tadley

The sides met just last month at the same venue, ending all square 0-0. Possession was virtually identical, 51%-49%, and the shots were equal at 9 apiece, which points to two evenly matched sides. Septemvri have drawn 4 of their last 5, so another draw looks on the cards.

Chris Gotterup was in fine form at the start of the year, winning the Phoenix and Sony Opens. He hasn't quite lived up to that since but did record a 6th at the Houston Open in March. At last week's Truist Championship he came 14th courtesy of a stunning 65 on Saturday. His approach play and putting were impressive last weekend, which should be a bonus around this course. I think he can go close.

Cameron Young has never won a major, but he hasn't been far away in any of them. He has a 2nd at The Open, 3rd at the PGA Championship and the Masters, and 4th at the U.S. Open. It's surely just a matter of time before he wins one. This could be his year, as he's in fine form, winning both the Cadillac Championship and The Players Championship.

Jacob Bridgeman won the Genesis Invitational earlier this year, which is a good fit for this weekend's PGA Championship. He did wobble a tad on Sunday, but back-to-back 64s on Friday and Saturday set him up for the win. He leads the strokes gained: putting stats this year, which should stand him in good stead for this event.

Ludvig Åberg has been playing some impressive golf of late, with his last six finishes being 8, 4, 21, 5, 5, and 3. He has produced some stunning rounds, but it’s usually one loose round that has prevented him from winning. Although the course doesn’t look ideal for the big drivers, there are bunkers in play which can be cleared by big hitters like Åberg, which is a plus. If his putter is hot, he should be challenging for the win.

Scottie Scheffler won the American Express at his first event of the year but, surprisingly, hasn't won since. He's come close, though, with three consecutive second places. It looks like a tricky course that requires accurate driving and solid putting, which Scheffler has in spades. He's clearly the one to beat this weekend.

According to the bookies, Gujarat Titans are the second-worst side in the competition, but I don't see it. Jos Buttler is a concern after a poor T20 World Cup campaign, but he is too good a player to keep playing that badly. I see him enjoying the fresh start. Even if he underperforms, there are enough quality batters in the side to step up. I also like their mix of bowlers and can see them going deep.

Mumbai Indians look the strongest side on paper and should go well. They had the best net run rate last season but just missed out on the play-offs by one point. They have a wealth of batting talent to choose from, although perhaps they are over-reliant on Bumrah in the bowling department. That may not matter, as I see them posting consistently high scores.

I'm just not convinced by Boult at the moment and think Bumrah is a much more reliable option. You can guarantee he will play his full quota of overs each match and simply looks the best, most consistent wicket-taker.

Clare won in 2024, but last year it didn't go well. Severe injury problems probably took their toll. They look in better shape this time and can certainly mix it with the best.

Lancashire underperformed, finishing 5th despite having a strong squad. They've really impressed with signings over the winter, enrolling quality players at this level, so I see them doing a lot better than 5th.

Warwickshire finished down in 5th last season but were hampered by drawing nine games, the most in the league. They've strengthened their squad and look capable of a better performance this season.

Verstappen kept himself in the title race last season despite clearly not having the best car. That speaks volumes about his skill, which should see him once again go well this season. Despite him slamming the new regulation, it should be to his benefit as he has the skills to master the new designs. The Red Bull has looked very promising in practice, so I rate him as the most likely winner.