Outright plays (total stake per play: 2pts)
Don Pooley to win 20/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Loren Roberts may have won both the season-opening events in Hawaii, but Pooley is the second-hottest player on Tour with finishes of 2nd and 4th so far. But, in fairness, his 2005 form was a considerable improvement over recent years as he recorded ten top-10 finishes and was only denied victory by a play-off loss in the Bank of America Championship. In terms of his course form, it is also supportive with finishes of 12th, 7th and 12th and he has never approached this event in such form or confidence. After his 12th place finish here last year, he achieved a Tour-best of 6th in Florida the following week and then lowered it again in his next start in the Sunshine State with a 3rd place finish in the Blue Angels Classic. There is plenty in his favour this week and he may even continue to improve on his best finish in Florida.
D.A. Weibring to win 22/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Weibring only played in one of the Hawaiian events, but given that his average finishing position in Champions Tour events in Hawaii was 50% higher than in the rest of the U.S. (21.0 vs. 14.1), he can easily be excused missing one of the events. But the fact that he finished 3rd and did hold the lead during the final nine holes in the MasterCard Championship is more than encouraging for this week where he has finished 7th and 16th in the last two years when coming off poor performances beforehand. In fact, even though he finished in 16th place finish last year, he had been in the top-5 until a couple of late bogeys and it was the only time in his last five starts in Florida that he has not finished in the top-10. He has developed a reputation for consistency and that should be maintained this week.
Wayne Levi to finish in the top-five 13/1 @ Expekt
Here is another player with a very good record in Florida - top-7 finish in five of last seven visits - and that includes the last two years here. He made his debut in 2003 and was in 16th position after the 1st round, but was forced to withdraw with food poisoning. Impressive course form and there is a good reason: he lives part of the year in Naples, Florida, is a regular player on this course and has a good home following when he plays here. On each of the last two occasions, he has finished four shots out of the lead and last year, in particular, he could have won the event, but double-bogeyed the last hole. This season, he has started well with a 7th place finish in the Turtle Bay Championship, but the extra two weeks' rest should be particularly beneficial to Levi as it is this event, his home-town event, that should see his best effort of 2006 so far.
Don Pooley to win 20/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Loren Roberts may have won both the season-opening events in Hawaii, but Pooley is the second-hottest player on Tour with finishes of 2nd and 4th so far. But, in fairness, his 2005 form was a considerable improvement over recent years as he recorded ten top-10 finishes and was only denied victory by a play-off loss in the Bank of America Championship. In terms of his course form, it is also supportive with finishes of 12th, 7th and 12th and he has never approached this event in such form or confidence. After his 12th place finish here last year, he achieved a Tour-best of 6th in Florida the following week and then lowered it again in his next start in the Sunshine State with a 3rd place finish in the Blue Angels Classic. There is plenty in his favour this week and he may even continue to improve on his best finish in Florida.
D.A. Weibring to win 22/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Weibring only played in one of the Hawaiian events, but given that his average finishing position in Champions Tour events in Hawaii was 50% higher than in the rest of the U.S. (21.0 vs. 14.1), he can easily be excused missing one of the events. But the fact that he finished 3rd and did hold the lead during the final nine holes in the MasterCard Championship is more than encouraging for this week where he has finished 7th and 16th in the last two years when coming off poor performances beforehand. In fact, even though he finished in 16th place finish last year, he had been in the top-5 until a couple of late bogeys and it was the only time in his last five starts in Florida that he has not finished in the top-10. He has developed a reputation for consistency and that should be maintained this week.
Wayne Levi to finish in the top-five 13/1 @ Expekt
Here is another player with a very good record in Florida - top-7 finish in five of last seven visits - and that includes the last two years here. He made his debut in 2003 and was in 16th position after the 1st round, but was forced to withdraw with food poisoning. Impressive course form and there is a good reason: he lives part of the year in Naples, Florida, is a regular player on this course and has a good home following when he plays here. On each of the last two occasions, he has finished four shots out of the lead and last year, in particular, he could have won the event, but double-bogeyed the last hole. This season, he has started well with a 7th place finish in the Turtle Bay Championship, but the extra two weeks' rest should be particularly beneficial to Levi as it is this event, his home-town event, that should see his best effort of 2006 so far.
will move mine down here.
