Floris To Flourish In Belgium

Telenet Trophy

24/05 06:00

The Challenge Tour grabs the Belgian feeling following Colsearts' win in the Matchplay and has the Telenet Trophy from the Ravenstein Royal GC near Brussells. The event last year was won be Aussie Andrew Tampion, but that was at a different course (Royal Waterloo) and this is the first time the Challenge Tour has headed to the course, and I can't see it used on the ALPS Tour either.

Looking at the Euro Tour website though and there is a smidgen of course form for Morten Orum Madsen who was apparently 4th here 6 years ago in a junior event. Has started the season well with 2nd in Colombia and 26th in Kenya, whilst in the dual ranking Madeira Open he was 11th.

There is plenty of experience this week at the event with Nick Dougherty, Scott Strange & Daniel Vanscik all with multiple main tour wins. Also here are the 4 winners of the events played so far.

Another player who may have played this course before is my pick for the last Challenge Tour event Floris de Vries from neighbouring Holland. He was 13th last time after a poor 2nd round, and that followed 10th in the event before that.

Not really many grabbing me for this with no course form and so I will stick with my pick from last time Floris de Vries as he had a good showing last time & also in the event before that.

10

Views

0

Local Lad Ikeda To Go Better For Me This Week

Diamond Cup

24/05 01:00

The Japan Tour heads to another venue for the first time this week with the Diamond Cup from the Country Club Japan. Although also in Chiba it shouldn't be mistaken with last years venue the Chiba Country Club where won Koumei Oda last year.

I have to mention Hideto Tanihara as the form golfer, which regular readers will know has 5 top tens in a row including 3rd last week. Again though I'm not sure the 12-1 tempts me into thinking that run can continue.

With the risk of sounding repetitive again though I think I will stick with my pick from last week Yuta Ikeda. Had his second top 10 in a row with 10th, following his 6th the event before. Has 4 top 10's in 8 events now this year, although 3 missed cuts, 1 of which was on the PGA Tour & another in Asia. Am liking the fact he is still 25-1 with SkyBet. Also just noticed he is also from Chiba.

18

Views

0

Young Matteo To Grab First Big Title

BMW Championship

27/05 06:00

The European Tour has it’s flagship event this week and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The course underwent some major changes before the 2010 tournament. Winner last year was Luke Donald who beat Lee Westwood in a playoff as the pair also went head to head for the World No. 1 spot. Now whilst some of the games greats have won here there have also been a few surprises and in that category will be the 2010 winner Simon Khan.

The event has been held at Wentworth since 1984 which also hosted last weeks event until 2009 when it went to Spain. I’ve looked back at the last 10 years for my course form although 2 quickly to mention as both locals are Ross Fisher who is a member of the club, but his form has been poor. Whilst 7 time winner of the Matchplay here is Ernie Els who lived on the course and helped with the redesign in 2010.

In the last 7 years here Luke Donald as stood on all 3 steps of the podium, has also been 7 and never any worse than 35th in 09. With Els he is one of just 2 to average under 71 here, with an average round of 70.54, Els is 70.97. Finished the Players 2 weeks ago with a storming round to grab 6th after a slow start, that followed 3rd in New Orleans. As you’d expect from the World No 2 form is solid with 4 top 6 finishes in his last 6 events.

Third on the list of average scores here is young Matteo Manassero, who was 17th on debut here in 2010 & 7th last year. Was 2nd after round 1 last year 2 behind Donald, and had he matched Donald’s 70 in the final round then he too would’ve been in the playoff, a 75 dropping him down. Form this year is good with 5 top 10’s in 10 appearances; including 7th in his last two in the Open de Espana & in Malaysia.

One of my initial thoughts was Justin Rose who played well in Spain last week, just coming up against an in form Nicolas Colsearts in the second round. He has 4 from 9 top ten’s in strokeplay this year, including winning the WGC Cadillac, & 8th at the Masters. Form here this is mixed. Missed the cut by a couple last year, but was 10th in 2010, didn’t play in 09, but also missed the cut in 08, but lost the playoff to Anders Hansen in 07.

