Golf. TCL Classic. The course is a rather typical America style resort course very much suited to the power hitters. Last years winning score was 22 under par which is a measure of the easy nature of the track. Some of the bigger names are out this week, Casey, Howell and McGinley, but none of those can be described as rampant winners and their odds are on the short side. As usual, it might pay to look further down the list for better value. 1 point e/w Charlie Wi @ 33/1 with Ladbrokes Wi is the man in form with a win and 3rd place in the last 3 events. His stroke average is the lowest in the field and he is going for the Asian Order of Merit title. He has no course form but he has plenty of experience of this type of layout from his years on the US circuit. lost 2 points 0.5 point e/w Johan Edfors @ 150/1 with Ladbrokes The 250/1 available yesterday has gone and it seems that a few people have cottoned on to the fact that Edfors’ recent stroke average is the second best in the field. He is ranked 3rd for driving distance and 26th for GIR on the European tour this season, so this course should suit him, indeed he was 16th last year. His recent form is pretty good and 13th in the Dubai Desert Classic was shot in a much stronger field than this. won 93.75 points 3 points Charl Schwartzel to win Rd1 three ball @ 13/8 with BlueSq Mamat is likely to be a little ‘hungover’ after his maiden win last week and Brodhurst has been travelling a lot recently with no success, knocked out in Rd1 of the WGC Matchplay and missed the cut in Singapore last week. We successfully opposed Schwartzel last week, but the conditions in China are less oppressive and this course will reward his long (but erratic) driving. won 4.87 points 4 points Pilkadaris to beat Buckle @ evens with Skybet We had this bet a winner the other way round 2 weeks ago but Pilkadaris is very strong on this course (form figures 16/1/12) and he was 9th in Indonesia not far behind Buckle, so is current form is good. Buckle missed the cut here last year and missed the cut last week after coming so close to winning in Indonesia. That quadruple bogey 8 after taking the lead must have been a huge psychological blow (it certainly was for those that backed him at 100/1!). lost 4 points Bay Hill Invitational. Tiger Woods having a fantastic season so far, bar a little bit of Flu forcing a withdrawal last month he has played 4 stroke play events and won 3. He has won this event 4 times in the last 6 years, but in the last 2 seasons he has played poorly 46th and 23rd finishes are massive flops by Tigers standards. He was in the process of modifying his swing for the last two seasons and that has now been completed but I cannot bring myself to back a player who hits less than 50% of the fairways from the tee, that sort of figure will eventually derail even the mighty Tiger. 1 point e/w Zach Johnson @ 33/1 BlueSq, BetDirect, Skybet, Totesport and Stan James. Zachs’ form dropped of after his first tour win nearly 2 years ago, but he looks to be right back to his best and his record on this course is very good, (6th and 8th). 3rd place in the WGC Matchplay was followed by 15th in the Ford Championship 2 weeks ago. He is very straight of the tee and his putting is much improved in 2006. He will win again and on a track which he plays so well, it could well be this week. lost 2 points Maybe a match bet tomorrow morning. Please check back. |
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