Golf - Abu Dhabi Championship.
A quality field but playing a new course and with the added problem of very little current form to go on for most of the field makes this event a tricky punting opportunity. The course is long at 7350 yards and has been toughened up for the Pro’s, but until we actually see it, it is hard to say just how big a test it will be, it was built as resort course for tourists, so it maybe easy for these guys.
The organisers have grouped Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie together, so if you are watching TV coverage tomorrow, don’t expect to see much of any other 3-ball. This group gets a good early round 1 tee time as the forecast is for breezy conditions and in this part of the world the winds usually increase in the afternoon.
The market is headed by Singh and Garcia, who have the advantage of having played competitive golf recently but both suffer with the putter. Certainly both are good enough to win if they have a decent week with the short stick but and 9/2 and 9/1 respectively, they will carry none of my money. Monty is my fancy of the OOM this season and 18/1 is a fair price, but there are 2 players at decent odds who could get in amongst the big names.
0.5 point e/w Niclas Fasth @ 50/1 with Hills, Ladbrokes and Stan James.
Fasth was on the verge of the big time a few years ago, runner up in the 2001 Open and a Ryder Cup player. He then headed west to try his luck on the USPGA and like so many, he didn’t settle in and returned to the European Tour last season and won twice. Regarded as a good player in windy conditions, above average of the tee, 16th of GIR in 2005 with solid putting stats, if he has one of is going weeks, he could go close.
lost 1 point
0.5 points Nick Dougherty @ 50/1 with BlueSq, Ladbrokes, Stan James.
One of England’s Great White Hope’s for golfing success, Nick finally started to turn his potential into results last season with 1 win and a total of 6 top 10’s. He improved very facet of his game last year improving his all round ranking from 104th in 2004 to 21st in 2005. He is long, straight and can putt but maybe still not mentally the strongest. The interesting thing is that he seems to like playing in the Middle East, T6th in Dubai last year and 2nd in Qatar in 2002. He may need this week to get back into the groove (but so do most of the players this week) but Nick could be a player to follow over the next few weeks and 50/1 is big for a player on the up.
lost 1 point
It’s been hard work to find any decent match bets as there is so little current form and no course form to go on, but this might worth a modest bet.
5 points Nick Dougherty to beat John Daly @ evens with Coral.
Daly is returning after a lay off due to a broken wrist and no doubt will be getting a very big appearance fee for turning up. I am a big fan of JD and reckon he is very much under-rated by many, but if he is not in the mood, or still affected by this wrist injury, he is likely to mentally give up and run up a big score somewhere. His putting went seriously downhill in 2005 and he really needs to get his touch back on the greens before he starts been competitive again.
won 5 points.
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