Matchup plays (1 unit unless stated):
Nick Price to beat Michael Campbell -115 @ Carib
Top-10 last week, 5th in the Genuity Championship and reached the 3rd round in the World Matchplay, Price is in fine form and returns to this course after a seven-year absence. Looks set for another fine week. Campbell has been impressive in his last two PGA Tour events, but having never played in Texas, let alone at The Woodlands, he is opposed in this matchup.
Vijay Singh to beat John Huston -125 @ Easybets
Huston has played well in his last two events in Florida, but it worries me that he has not played in this event since 1998 and only occasionally beforehand. A fine record in Texas, but I don't see him winning outside Florida. Singh, on the other hand, has been a regular competitor in this event, finishing 5th and 6th on his last two visits, and may have benefited from taking the weekend off. His record the week following missed cuts - and there have been very few of them - on the PGA Tour is very impressive.
Scott Verplank to beat Colin Montgomerie -130 @ Cascade
Monty was heckled again last week and it no doubt contributed to his lackluster performance after a promising opening round. He has never played in Texas or this event and will surely struggle again this week. Easy to side with an outright pick in this matchup.
Steve Stricker to beat Greg Norman -125 @ Centrebet
A withdrawal after the 1st round (back pain) and a missed cut (74-78) is Norman's record in the last two weeks. On a course on which he has not played since 1991 and in Texas in which he has played only once his 1997 - a missed cut in the 2001 Colonial - Norman looks very opposable this week, even with Stricker who is not the most accurate of players off the tee. A top-20 finish last week is encouraging though.
Nick Price to beat Michael Campbell -115 @ Carib
Top-10 last week, 5th in the Genuity Championship and reached the 3rd round in the World Matchplay, Price is in fine form and returns to this course after a seven-year absence. Looks set for another fine week. Campbell has been impressive in his last two PGA Tour events, but having never played in Texas, let alone at The Woodlands, he is opposed in this matchup.
Vijay Singh to beat John Huston -125 @ Easybets
Huston has played well in his last two events in Florida, but it worries me that he has not played in this event since 1998 and only occasionally beforehand. A fine record in Texas, but I don't see him winning outside Florida. Singh, on the other hand, has been a regular competitor in this event, finishing 5th and 6th on his last two visits, and may have benefited from taking the weekend off. His record the week following missed cuts - and there have been very few of them - on the PGA Tour is very impressive.
Scott Verplank to beat Colin Montgomerie -130 @ Cascade
Monty was heckled again last week and it no doubt contributed to his lackluster performance after a promising opening round. He has never played in Texas or this event and will surely struggle again this week. Easy to side with an outright pick in this matchup.
Steve Stricker to beat Greg Norman -125 @ Centrebet
A withdrawal after the 1st round (back pain) and a missed cut (74-78) is Norman's record in the last two weeks. On a course on which he has not played since 1991 and in Texas in which he has played only once his 1997 - a missed cut in the 2001 Colonial - Norman looks very opposable this week, even with Stricker who is not the most accurate of players off the tee. A top-20 finish last week is encouraging though.
