.

Apologies to Pete here but I am going to join the Jee Young Lee bandwagon this week, no real reasoning behind that just looking at alternatives to Lorena and who knows as they say.

I am also going to give another outing to Ai Miyazato, a tie for fifth at the recent SBS Open suggests that a place is not out of the question this week, Winning I’m not sure about though.

Longshots.

I will keep this brief but at the odds on offer I cannot pass up Anja Monke, granted a bit hit and miss at present but a hit could just be a possibility come Sunday, as with Ai Miyazato winning I can’t be sure.

Well that will do it for me for now, so as always the Best Of Luck to all.

Cheers.

Adrian.

[SwallowCottage]

The pga tour continues this week in florida for the

Honda Classic

and this par 70 course is a lot different than the long par 72 course at the Matchplay last week. I don’t really fancy the chances of the market leaders for this event which should ensure that one of them will win

Boo Weekley

has made a reasonable start to the season so far with a couple of top 20 finishes and he showed a liking for this course when beaten in a play off in 2007. He is my first selection at BF odds of 35/1.

Justin Rose

has never won a pga tournament and this trend will probably continue this week as my money is on him to win this based on the sign of a return to the decent form that he showed when runner up in Dubai a month ago. He was beaten in the first round at the Matchplay last week but that event started only 4 days after the birth of Justin’s son and his mind may not have been focused on his golf game.

My other 2 selections are optimistic ones at odds of over 100/1 –

Brandt Snedeker

is a talented ( 3rd in Masters and 9th in US Open last year ) player but he is inconsistent and it is difficult to predict when he will play well but this course should suit his game and he looks worth an interest at the long odds on offer.

Charlie Wi

has not won on the pga tour yet but has a couple of runner up finishes to his name in the previous two seasons and could cause a surprise here as I think his style of play will be suited to this par 70 course…….so a missed cut awaits

The big event on the ladies tour takes place in Singapore with the

HSBC Women’s Champions

and it looks a strong one with all the top players competing in it.
Lorena Ochoa won it last year by 11 shots and showed that she still retains her ability with a victory in Thailand last week. However her odds are too short for my style of betting and whilst I expect her to win, the fact is that last week’s victory was her 2nd win in her last 14 tournaments so I’m not yet convinced she is back to the form she showed in the first half of 2008.

I am betting on four asian players –

I really expected the S/Korean

Jiyai Shin

to play better in Thailand and was disappointed that she could finish no better than 13th but I’m giving her one more chance this week to show her true ability and have backed her to win.

I have bet on the following 3 players each way and if only one of them can make the frame and finish in the top 5 then I will make a profit

I am not sure what to make of

Hee Young Park

‘s performance in Thailand when she finished 2nd after shooting a 79 on day one ( apparently she was unwell but perhaps Butch Harmon gave her some lessons after her first round ) but I have bet on her e/w and the odds of 66/1 on offer will look generous if she can reproduce her form from Thailand.

I expect the S/Korean

In Kyung Kim

( 60/1 ) to do well this season and whilst she has not started the year well, I’m hoping for a return to form at this event where she came 8th last year.

Shanshan Feng

from China is a player who I bet on regularly towards the end of last season as she played promisingly in some events with top 5 places on four occasions and looks worth an e/way interest at odds of 100/1.

There is no event on the Race to Dubai this week but the

Singhai Thailand Open

on the asia tour looks worth an interest.
Thongchai Jaidee won last week in Bali and it will be no surprise if he follows up in this event but my main hope is

Jyoti Randhawa

who looks to be finding his form with a couple of top 10 finishes in his last 2 events. He has never won on the Euro tour in well over 100 attempts but has acheived more success on the asian tour where he has won seven tournaments and odds of 11/1 look reasonable in an event which is not as strong as the ones he has competed in recently . A couple of other players look worth an e/way interest and they are

Juvic Pagunsan

and

Danny Chia

.

Good luck to Adrian and everybody betting on the golf this week

Pete

[aaronizneez]

Hello All

Just concentrating on the Honda Classic this week

I’m going with Luke Donald here who has three top ten finishes this year and has a win and a runners up in this in the last three years. Second pick I’m persevering with Robert Allenby who has played well in this tournament 4 out of the last 5 years.

Outsiders I considered were Charlie Wi and Joses Coceres but thankfully for Pete I’m leaving Charlie alone and instead I’m going for Dudley Hart who played a little better at the Mayakoba Classic last week. He had 6 top ten finishes last year and has played well here on a couple of occasions

All the best

[SwallowCottage]

Hi Aaronizneez and just to let you know that Luke Donald is a non starter in this event.

Pete

[aaronizneez]

Bugger !

Thanks for letting me know Pete. The downside for you is that I shall relook at having a small wager on Charlie Wi

[aaronizneez]

Hi Aaronizneez and just to let you know that Luke Donald is a non starter in this event.

Pete

Where did you get the info from Pete as he is still listed on betdaq, Betfair etc and is still on the starter list on the PGA tour site. Do you have a website with upto date info ?

Thanks

[SwallowCottage]

He’s not on the starter list –

http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r010/field.html

BF are always slow to remove non starters from their list but he’s off most of the bookies lists now

Pete

[aaronizneez]

Thanks Pete , I was looking at the tee-times on the PGA site where he is still listed as teeing off at 7.27 with Robert Gamez and Nicholas Thompson.

I have decided to leave Charlie Wi to your goodself and had a small wager on Billy Mayfair instead

[Author]

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