Also missing the cut last year was Soren Kjeldsen but he is in far better form this year, and back to his 08/09 best when he was 10th & 3rd here respectively. Runner up in the Open de Espana his last outing & has 3 top 5 finishes in his last 6, his worst finish in that time is 29th in China.

With a record that surprises me here is Francesco Molinari as 17th in 2010 is his best result, and only has 4 cuts from 6 appearances. In fact he’s only been under 70 in 3 occasions in 20 rounds. It surprises me as I thought the course would’ve suited his neat & tidy style. Missed the cut at the Players a couple of weeks ago, but did win on his last Euro event in Spain, & was also 6th in China. Which is far better form than when he was 50th last year.

A player who has come back into focus is Ben Curtis who has status on this tour following his Open win. Played here 4 times, missing the cut in 04 & 06, with a 33rd in between. Improved to 6th on his last visit in 2009. Why the interest here? Well in his last 8 tournaments in the US he has 2 missed cuts & 6 top 14 finishes, inc a win at the Valero Texas Open. Another neat & tidy player who also ranks first in strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour.

Even after all that I’m still not sure I can eliminate any from my thoughts. Maybe Moli as record here isn’t that great and Curtis I think is better value for an extra couple of betting points and his better putting skills. Think I will also dump Curtis as hasn’t played here since the course changes, whilst Rose & Kjeldsen have both missed the cut here since. So that leaves Donald & Manassero and the 35-1 around for Manassero I think is quite tempting given his performance here last year until the final round.

24

Views

0

Bayern Just Score Too Many At Home

Bayern Munich v Chelsea

19/05 19:45

The Final of the Chumpions League sees two unexpected teams in the final. Bayern Munich less so and they will be happy playing at their home stadium which has served them so well this season. With just 2 losses and a draw this season at the Allianz Arena, the only 3 games when the have not only failed to score but also the only times when they have failed to score twice. Only Inter have come here in the last 2 seasons in this competition & won, again Bayern scoring at least twice in every game.

The real surprise side in the final is Chelski particularly having had to overcome Barcelona in the semi final. Form is mixed since the semi final win, a comfy 6-1 win over QPR but then lost to Newcastle, a weakened side also lost to Liverpool having just beaten them in the cup final.

With home advantage it’s hard not to side with Bayern. A lot has been made of the players missing the final and Bayern will suffer defensively and will have to reorganise at the back, which will be their weakness. However with Robben & Ribery wide, and Gomez & Muller (Thomas not Gerd) up front they have an attack that will frighten most defences. Real suffered in the semi final by sitting back and letting Bayern come on to them and they did get that break through. A lot may depend then on how Chelski come out, try & sit back and sneak a breakaway goal then they will need another Barca-esque rearguard action to stop Bayern scoring. If they come out and go for the goals then they might expose Bayern’s weakness and be able to win in a Kevin Keegan style 4-3.

So I think I will go with Bayern as the home advantage and their ability to score at home. Another factor is that Chelski’s defence maybe strengthened without John Terry but both Luiz & Cahill are suffering from injuries and may not be 100% fit so defensively Chelski are also suffering and so will struggle against Bayern’s attacking foursome.

42

Views

0

Lose

Result

50

Profit/Loss

Austin The Maestro At BMW

BMW Charity Pro Am

20/05 12:00

The Nationwide Tour goes pro-am this week with the BMW Charity Pro-am from South Carolina. The course used are the Thornblade Club, which also hosts the final round, the Carolina CC, and new for this year the Greenville CC. The event has a long history but only since 2008 has the Thornblade Club hosted with the odd change in additional course. Winner last year which included the Brights Creek Course was Garth Mulroy. The 2010 & 2009 winners are also in the field in Justin Hicks & Michael Sim.

Three names stand out for me in this, two of which have 2 top 10’s here, 2 of only 3 in the field. Starting with Fabian Gomez who lost in a playoff to Sim in 2009. He then lead the field after 3 rounds in 2010 when he shot his only round over 70 here a one over par 72, to finish 6th. Has two top 10’s so far this season, all in the last 4 events, with a 2nd in Louisiana, and 7th 3 weeks ago in South Georgia. Did withdraw in between those two & 61st in the last event 2 weeks ago.

