For anyone else interested in this or having a wee flutter on it,i thought I'd put up my fancies for the week ! The first thing to look for is value,now usually I wouldn't flag this up as their a rival firm,but Paddy Power are going 1/5 the odds on the first 8 places,we are 1/5 the odds for the first 7.So each way punters may well place their bets there depending on the odds difference between different firms. OK, I've wittled my choices down to 5 players I think are value and have a chance of giving us a real run for our money.Firstly I have to have Dustin Johnson,i've been backing him for years and he's always choked at the last.That was until he won The US open last month and then followed it up the following week.His huge driving and fine iron play means he can tame any course in the world,he's only 9/1 but I just can't leave him out.Next is Adam Scott,he should've won this a couple of years ago but threw it away.He's such a great striker of the ball,i think he can be right up there again this year.Best price about him at the moment is 25/1,and I think he must make the top 8.Third man on the list is Paul Casey,a man who was in the wilderness for a few years.He's come back stronger than ever,with bold shows in recent Majors.He loves Links play,and at 80/1 offers excellent E.W. value.Fourth man up is Hideki Matsuyama,the superb Japanese player just keeps on improving,he's been knocking on the door in the big tournaments for a while now,and this might just be his time.He's currently 66/1 at Hills,and we're be having a little bit of that E.W. Lastly is a guy I like a lot,he's not the most fashionable player and he's very hit and miss.Having said that in his last half dozen tournaments he's either missed the cut or finished in the top 3 ! He finished runner up to Jason Day in the Player's Championship,and if you can hold your nerve there you can hold it anywhere.He's never played in The Open before,but if he takes to it,he could repay us handsomely! So I give you Kevin Chappell at 150/1 at Hills,even at 1/5 of the odds E.W. that's 30/1,great value. Good luck to everyone having a bet,and let's hope for a week of unforgettable drama after the rather drab offering of The Euro's !
Thanks for the advise Hammersmith. Might have a think about having a little bet. Nothing much, just an interest.
As a avid golfing tragic, I'm going to stick my neck out and say a Brit or an Aussie will win it. Even though one won last year, normally the Americans don't handle links course very well.
None of the world's top 4 players going to the Olympics in Rio, because of zika. Stupid having golf as an Olympic sport anyway, hopefully this will have it kicked out.
Rio is now being classed by PGA pros as being a hazard and they do not want to incur a penalty by going there. I don't believe in being forced to go to a country that is corrupt, that is riddled with crime, drugs and filth, for the sake of saving face by going. Meanwhile, just behind the gold and glitter, another woman ( about 700 a week ) is being raped, another person is being mugged or going starving. They should never have been awarded the games.
I was working on the Troon course last week, setting up some of the telecomms sites - course looks in really good nick. However, the weather is to be quite changeable over the weekend, and a strong cross-wind coming off the water could make it a bit tricky for some - something to bear in mind for those having a wee flutter....
I'm sure you wouldn't be welcome in the UK either Aussie.....oops, sorry, my mistake. All those things were true about Brazil when they had the World Cup and it seemed to go ok. Apart from a few Northern European countries and Australia/NZ and Japan I am struggling to think of any countries that do not very evident crime, drugs, filth, corruption and personal safety issues. Would have said s xCanada but it has huge drugs and alcohol problems, a mate who has just been to Vancouver told me that there is a zone there where people are injecting themselves with heroin right on the street. Sorry H. Jr, back to the golf. I think Scott is a good shout. Has he managed to adapt without the telescopic putter?
He had an incredible start to the season,winning 3 back to back biggies.Played ok in the masters,but didn't get going in the US Open.His putting hasn't deteriorated at all really,more a mental thing I think.I'm hoping he bounces back to form this week,he's certainly got the game for this course !
I've just seen Jim Furyk is 80/1,he may be getting on and not be the longest hitter,but he knows his way round a course. Massive price in my eyes and could be worth a nicker or two E.W. !
On the Olympics withdrawals I find it quite amazing that the top 4 golfers have pulled out on the health safety grounds and it's given huge publicity yet there will still be what 2000 or so athletes there who are competing and are happy to do so despite the apparent low risk of contracting the zika virus......I think Steve Redgrave has hit the nail on the head when he said that the golfers are "maybe they are using the zika as an excuse".... IMO the Olympics also fecked up by making the golf a bog standard 72 hole stroke play competition just like every other PGA and European Tour event. They should have gone for a Match Play or Team event like Fourball or Foursomes format to make it interesting...... Back on to The Open, in a way it's a shame that the BBC gave up live coverage, now we're just lumbered with Sky taking themselves far too seriously and repetitive ad breaks......might just watch some of the highlights package in the evening....
I actually prefer the commentary on 5 Live radio Tramore,they know what their talking about on there and there's no one-upmanship.I need to be watching it at the same time though,it's too nerve jangling just listening and not knowing just how close to the cup that 40 foot putt has got !
You can get all four seasons in a day at Troon so start times can dictate a players chances, it really can be down to luck. These days they often give the top contenders start times that guarantee best TV coverage. The forecast is ok for Thursday, but on Friday the late starters will get the worst of it. Using that as guidance I'd pick these players each way who will be early starters on Friday... Dustin Johnson Sergio Garcia Graeme McDowell Phil Mickelson Charl Schwartzel Lee Westwood Chris Wood...
Sb, I know crime drugs and rape happen all over the world but Rio, everything seems to be of epidermic proportions. I remember when the world cup was about to happen, sixty minutes Australia had a segment on it and when you combine that with a totally corrupt, out of control government, it just doesn't seem right but you get my drift. Sounds like very sad circumstances in Vancouver ..................... what is the world coming to? Scott has done a lot better than I thought he would since he quit the long stick ................. probably got a bit to do with having Steve Williams as caddie, well, he had him but I believe only now for the big tournaments. Not even sure if he's on the bag this week for him. Anyway, back to the golf. I hope the weather is kind and the play is good.
Everything l've said in this thread is having a 'George Contanza' effect..... The opposite is happening.
I agree, I think a lot of the players are using it as an excuse. However, I did hear the other day that golfers are actually at a higher risk than any other competing athletes because of the location of the course. It's built on a swamp with a lot of water, so there is a much greater chance of being bitten by mosquitos. Interesting that Rory McIlroy said yesterday that he wouldn't even watch it?
I heard his interview. I was shocked that he could insult his fellow professional golfers in this way. Not only did he say he wouldn't watch the Olympics golf, he also said that he would be watching the events that matter like track and field, swimming and diving. Is he saying Olympics golf doesn't matter because he will not be there? He went down a lot in my estimation based on this. Personally, I think his sponsors (nike) are pulling the plug as they don't want to see him wearing a rivals team's kit as he competes for Ireland.[/QUOTE]
[/QUOTE] Never been a fan of his anyway, Willett and Rose to represent Britain in the 72 hole strokeplay event. Hull and Matthew will take part in the women's event !
