Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)
Bo Van Pelt to win 25/1 e.w. available generally
A poor field for a poor event that may not even be on the PGA Tour schedule next year. Even the defending champion, Sergio Garcia, has withdrawn. So while these may be short odds on Van Pelt for a normal Tour event, this is different. He has been playing very solidly again this season even though he has been struggling in the final round when in contention and comes off a decent showing in the U.S. Open (40th) without ever being under pressure from being in contention. And it is the proximity of this event to the U.S. Open that makes the deciding angle on this play. He had played in the U.S. Open only once previously, finishing 31st in 2004 and then finished 4th the following week on this course. That equalled his bets performance on the PGA Tour at the time and it should bring back good memories for this week.
Nick O'Hern to win 33/1 e.w. @ Stan James, Victor Chandler, William Hill and BetDirect
By contrast, neither of the two remaining selections have played this course previously, but that is not such a problem with such a weak field and given that this course was last used in 2004. O'Hern has shown that he can compete on the PGA Tour and given the success of so many other Australians on this Tour, it is no surprise that he is now playing here full time. He is certainly on a par with the likes of Ogilvy, Allenby, Appleby, Pampling and so on and he should win on this Tour within the next couple of years. In the last couple of months, he has finished 19th in the Masters, 12th at the Colonial and 6th at the U.S. Open last week. Despite his lack of course form, he is simply too good a player relative to this field for these odds.
Fredrik Jacobson to win 40/1 e.w. @ SkyBet, BetDirect and Boyle Sports
The same can be said for Jacobson, though he is rather more erratic. However, he recorded his second top-5 finish at the Barclays Classic two weeks ago, was in contention throughout and held the lead during the 3rd round. And he has shot 62 around Colonial last month, so he is clearly playing well enough to contend even though he does miss rather a lot of cuts. But he also has an advantage from not playing at Winged Foot last week. That rest at this stage of the season should be very beneficial.
Bo Van Pelt to win 25/1 e.w. available generally
A poor field for a poor event that may not even be on the PGA Tour schedule next year. Even the defending champion, Sergio Garcia, has withdrawn. So while these may be short odds on Van Pelt for a normal Tour event, this is different. He has been playing very solidly again this season even though he has been struggling in the final round when in contention and comes off a decent showing in the U.S. Open (40th) without ever being under pressure from being in contention. And it is the proximity of this event to the U.S. Open that makes the deciding angle on this play. He had played in the U.S. Open only once previously, finishing 31st in 2004 and then finished 4th the following week on this course. That equalled his bets performance on the PGA Tour at the time and it should bring back good memories for this week.
Nick O'Hern to win 33/1 e.w. @ Stan James, Victor Chandler, William Hill and BetDirect
By contrast, neither of the two remaining selections have played this course previously, but that is not such a problem with such a weak field and given that this course was last used in 2004. O'Hern has shown that he can compete on the PGA Tour and given the success of so many other Australians on this Tour, it is no surprise that he is now playing here full time. He is certainly on a par with the likes of Ogilvy, Allenby, Appleby, Pampling and so on and he should win on this Tour within the next couple of years. In the last couple of months, he has finished 19th in the Masters, 12th at the Colonial and 6th at the U.S. Open last week. Despite his lack of course form, he is simply too good a player relative to this field for these odds.
Fredrik Jacobson to win 40/1 e.w. @ SkyBet, BetDirect and Boyle Sports
The same can be said for Jacobson, though he is rather more erratic. However, he recorded his second top-5 finish at the Barclays Classic two weeks ago, was in contention throughout and held the lead during the 3rd round. And he has shot 62 around Colonial last month, so he is clearly playing well enough to contend even though he does miss rather a lot of cuts. But he also has an advantage from not playing at Winged Foot last week. That rest at this stage of the season should be very beneficial.
