Preview & outright plays:
A new sponsor and a new home for the former Coldwell Banker Burnet Classic. The sponsors were involved in the planning of the Arnold Palmer and Tom Lehman-designed course and like any TPC course, it was built specifically for this event. The course only opened last year, so apart from last August's 18-hole, made-for-TV exhibition featuring the 1999 winners of the four majors on the Senior PGA Tour, there is no course form to use. However this is certainly the strongest field since the Ford Senior Players Championship, the last major of the year. Rarely have so many players been available at single-figure odds! With such a strong field and no course form, selecting players currently in-form seems the best strategy, though being cautious on such a week is just as important.
The three selections are Allen Doyle, Jim Thorpe and Dana Quigley. Doyle was a winner four weeks ago and again two weeks ago, both times as a selection, so it is a surprise to see him at relatively long odds. To add to those two victories in July, he was denied only by a birdie on the last hole by Bobby Wadkins last week, so there can be few doubts that he is the hottest player on Tour at the moment. It is just a nice bonus that it was Doyle who won the Senior Slam by three shots on this course last year.
Jim Thorpe also had his chances to win last week, but a failure to break par on his final round saw him slip from 3rd overnight to 7th. Having finished 3rd the week before at the State Farm Senior Classic, his form is solid enough and he retains his position as an outright selection.
Quigley is another of last week's selections retained this week. He had a poor week finishing in 43rd position despite a promising 1st round. But for a player who plays every single, the ability to play without the pressure of the leaderboard at the weekend should only be of benefit this week. He has been in a great run of form for the last three months, having won once and finished in the top-5 of four of his last twelve events. The available odds look rather large for the Iron Man.
For all the selections, the odds quoted are generally available, though Stan James's 5 places is extremely useful. It is a pity that BetInternet, who have quoted 5 places, are so erratic in putting up lines for Seniors golf.
Outright plays:
Allen Doyle to win 12/1 e.w. @ Stan James [5 places option]
Jim Thorpe to win 25/1 e.w. @ Stan James [5 places option]
Dana Quigley to win 50/1 e.w. @ Stan James [5 places option]
A new sponsor and a new home for the former Coldwell Banker Burnet Classic. The sponsors were involved in the planning of the Arnold Palmer and Tom Lehman-designed course and like any TPC course, it was built specifically for this event. The course only opened last year, so apart from last August's 18-hole, made-for-TV exhibition featuring the 1999 winners of the four majors on the Senior PGA Tour, there is no course form to use. However this is certainly the strongest field since the Ford Senior Players Championship, the last major of the year. Rarely have so many players been available at single-figure odds! With such a strong field and no course form, selecting players currently in-form seems the best strategy, though being cautious on such a week is just as important.
The three selections are Allen Doyle, Jim Thorpe and Dana Quigley. Doyle was a winner four weeks ago and again two weeks ago, both times as a selection, so it is a surprise to see him at relatively long odds. To add to those two victories in July, he was denied only by a birdie on the last hole by Bobby Wadkins last week, so there can be few doubts that he is the hottest player on Tour at the moment. It is just a nice bonus that it was Doyle who won the Senior Slam by three shots on this course last year.
Jim Thorpe also had his chances to win last week, but a failure to break par on his final round saw him slip from 3rd overnight to 7th. Having finished 3rd the week before at the State Farm Senior Classic, his form is solid enough and he retains his position as an outright selection.
Quigley is another of last week's selections retained this week. He had a poor week finishing in 43rd position despite a promising 1st round. But for a player who plays every single, the ability to play without the pressure of the leaderboard at the weekend should only be of benefit this week. He has been in a great run of form for the last three months, having won once and finished in the top-5 of four of his last twelve events. The available odds look rather large for the Iron Man.
For all the selections, the odds quoted are generally available, though Stan James's 5 places is extremely useful. It is a pity that BetInternet, who have quoted 5 places, are so erratic in putting up lines for Seniors golf.
Outright plays:
Allen Doyle to win 12/1 e.w. @ Stan James [5 places option]
Jim Thorpe to win 25/1 e.w. @ Stan James [5 places option]
Dana Quigley to win 50/1 e.w. @ Stan James [5 places option]
