Course Is Set Up To Suit Furyk

Crowne Plaza Invitational

27/05 12:00

Jim Furyk has been showing signs for the last month or so that he's ready to hit the winner's enclosure once again. It would be fitting if it were here in a tournament that he has played so well in before without winning. Six times the man with the unique swing has finished in the top ten here, and that includes two second places - one of which was a play-off loss in 2007 to Rory Sabbatini.

There's a number of players in this field who have also played well here in previous years and are in good nick currently - former winners David Toms and Sergio Garcia, last year's third Bo Van Pelt, and 2010 winner and 4th last year, Zach Johnson. Any of these could be in contention again this week, and who can rule out the current man of the moment - Jason Dufner? No-one seems to be striking the golf ball better than Dufner right now, but the prices for Jason have contracted markedly now the bookiies have caught on and he's not great value. The cool, calm, Dufner should be thereabouts again this week, but at the available odds, my two for this week are JUM FURYK and ZACH JOHNSON

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Crowne Plaza Invitational

Crowne Plaza Invitational

27/05 12:00

There's only two par fives at the Fort Worth course, and one of those is a 635 yard monster, but despite that there's usually some low scores in the Colonial. The course record is 61 which has been hit six times, and the four-round record is held by Zach Johnson with a 21-under par 250 two years ago.

Johnson had a quite 2011 but has started this season much better and if it hadn't been for some missed putts at Sawgrass he could well have overtaken Matt Kuchar. Johnson is in great form and this straight-hitter can come again on a course he has never missed the cut on. All it will take is for the putter to warm up a little. He didn't putt badly at Sawgrass but he did miss a few that could have been made.

This is a course he loves so expect a big week from Zach. He's favourite, but in my view a worthy one.

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This Swede Is No Turnip

BMW Championship

27/05 06:00

Anders Hansen is already a dual winner of this event, and the accurate Swede should have no problems whatsoever with the new-look Wentworth course. The modifications to the course have put much more emphasis on accuracy and the days of the huge hitting aggressive players doing well here could be at an end. New bunkers and restructured water hazards mean much more thought needs to go into a round here now.

Hansen will be well at home on the new course and he can still play a bit. He had some high finishes last season including a third in the USPGA and his play so far this season has shown steady improvement. He still holds the course record for four rounds at Wentworth which was a 269 the year before the major changes took place. That type of score may not win again because of the changes, but this is a happy place for Anders and I fully expect him to play well this week.

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Accurate Green Can Hit Form On Local Course

BMW Championship

27/05 06:00

Although he's an Aussie, Richard Green has a home near Wentworth and so unsurprisingly knows this course very well. He has a very consistent record in this tournament over the years that includes several top-25 finishes, as well as three top tens since 2000.

He's no spring chicken nowadays, but his recent form has shown some consistent play with two top-12 finishes on his last two starts on the tour. The demands of this course for pinpoint accuracy off the tee and to the greens plays right into Green's strengths and he's a worthy back up this week for me at a juicy price.

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Requirements For Wentworth Right Up Francesco's Street

BMW Championship

27/05 06:00

The Wentworth course is one of the most famous in the UK. It may have lost it's World Matchplay tournament, but it still serves up world class golf each year, and one of the tournaments is the BMW Championship. Last season saw an epic battle between Luke Donald and Lee Westwood that went right down to the wire in a fight for the world #1 slot.

They both head the betting this time round, but arguably aren't in that sort of form and I'm by-passing them here. The remodelled Wentworth course demands accuracy off the tee and accurate shots to the greens. One player who fits that bill perfectly and looks to be coming back to some of his best play is Francesco Molinari. He eased to a comfortable win in the Spanish Open a couple of weeks ago, and he's not been playing week-in-week-out so he'll be fresh and raring to go. He's a major player this week for me.

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Derbyshire Can Lump More Misery On Essex

Essex vs Derbyshire

26/05 11:00

Essex have struggled with the bat this season, and a record of five draws from the opening six matches makes for poor reading. They've drawn at home to Kent and Northants, and now they host table-toppers Derbyshire today. It all looks prime for a loss for Essex.

