Outright plays (1 unit):
Australia to win 11/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
On paper, this looks a very strong team and at least second-best behind the Americans on their own soil. Appleby did not play well last week, but has been in great form recently with a win and two runners-up finishes in September/October and Leaney was also impressive in finishing 5th in the Volvo Masters two weeks ago despite a opening 77. He also finished 2nd in the U.S. Open this year. It looks like an untried partnership and Australia have not done particularly well in this event in the last three years, but a team with Appleby in it should do well this week. Ladbrokes offer 12/1 but only three places.
England to win 11/1 e.w. @ Coral
The young guns of Casey and Rose is tested - they finished 3rd last year and were only four shots behind Japan with on round to play. Casey also partnered Poulter two years ago when they finished 5th, but they could have won that event had their 2nd round not been so poor. The foursomes is a concern with this pairing also, but if Casey can carry his partner in those two rounds, then they will have a great chance of being in contention for a third year in a row.
South Africa to win 25/1 e.w. @ William Hill
This price is simply to large. This may not be the dream pairing of Els & Goosen that won this event two years ago, but Sabbatini partnered Clark to finish 5th last year when they were little-fancied to retain their title. They actually came very close to doing so - they had been in 2nd place, just one shot behind Japan with one round to play, but suffered under the final round pressure. This year, Immelman takes the place of Clark and while he has less experience of playing in the U.S., he can at least point to a top-10 finish in the NEC Invitational in August. I don't expect this pairing to win, but a top-4 place finish is a distinct possibility.
Australia to win 11/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
On paper, this looks a very strong team and at least second-best behind the Americans on their own soil. Appleby did not play well last week, but has been in great form recently with a win and two runners-up finishes in September/October and Leaney was also impressive in finishing 5th in the Volvo Masters two weeks ago despite a opening 77. He also finished 2nd in the U.S. Open this year. It looks like an untried partnership and Australia have not done particularly well in this event in the last three years, but a team with Appleby in it should do well this week. Ladbrokes offer 12/1 but only three places.
England to win 11/1 e.w. @ Coral
The young guns of Casey and Rose is tested - they finished 3rd last year and were only four shots behind Japan with on round to play. Casey also partnered Poulter two years ago when they finished 5th, but they could have won that event had their 2nd round not been so poor. The foursomes is a concern with this pairing also, but if Casey can carry his partner in those two rounds, then they will have a great chance of being in contention for a third year in a row.
South Africa to win 25/1 e.w. @ William Hill
This price is simply to large. This may not be the dream pairing of Els & Goosen that won this event two years ago, but Sabbatini partnered Clark to finish 5th last year when they were little-fancied to retain their title. They actually came very close to doing so - they had been in 2nd place, just one shot behind Japan with one round to play, but suffered under the final round pressure. This year, Immelman takes the place of Clark and while he has less experience of playing in the U.S., he can at least point to a top-10 finish in the NEC Invitational in August. I don't expect this pairing to win, but a top-4 place finish is a distinct possibility.
