The Punter's picks for the SAS Masters and the Canadian Open
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Steve's not very enthusiastic about his picks in Sweden but he strongly fancies Anthony Kim to return to winning ways in Canada
It's never easy to summon enthusiasm for less illustrious events the week after a Major, and even harder to do so after a Major as good as last week's, but I have tried.
The Race to Dubai makes it's one and only visit to Scandinavia this week for the SAS Masters, staged at the Barsebäck G & CC, Malmö, Sweden, and given the number of top class players that this region produces, it's quite surprising that there's only one event staged there all year.
The current Players' Champion, Henrik Stenson, is the understandable favourite and the class act in the field, but he hasn't exactly set the world alight since his win at Sawgrass and I'm happy to let him go un-backed.
It's a weak looking field though and I'm not too enamoured with anyone. The fact that the course has been tinkered with since it was last used in 2006, when Marc Warren beat Robert Karlsson in a play-off, doesn't help much either, but after much deliberation I've dug out four half-hearted picks.
First of my 'fab four' is Richard S Johnson, a player I've backed a few times this year, so far to no avail, but I think he's worth chancing here at a fair price. I was impressed with his win in last year's US Bank Championship, an event he didn't attempt to defend last week. Instead he was grinding his way to a very impressive eighth placed finish at Turnberry. He hasn't got a brilliant record here, with 12th in '03 his best attempt from four outings and he could well be shattered after last week's shenanigans but if he is still fresh enough he could go well.
Peter Lawrie doesn't exactly inspire but he does plod along fairly reliably and he has tasted victory. He's in decent form this year, has fair course form and his straight driving is a big plus, now the course has been made tougher. I'm not head over heels about his chances but felt 50.0 was a shade too big.
Kenneth Ferrie, another straight driver, has suddenly found something from somewhere. After a disastrous spell in the States he's returned to Europe and up until last month had done nothing but miss cuts, but all of a sudden he's turned all that around, made three cuts in a row and looks over-priced to me.
Finally I've risked a few pounds on American Will MacKenzie. He's somewhat erratic but he's won twice on the PGA Tour and shouldn't be as big as 160.0 in this field.
Selections:
Richard S Johnson @ 46.00
Peter Lawrie @ 50.0
Kenneth Ferrie @ 100.00
Will MacKenzie @ 160.0
The PGA Tour moves north this week for the 100th staging of the Canadian Open at the Glen Abbey GC, Oakville,Ontario, a venue used last year, back in 2004 and, prior to that, every year between 1980 and 2000.
Organisers will be disappointed by the turnout for their centenary celebrations. Its position in the schedule certainly doesn't help but you know it's not the strongest of fields when you see Retief Goosen heading the market.
The South African has looked all at sea every time he's gotten into the mix lately and can't be backed at less than 20.0.
Others towards the head of the market who I shall be giving a wide berth include Canada's favourite, Mike Weir, who will be under far too much pressure, Sean O'Hair, as I never get him right and I just don't trust him, and Luke Donald, who's just 25.0! Have I slept through a couple of recent Donald wins?
Camilo Villegas has been disappointing so far this year and is certainly capable but the one I really like is Anthony Kim.
I didn't get to see much of Kim last week and he was always going to struggle to make the cut, after somehow making nine on just his second hole, but whenever I did see him he looked to be very close to being back to his best. Prior to that he'd finished third behind Tiger Woods at the AT & T National, so signs of a return to form are clearly visible and he took to this venue like a duck to water last year.
If memory serves, he traded at odds on during round three, and although he got to winner Chez Reavie at one point, his putter deserted him on Sunday and he slumped back down to 8th place.
I have a feeling he's nearly there and ready to win again and at 21.0 he's a very fair price to do so.
Selection:
Anthony Kim @ 21.0
I'll post an update at halfway on Saturday morning.
Click here to view market
Steve's not very enthusiastic about his picks in Sweden but he strongly fancies Anthony Kim to return to winning ways in Canada
It's never easy to summon enthusiasm for less illustrious events the week after a Major, and even harder to do so after a Major as good as last week's, but I have tried.
The Race to Dubai makes it's one and only visit to Scandinavia this week for the SAS Masters, staged at the Barsebäck G & CC, Malmö, Sweden, and given the number of top class players that this region produces, it's quite surprising that there's only one event staged there all year.
The current Players' Champion, Henrik Stenson, is the understandable favourite and the class act in the field, but he hasn't exactly set the world alight since his win at Sawgrass and I'm happy to let him go un-backed.
It's a weak looking field though and I'm not too enamoured with anyone. The fact that the course has been tinkered with since it was last used in 2006, when Marc Warren beat Robert Karlsson in a play-off, doesn't help much either, but after much deliberation I've dug out four half-hearted picks.
First of my 'fab four' is Richard S Johnson, a player I've backed a few times this year, so far to no avail, but I think he's worth chancing here at a fair price. I was impressed with his win in last year's US Bank Championship, an event he didn't attempt to defend last week. Instead he was grinding his way to a very impressive eighth placed finish at Turnberry. He hasn't got a brilliant record here, with 12th in '03 his best attempt from four outings and he could well be shattered after last week's shenanigans but if he is still fresh enough he could go well.
Peter Lawrie doesn't exactly inspire but he does plod along fairly reliably and he has tasted victory. He's in decent form this year, has fair course form and his straight driving is a big plus, now the course has been made tougher. I'm not head over heels about his chances but felt 50.0 was a shade too big.
Kenneth Ferrie, another straight driver, has suddenly found something from somewhere. After a disastrous spell in the States he's returned to Europe and up until last month had done nothing but miss cuts, but all of a sudden he's turned all that around, made three cuts in a row and looks over-priced to me.
Finally I've risked a few pounds on American Will MacKenzie. He's somewhat erratic but he's won twice on the PGA Tour and shouldn't be as big as 160.0 in this field.
Selections:
Richard S Johnson @ 46.00
Peter Lawrie @ 50.0
Kenneth Ferrie @ 100.00
Will MacKenzie @ 160.0
The PGA Tour moves north this week for the 100th staging of the Canadian Open at the Glen Abbey GC, Oakville,Ontario, a venue used last year, back in 2004 and, prior to that, every year between 1980 and 2000.
Organisers will be disappointed by the turnout for their centenary celebrations. Its position in the schedule certainly doesn't help but you know it's not the strongest of fields when you see Retief Goosen heading the market.
The South African has looked all at sea every time he's gotten into the mix lately and can't be backed at less than 20.0.
Others towards the head of the market who I shall be giving a wide berth include Canada's favourite, Mike Weir, who will be under far too much pressure, Sean O'Hair, as I never get him right and I just don't trust him, and Luke Donald, who's just 25.0! Have I slept through a couple of recent Donald wins?
Camilo Villegas has been disappointing so far this year and is certainly capable but the one I really like is Anthony Kim.
I didn't get to see much of Kim last week and he was always going to struggle to make the cut, after somehow making nine on just his second hole, but whenever I did see him he looked to be very close to being back to his best. Prior to that he'd finished third behind Tiger Woods at the AT & T National, so signs of a return to form are clearly visible and he took to this venue like a duck to water last year.
If memory serves, he traded at odds on during round three, and although he got to winner Chez Reavie at one point, his putter deserted him on Sunday and he slumped back down to 8th place.
I have a feeling he's nearly there and ready to win again and at 21.0 he's a very fair price to do so.
Selection:
Anthony Kim @ 21.0
I'll post an update at halfway on Saturday morning.