The other with two top 10’s is B.J. Staten who was 4th last year and 9th in 09, did miss the cut in between and 51st in 08. Last year he would’ve been won had he not shot a 72 in the 2nd round, a 70 and he would’ve joined Mulroy in the playoff. Form this year isn’t quite as good with just a 7th placed back in Panama, and had 3 missed cuts in the first 5 events, has made the last 3 though with 54th, 18th & 34th last time out.

Final thought is Woody Austin who sits 13th on the money list from just 4 events. The veteran has played 4 times on the main tour and is yet to make a cut. However on this tour he has fared a lot better with a 5th, 3rd & 7th in his 4 events, 39th in the other event. The 3rd & 7th have been in the last 2 events as well. He played here last year when he finished 38th when a 3rd round 76 dropped him right down.

For the record the 3rd player with 2 top 10’s here is Roger Tambellini who was runner up in 08 & 7th in 09, followed that with 31st last year, missing the 2010 event. He’s having a poor season though and a tie for 40th is his best in 8 events.

Not sure I trust Staten’s form to improve this week, so that leaves two and I think I will go with Austin. In good form on this tour, and performed really well here last year apart from that 1 round. Hoping his better form will mean the avoidance of a poor round this time out.

74

Views

0

Lose

Result

150

Profit/Loss

Ikeda In Good Form And Did Well Here Last Year

Totoumi Hamamatsu Open

20/05 01:00

The Japan Tour continues this week with the Totoumi Hamamatsu Open from the Grand Hamanko GC, which is built on a landfill site in Lake Hamano. The course opened in 2004. This will be the 2nd visit here and the winner last year was Masanori Kobayashi, who beat Ryo Ishikawa in a playoff.

First thought is Yuta Ikeda who was 3rd last year, 2 shots behind the playoff, and the only other player to have all 4 rounds in the 60’s. Form this year is ok, he’s made 3 cuts from 4, missing 2 two weeks ago at the Crowns, but in the 3 made cuts he’s been 10th, 17th & 6th last week.

I think the other decision is whether Hideto Tanihara can keep his run going again. 4th last week was his third 4th place finish in 4 events and he was 9th in the other event. Last year he was 27th when he was let down by the middle two rounds.

Not a lot else is jumping out at me and so I think I will go with Yuta Ikeda, solid form this year and coming off a good result last week, plus made a good debut here last year with 3rd.

28

Views

0

Lose

Result

150

Profit/Loss

Pettersen To Defend The Matchplay

Sybase Matchplay Championship

20/05 13:00

The Ladies are also in Matchplay mode with the Sybase Matchplay Championship from the Hamilton Farm GC. This will be the 3rd event and is similar to the men's Accenture with 64 players competing on straight knockout. Defending champ is Suzann Pettersen, with Sun Young Yoo winning the first event.

I have 3 thoughts for this, 2 have both made at least the quarter finals on each occasion and the other is a past winner, although she did mess up her first visit here. I guess being 4 brackets I should pick a 4th so I have one thought in each bracket to look at.

Starting with the top bracket then, the Patty Berg Bracket. This contains the World No 1 Yani Tseng and so it is probably no surprise she is my pick for this bracket. She’s played here both years so far and made the quarter finals on each occasion before losing. Her worst finish of the year was last time out when she was a mere 10th, 3 wins in 7 events as well. Needless to say she is a hot fave for this, as she tends to be for most events nowadays.

The next bracket is the Kathy Whitworth Bracket which has Ai Miyazato as the top seed. However my pick for this bracket is Angela Stanford. She’s played here both years and made the semi’s on each occasion, in 2010 she actually lost to Sun Young Soo in the final, whilst last year she lost in the semi & then in the consolation final finishing 4th. Won back in Feb, and has a couple of near miss top ten’s with an 11th & 12th since, was 37th last time out at Mobile Bay.

The 3rd bracket is named after our own Mickey Wright, and has Na Yeon Choi as the top seed. She was a first round loser in 2010, but came back to beat Stanford in the consolation final last year. Still after that first win of the season, but does have a couple of runner up finishes & an 8th at the Nabisco, 20th in Mobile Bay.

