So this is the start for me of the weekly tournaments and the whole package that the PGA gives us. I make no bones about the fact that i do prefer the US tour to our own European tour simply because of the fact of who plays on it. This year we also have the added name of Lee Westwood who has moved out there lock stock and barrel to familiarise himself with the American conditions more. We wish him well... So to the course at Palm Beach, Florida. Last years winner Rory McIlroy will be looking to complete a double at this course, and he may have the conditions to suit. The fact that the weather isnt going to be great for 3 of the 4 days suggests that he will be able to bomb out those big looping irons and target the pins with the aggression that sums his game up. The yardage stands at 7,110 yards and isnt too trappy with the fairway hazzards. A wide open course, its the natural elements that will attempt to catch out the poor shot of the player. Its not a tough course but dos have what they call the 'Bear Trap' named after when Jack Nicklaus redesigned the 15th, 16th and 17th holes. These modification have accounted for most of the bogeys since he did so back in 1990. Rory negotiated these tricky holes by parring them all and holding off a charge from Tiger Woods that came to within 1 shot with 5 holes to go. Rory birdied the 13th and parred the rest to win by 2 shots, but you must take note that Woods started the day off 9 shots behind, so big leads, and low scores are manageable on this course. Not surprising then to see Rory, 12/1 and Tiger, 7/1 heading the field, but there are some players out there who have a half decent record and chance to win this years Honda Classic. Justin Rose, 14/1 and Freddie Jacobson, 25/1 could play up to their good records here, both with top 5 finished in the last 2 years. But over the years this hasnt been a good hunting ground for the favourites, or even the top 10 in the betting. Sabbatini, Villegas and YE Yang being the previous winners to Rorys victory last year. The only thing i will add is that the big names all line up this year with 13 out of the top 25 in the World rankings trying to win this tournament. So finding the 'sleeper' is going to be tough... As i usually do 2 players and stick with them for a while, Mahan and Kuchar were my 2 for last year, i will be doing the same again when they are playing. I do feel that Keegan Bradley will step up and become a multiple winner this year again, and he may even throw in a Major this year. I am also going to go with Bo Van Pelt - though he isnt playing here this week, so that gives me a extra pick... Graeme McDowell loves the tough, championship style of courses, and will really like the set up here, twice coming up in the top 10 in the last 2 years... Keegan Bradley is another who is very gritty and determined when he smells a victory. Just coming up short last year here with a very disappointing final round of 73 when evrybody else was shooting sub 70's... Charles Howell III has had 2 top three finishes already this year and comes here on the back of defeating Tiger 2 and 1 in the WGC Match Play... Chris Kirk is another who so far this year has managed two top fives in five stroke-play events this season. Currently 11th on TOUR in strokes gained-putting, third in adjusted scoring, 11th in the all-around and 16th in bogey avoidance. Graeme MacDowell @ 28/1... Keegan Bradley @ 33/1... Charles Howell III @ 40/1... Chris Kirk @ 50/1... All done in the usual £2.50 e/w... Pad Pow pays 1/4 odds for top 6 Good luck to all as usual, and lets see some improvement on last weeks shambles...
I was just looking at some of the lesser known players who have featured in the top 10 over the past 4 years and a few of em are playing here this weekend at great big odds... YE. Yang - Past winner in 2009 plus a runner up in 2011 - Currently 66/1... B. Crane - 3rd in 2009 - 100/1... C. Villegas - Past wiiner in 2010 - 100/1... J. Kelly - 3rd place in 2011 - 150/1... T. Gillis - 3rd place in 2012 - 150/1... R. Sabbitini - Past winner in 2011 - 200/1... T. Gainey - T4th in 2011 - 200/1... J. Klauk - T3rd in 2009 - 400/1... They are out there, its just finding and hitting em...