Derbyshire haven't lost yet (3 wins, 3 draws) and thier bowlers have been in scintillating form. It's a little suprising to see them at such a good price under the circumstances, and they are definitely worth a bet to keep the Essex win column tally at one.

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County Leaders For Another Win

Surrey vs Warwickshire

26/05 11:00

Warwickshire have started the summer well and currently lead the County standings. Today they face a Surrey side who are finding it hard to win. They've drawn four matches so far and that's indicative in cricket of a lack of batting attack - not having what it takes to mount the runs up when chasing for victory.

On the other hand you could say that Surrey's one loss from six record means a stout defence. Either way, I think Warwickshire hold the aces in this match. They welcome back from injury handy all-rounder Chris Woakes and that only adds to thei chances today.

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Big John Worth Taking On Again

John Isner vs Xavier Malisse

23/05 13:30

John Isner is a big powerful player with a huge serve that is always going to be more effective on a faster surface. On clay, he's always worth taking on with a decent player. He lost last week in Italy against local favourite Andreas Seppi, and hasn't actually played since then so he could be a touch rusty as well.

That was two losses from three matches on the slower European clay courts, and against a seasoned campaigner like Xavier Malisse at these odds it's well worth taking him on again.

Malisse holds a 2-0 head to head over Isner. Both those matches were in 2010 - one on clay - so may not hold much sway for today's match since Isner has improved since, but if Malisse can get a handle on the Isner serve, there may not be much else John can offer on the surface.

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JC Showing Good Form

Robin Haase vs Juan Carlos Ferrero

22/05 19:15

Juan Carlos Fererro is quite a decent player when he hits some form nowadays and the former world #1 and Frech Open winner appears to be doing that right now on clay. Last week he beat Kevin Anderson and Gael Monfils in straight sets before giving Roger Federer a bit of a fight by taking a set off him. There's no chance he would have beaten Fed but considering the form that Federer is in that's a decent indication of the form of JC.

Haase is in ok form himself, but not against the overal standard of players that Ferrero has faced. JC has plenty of experiecne and even though he's not the force of old he's got the game to beat those lower in the rankings than himself, especially when he does hit some form.

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Win

Result

252

Profit/Loss

Olivier Is No Clay Lover

Filippo Volandri vs Olivier Rochus

22/05 14:15

Journeyman Olivier Rochus must not like the clay. He's won only two of the last thirteen matches on the surface, and that stretches back to week 15 of 2011, so he doesn't really play that much on it either. It certainly looks like he has a dislike for clay.

His opponent today, fellow journeyman Filippo Volandri is much more at home on the red stuff, and while he's no world-beater he reached a final and semi-final in successive weeks in March on the Challenger circuit. Back in the ATP he's found it a little tougher but has won two of seven matches played, and I think his clay-court game is probably in as good a shape as it can be for him.

He can take the game from Rochus.

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Win

Result

137

Profit/Loss

Clay King Nadal Once Again

Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal

21/05 11:00

These two have had some monumental battles in the past and are likely to have more in the future, but despite Djokovic's improved form in recent years, and victories over Nadal on clay, it is the Spaniard who is still the clay court King.

On offer at a pre-tournament Evens, Nadal can be backed today at only a slightly lesser price of 3/4, and with the Serb's form not quite as good as it has been - especially during that year of almost invincibility - Nadal, who is warming up very nicely for yet another French Open win, can take the honours here.

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Win

Result

150

Profit/Loss

Lancashire Good Enough For Essex

Lancashire vs Essex ECB40 League

20/05 13:45

Lancashire Lightning swung the bat for fun in their opening CB40 match, smashing 296 past Leicester. Essex have had two goes so far, one non-match and a bad 7 wicket loss to Worcestershire. They will have been frustrated for sure with that non-match because it leaves them with no wins after two

If Lancashire can go into this match swinging the bat the same way as they did to such good effect when destroying Leicestershire, they should be very hard to beat at home to the Eagles.

I have a feeling the odds for them ought to be a little shorter, but perhaps the fact that Leicestershire are now three matches without a win, means the bookies are being a bit more generous.

20

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Win

Result

190

Profit/Loss