Outrights YTD: 2-2 (-0.94*)
- - Even though I was almost in the frame with 3 of my 4 selections last week, I am still keeping the plays below normal levels (I didn?t commit to anything on the European Tour). I can see that will allow for ample in-running opportunities if something appeals, especially since I'm not taken with any of my initial picks.
Charles Howell(40/1) e.w.
- - If he notches a win this season he?ll be on track for a career year, and I could see that happening, and happening here. If not, there?s somewhat decent value on the e.w. portion.
Zach Johnson(33/1) e.w.
- - A proven winner with very much a horses for courses profile, and this is not surprisingly one of his courses. But I was reading on his twitter that he was feeling sick as a dog (more or less) over the holidays, so I?m really not expecting him to be as prepared as I otherwise would expect to start the calendar year campaign in a Ryder Cup year.
Jimmy Walker(100/1) e.w.
- - During the Sunday coverage at Kapalua, Hawaii resident Mark Rolfing noted that the trade winds were expected to continue (although diminished) through the following week, which would be ?for the first time in several years? for playing Waialae with the prevailing trade winds. Not knowing the exact reference to what wind during what years, I looked at the results in 2015 and 2014, and Walker was the winner both years. Although he is certainly still battling the very difficult ands lingering effects of Lyme disease, this price seemed worth a venture.
Chez Reavie(50/1) e.w.
- - I believe 13 of the past 19 champions at Waialae played at Kapalua the prior week, and that is not surprising given the quality of the field at the T of C. Nevertheless, I am rarely a proponent of backing players keeping their best swings when coming off a particularly breezy 72 holes during the prior week, and that would probably hold even more so for me if it?s early in the year and/or there?s a decent chance of breezy conditions to work through at a new venue the following week (and there are 5 places to pay, not just the winner). So I went poking around mainly for choices that didn?t play last week, and this is where my dart landed over William McGirt, Russell Knox, Sean O?Hair . . . or Jason Dufner.
Colt Knost(500/1) e.w.
- - One more at big odds.
GL