The final bracket and quite appropriately the top European heads the Annika Sorenstam bracket, that is Suzann Pettersen the defending champ. Although she did lose in the first round in 2010. This is a tough bracket mind with Stacey Lewis, Azahara Munoz who has been in good form, Pornanong Phatlum who won in Brazil, & the 2010 champ Sun Young Yoo. However she proved for me what a fighter she is in this form of the game with her performance in the singles at the Solheim Cup last year. No worse than 26th this season, and had her best result of 6th in Korea 2 events ago, and was 12th in the Mobile Bay event.

So when it gets to the final 4 I think I will go with Pettersen. I like Stanford, but a few more question marks over form, and not sure she can keep that run of semi’s going. Whilst Pettersen has the match play experience and her form just needs that win to be very good.

56

Views

0

Lose

Result

150

Profit/Loss

In Sequence Davis Is The Golfer To Pick.

Byron Nelson Championship

20/05 13:00

The PGA tour heads to Texas this week for the HP Byron Nelson Championship from the TPC Four Seasons. The course has hosted since the 80's but from 94 to 08 it shared the hosting duties to ensure the event was completed if there bad weather as May is apparently the stormy season in the area. The last two winners have been debut wins for Keegan Bradley & Jason Day, whilst there has also been a mix of surprise winners in Brett Wetterich (06) & Ted Purdy (05), but also big names with the likes of Adam Scott (08) & Sergio Garcia (04).

Ignoring those right at the top of the betting as nothing really grabbing my attention there. I appreciate Day's good record here, & the fact Bradley & Scott have won here, Kuch is obviously in good form too. However I think I will start with the Big Easy & Ernie Els, played here 3 times in the last 9 years and was 7th, 10th & 13th in 04 to 06, also won in 1995. Seems to be fighting to get into a big tournament every other week at the moment and was 2nd in New Orleans, although has a missed cut either side of that inc last week, had a 12, 5th & 4th in the 3 events before the first of those missed cuts.

Two Brian's up next in Davis & Gay. They have played here 15 times between them in the last 9 years and do have 9 missed cuts, but also have 4 top ten's. Gay has played all 9 years and has 5 MC's but a 7th & 5th, and 19th & 14th in the other two events, 2nd & 14th in the last 2 years, closed with a 63 when finishing 2nd so can go low. Davis has played 6 times and went 8th, MC, MC, 2, MC, MC, so if that sequence continues he's due another top 10. I thought Gay might have gone better last week as is a fairways & greens type of player, but he finished 46th, was 66th in New Orleans, but 4th at the Texas Open. Davis is in solid form with 5 top 25's in his last 6 (3 top 10's), played well last week before slipping down to 25th. Just re-read what I wrote last year about these two and realised I've virtually copied it word for word.

Next up hoping to prove a point is Darren Andrew Points, that's DA to most. Missed the cut on his first couple of visits here in 05 & 06, then after a couple of years on the Nationwide Tour came back with 3rd, 7th & 40th last year. A little hit or miss with form with 3 missed cuts in the last 5, but 20th & 2nd last week.

Next up is someone who had a great 2010 but faded a little last year, however did manage one of his better results here in 2011. Jeff Overton was runner up here in 2010 & 8th last year, a missed cut in 09, 25th in 08 & 73rd in 06 aren't great but he has come on since then. Has a 5th & 4th this year, the 4th in Houston, Texas. Since then has a couple of missed cuts, inc last week, which sandwich a 48th & 18th, so form not overly impressive.

Two at longer odds from the other side of the world are Rod Pampling & Danny Lee. Lee was 13th in 09 on his only appearance, whilst Pampling has played here for the last 9, and had 3 top 10's and 3 more top 30 finishes, 8th last year. Lee has struggled since moving up from the Nationwide Tour and 25th at Pebble is his best performance. Whilst Pampling has only been 56th last week & missed the cut in New Orleans, but was 8th back in Jan in the Farmers.

I think though I will go with a little patriotic pick & Englishman Brian Davis. Mixed form here but can go well with a couple of top 10's, and is in good form.