Hey Red! No big write ups but heres my thoughts for this week, all £2.50ew like yourself Keegan Bradley 40/1 Bet365 - like you, i think this guy's gunna hit a good streak of form. followed him all last year and 1 of my fav's on tour. Nicolas Colsaerts 55/1 Bet 365 - The Belgian Bomber has played some decent golf recently, i had him last week in the matchplay and thought after he beat Rose he would kick on but it wasnt to be. Seung-yul Noh 80-1 Bet 365 - the 2nd 'Rookie' this week i have gone for. This guy can play terrific golf. Still very much learning on the PGA but this course will suit and i hope he can go far Geoff Ogilvy 175/1 Bet 365 - Ok i accept he isn't playing that great recently, missing more cuts than made so far this season, but he hasnt won in excess of $21million dollars for nothing, and age surely hasnt caught up with someone who is only in thier mid 30's. Geoff is also my favourite player on Tour.
Leaderboard after the 1st round... Leader - C. Villegas @ -6 T6 - Seung-Yul Noh............ -4 T16 - Graeme McDowell ....... -3 T16 - Charles Howell III........ -3 T30 - Chris Kirk................... -2 T30 - Keegan Bradley........... -2 T30 - Geoff Ogilvy............... -2 T40 - Nicolas Colsaerts........ -1 Past winner Camilo Villegas is top with an impressive opening round of 64, but our picks are not that far behind... Early days, but were in with a chance...
Leaderboard after the 2nd round... Leader - L. Guthrie @ -9 T5 - Geoff Ogilvy.................. -6 T5 - Charles Howell III........... -6 T11 - Graeme McDowell........... -5 T18 - Chris Kirk..................... -4 T18 - Keegan Bradley............. -4 T65 - Nicolas Colsaerts........... E CUT - Seung-Yul Noh With 6 of the 7 picks still in it, and most with a chance, lets hope for a good weekends scoring and a run for our money... Camilo lead after the 1st round and missed the cut... He has got a problem somewhere in his game for that to happen...!!!
Leaderboard after the 3rd round... Leader - Luke Guthrie & M. Thompson @ -8 T3 - Geoff Ogilvy................ -6 T5 - Charles Howell III......... -5 T7 - Keegan Bradley........... -4 T19 - Graeme McDowell....... -2 T39 - Chris Kirk ................. +1 T49 - Nicolas Colsaerts........ +2 Well Smokin, we both have two in the top 7 at the moment, so lets hope things go both our way and get them to pay out after today's round... Fingers crossed for one of us to maybe hit the top place, which would be a good start for the year... Good luck pal...
Final Leaderboard... Winner - Michael Thompson @ - 9 2 - Geoff Ogilvy................ -7 T4 - Keegan Bradley............ -3 T9 - Graeme McDowell......... -2 T29- Charles Howell III........ +3 T51- Chris Kirk................... +7 T68- Nicolas Colsaerts......... +11 Michael Thompson hung on with just a little bit to spare in his 2 shot win in the Honda Classic... Hard lines on you Smokin as Ogilvy came up just short, but you cant be to upset with a starting price of 175/1...!!! Plus we both hit with Bradley finishing a T4th... So well done pal, and lets look forward to the next one...
To just show that they are out there... Here are the starting prices for the top finishers... Winner - Michael Thompson @ 200/1 2nd place - Geoff Ogilvy @ 150/1 3rd place - Luke Guthrie @ 100/1 T4th - David Lynn @ 150/1 T4th - Erik Compton @ 200/1 T4th - Keegan Bradley @ 33/1 T4th - Justin Rose @ 14/1 I dont know if we can compete with these sort of results all year... Then again it would be nice to hit a few of them as the year goes by just to top up the balance... Just shows how hard it is to find the winner and placers...
Cheers Red It was a cracking tournament, i sure prefer harder coures to some of the birdie fests we get out there Thompson rode his luck to the extreme and Ogilvy had chances so all in all i cant complain with some profit Did you see Ogilvy's chip in on the 16th..WOW, if Tiger or Rory had done that it wouldve made headlines...
