Preview & outright plays:
The finale to a memorable Australasian Tour season brings with it sub-plots and intrigue. The purse has been tripled this year to reflect the event's status, but it also adds to the suspense. Only three players can win the order of Merit - Baddeley who currently tops the standings, Campbell and Smail. But many more can gain a top-3 spot with good performances this week: Nick O?Hern, Peter Lonard, Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling, Jarrod Moseley and Peter O?Malley in particular. The placings are important as they yield important exemptions:
Winner: Entry to the Open Championship, WGC American Express Championship, The Memorial (US Tour)
Top three players: Entry to the Open Championship, WGC American Express Championship
Top two players: Entry to US Open (provided they finish in top 75 in world rankings), US Tour School final stage
Peter Lonard has already stated that he will use the driver and attack the course to try and make something special happen. Given the course setup, that does not seem to be a very prudent strategy, but such are the sub-plots this week. The course is very short at just 6,700 yards, but it is very tight and Lonard has admitted that the penalties for not driving straight are severe. In a week when the pressure will be intense down the finishing stretch, it would appear the sensible option would be to side with the straighter hitters.
The three selected this week are Craig Parry, Peter O'Malley and Stephen Leaney, which is exactly the same trio as last week! Parry may not be involved in the differing Order of Merit scenarios, but there are few straighter hitters and despite an ugly last round last week, he is in cracking form. He even admitted in interview that he "could have blown them away" had his putter behaved. He is a winner on this course - 1992 Australian PGA Championship - and looks good to make amends for last week and steal the glory with everyone constantly looking over their shoulder.
Peter O'Malley is one whose finishing position could gain some important exemptions, but apart from the PGA Tour elements, he should already have those exemptions safe. Like Parry, one of the more accurate players on any Tour and comes to this event having finished strongly to gain 3rd place last week. Does not win as often as he should, but his experience should prove important in this type of event.
Stephen Leaney is another who finished strongly last week. Indeed, had it not been for an opening 75, then he may well have challenged the leaders. To desire to battle back and make the cut is noteworthy and he will be looking to finish an otherwise disappointing Australasian Tour season in style. He may not be as straight as the other two picks, but he is more of an accuracy than a power player and has ability that belies odds of 40/1.
Outright picks:
Craig Parry to win 16/1 e.w. @
Surrey
Peter O'Malley to win 33/1 e.w. @
Surrey
Stephen Leaney to win 40/1 e.w. @
Surrey