58

Views

0

Lose

Result

150

Profit/Loss

Hanson The Matchplay Champ

Volvo World Matchplay

20/05 10:00

The European Tour has some a little different this week with the Volvo World Matchplay from Finca Cortesan in Spain. This will be the 3rd visit to Spain for this event having previously always been at Wentworth. Winner in 2009 was Ross Fisher, when the 16 players were split into 4 groups with the winners progressing to the semis. Last year the event was tweaked with 24 players split into 8 groups and the top 2 in each progressing to the knockout stage. Ian Poulter came out on top last year, with no event in 2010 as it clashed with the Ryder Cup.

Few have played both events so far and none with success in both (Kaymer went lost both matches in 09 & was a losing semi-finalist last year, whilst Goosen has yet to make a semi final).

Format is that the top 2 seeds in each group play each other on Thursday, then the 3rd seed will play both on Friday, with the knockout games starting on Sat.

First thought is the defending champ Ian Poulter a renowned matchplayer who has also done well in the Accenture winning that in 2010, and in the Ryder Cup. Showed some form last week taking the first round lead at the Players before finishing 25th, and was also 7th at the Masters.

A losing semi finalist last year Nicolas Colsearts showed a liking for this format & course. I guess hitting it further than most puts the opponent under pressure for their 2nd shot. Has been in good form this year with 7th a couple of weeks ago in Spain, & 2nd in China, also has 4 other top 10's only.

Final thought is a player making his debut here in Peter Hanson. Has been in good form and a member of that winning 2010 Ryder Cup side. Although looking at the Accenture he's only made it past the 1st round once before this year when he made it to the quarter finals. He's had 4 top 5 finishes this season and 3 top 15 in the last 4 events, inc 15th last week at Sawgrass.

I think I will go with Hanson as like his draw, Lawrie will be tough as in good form this year but Villegas has been out of form for the last couple of years. Has shown some good form in Matchplay and this season.

62

Views

0

Lose

Result

150

Profit/Loss

Floris To Flourish In Brittany

Allianz Open De Bretagne

13/05 06:30

With the main challengers on the Challenge Tour at the Madeira Islands Open it’s a chance on for some others to grab the limelight with the Allianz Open Cotes d’Armor Bretagne from the Golf Blue Green de Pleneuf Val Andre. No island theme to this but the course is on the Brittany Coast and is a links style event. It will be the 6th time the event has been held, but as many of the top players are in Madeira half the field are making their debut here. That includes defending champ Philip Archer, only 15 of those that made the cut here last year are here again with none of the top dozen returning.

One previous winner does return and that’s the 2007 winner Peter Baker. Although on his return in 2009 he shot two 76’s and missed the cut. Will quickly dismiss based on current form though as looks like he hasn’t played this year.

In fact looked at several players all of whom have reasonable finishes here and most are making their season debuts here at this level or have had a poor showing in the one or two they have played in. They include Mikko Korhonen (4th here in 09), Marcus Higley (2nd in 08 & 7th in 10), Florian Fritsch (2nd in 09 & 36th in 10), & Jean-Nicolas Billot who is the only player in the field to make all 5 cuts, but only broken the top twenty once.

So only 2 of those that have played here before really stand out and that’s Floris de Vries & Andrew Butterfield. De Vries was 17th here in 2010 when a final round 77 dropped him down after opening with a 64. Suffered on the main tour with injuries last season but is on the comeback and been doing well, 61st at the Dubai Desert Classic the highlight and has been 20th & 10th in the last 2 events in Colombia & Kenya. Butterfield played here in 08 & 09 and was 11th & 14th respectively, showing improving form with 62nd & 30th in the same two events as De Vries, although I do note he also missed a cut & only 27th in the last couple of Europro Tour events.

This is quite a needle in a haystack to try & find someone. Towards the top of the betting Matt Haines & Chris Hanson both come here with a 4th place in one of the first 3 events so have some form. Whilst a player named after me has been going well on his first full season on the Alps Tour, Jerome Lando Casanova was also 43rd here last year when a final round 80 dropped him right down.

I think I will go with De Vries though, a past winner on this tour and coming back to form after injury last year, also has a 17th here when he shot a good 64 in the opening round.

26

Views

0

Lose

Result

150

Profit/Loss

Ryuichi Completes The Podium Finishes

PGA Championship Nissin Cupnoodle Cup

13/05 23:30

The Japanese Tour has a pot noodle this week with the PGA Championship Nissin Cupnoodles Cup from the Karasuyamajo Country Club which is a couple of hours north of Tokyo, on the main island of Honshu (see keeping the weeks island theme going). This event moves from year to year and so there is no course form to go on. Winner last year was Hiroo Kawai.

Three tempting me for this, all from near the top of the betting and been in good form so far this year. First up is a veteran player in Prayad Marksaeng, a regular winner in both Japan & Asia he showed a little form when making his debut on this tour 2 weeks ago at The Crowns event when he was 4th, not great before that with a withdrawal, 57th & missed cut, but hopefully showing signs of being over whatever issue he had with that 4th.

Next up is a guy who has started the season really well with two 4th places sandwiching a 9th, it is Hideto Tanihara. Had a poor 2011 with just 1 top 10 finish, 10th towards the end of the season. Does have 9 career wins though, the last in 2010.

Final thought is Ryuichi Oda who again started the season well with a 2nd & 3rd in the first two events but dropped of in the last to be 24th.

Am avoiding some of the obvious picks that have either won so far or Ishikawa as not sure he’s quite got the form at the moment. I think though I will go with Ryuichi Oda, a good start to the season despite the slight drop in form last time. Not sure I trust Tanihara to continue his run, and Marksaeng has been erractic with form this year so not sure he can make it two top finishes in a row.

31

Views

0

Lose

Result

150

Profit/Loss

Baldwin Feasts On Cake & Wine In Madeira

Madeira Island Open

13/05 08:00

Posted: 08 May 2012 22:51 Post subject: European Tour - Madeira Islands Open - 10th-13th May 2012
Hi all

Keeping the island feel to this weeks golf is the European Tour which has the Madeira Islands Open, an event which is dual ranking with the Challenge Tour. Winner last year was Michael Hoey on the clifftops of the Porto Santo Golf course which has hosted for the last 3 years. This year it returns to the Santo de Serra course which hosted from 1997 to 2008, so plenty of course form just not that recent, I've only looked from 2001 though.

A mix of main tour lesser lights and Challenge Tour players to go through then. Winner in 2003 by 8 shots after a 3rd round 60 was Bradley Dredge one of the lesser lights. He's also been 14th here in 04 & 15th in both 07 & 08, his worst result was 28th in 06. So a solid record around here, one of just 6 in the field to have averaged under 71, but from the most rounds. Current form isn't too good though with 17th in Morocco his best, 62nd last week & 44th in China.

At the top of the betting is Scot Gary Orr. Played here 4 times and has two top 10's, with 8th in 08 & 2nd in 2005. 21st in 06 & 27th back in 2001, and only 2 rounds over par, both in 06 when he was 21st. Played 4 events this year and made 4 cuts, with 25th in Morocco his best & 27th last week in Spain.

Winner of the last event here in 08 was Alistair Forsyth who makes a Scottish double at the top of the betting. Also played in 06 & 01 and was 28th & 29th respectively. Averages dead on 70 around here. Started the year well with 5th in East London in South Africa, but hasn't broken the top 40 in his next 4 events and 63rd in Malaysia his last event.

With not a great record here is Phillip Archer who missed the cut in 03 & only 64th in 07. However he has been in good form on the Challenge Tour with a win & 3rd in his last 2 events and 11th in his 3rd, 34th & 52nd in South Africa at the start of the year.

Making his debut here is a name I have seen a few times on the leaderboards this season after graduating from the Challenge Tour last year. Matthew Baldwin has 4 top 25 finishes in 10 starts, inc 10th in East London, and 25th last week in Spain. Won in Spain last year on the 2nd tier.

Have to say nothing is jumping out, those at the top of the betting don't have much form and seem to be there as much on reputation as current form. Archer is in form but has always been poor here, whilst Baldwin is a debutant here. I think I will go with Baldwin though as had some good results, and showed some good form last week.

97

Views

0

Lose

Result

150

Profit/Loss