Matchup plays (1.5pts unless stated):
Padraig Harrington to beat Chad Campbell -115 @ Bet365 and BlueSq
This has been a frustrating year for Campbell, despite winning the Bay Hill Invitational, as he showed so much promise last year. He has missed three of his last five cuts and has finished behind Harrington in four of five common PGA Tour events this year. Harrington is Europe's most consistent player in these events and won't hand over this match to the Texan.
Padraig Harrington to beat Darren Clarke -123 @ Pinnacle
Similar story here. Clarke's loss of form has been dramatic with just one top-50 in his last six starts and missed cuts in both the majors on American soil this year. Harrington leads him 8-1-0 h2h in strokeplay events this year, which makes these odds look generous.
(also available at Five Dimes)
Padraig Harrington to beat Lee Westwood -111 @ Easybets [3pts]
Westwood's form is much better than his stablemate's, but he is still struggling to find some consistency. Plus, he hasn't had a top-10 finish in the U.S. since the Open at Pebble Beach in 2000 (30 events). Harrington is just too consistent wherever he plays, to lose this matchup more often than not.
(also available at William Hill)
Scott Verplank to beat John Daly -114 @ Expekt [3pts]
Daly is a long-hitter and he recently finished 2nd in the Buick Open, but he is still a long way from his early season form and consistency. Expecting a strong week from Verplank who ranks in the top-15 in the ShotLink's categories of approaches from 125-150 yards, 150-175 yards and 175-200 yards. He will keep it straight and his long-game will keep him in contention on this difficult course. It also helps that he has a 7-1-0 h2h lead against Daly in 2004.
(also available at Nordicbet)
Scott Verplank to beat David Toms -110 @ Ladbrokes
Losing length to his opponent will not be a concern for Verplank here. Toms may have won the St. Jude Classic in May, but he has still missed five of his last ten cuts whereas Verplank has the 3rd longest streak of consecutive cuts made on Tour. Verplank also leads Toms 7-2-0 h2h in 2004 and this is not a course on which Toms will be able to regain his PGA Championship title.
Davis Love to beat Sergio Garcia -110 @ Ladbrokes [3pts]
With just one start since the U.S. Open two months ago - and that was a missed cut in the British Open - Garcia is hardly well-prepared for this event. Have to side with Love who has finished in the top-15 in his last three starts and has a great record on links courses in the British Open and on seaside courses on the PGA Tour where he has had seven wins at Hilton Head and Pebble Beach.
(also available at Stan James, Expekt, Centrebet, Five Dimes and Pinnacle)
Jeff Sluman to beat Todd Hamilton +105 @ Easybets
Will take these odds on Sluman. He is a very good iron-player who is in good form with two top-10 finishes in his last three starts and is a two-time winner in his neighbouring Wisconsin. Hamilton won the Honda Classic when in obscurity and won the British Open last month under the same conditions. It will be very different this week at the subsequent major and this will be a strong test of his personality as well as his game.
(also available at William Hill)
Peter Lonard to beat Trevor Immelman -114 @ Expekt
With top-5 finishes in two of his last three starts, Lonard is a player in form as well as a good wind player. Immelman has struggled since winning the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open in May and has finished behind Lonard five out of six times since then. Not playing well enough to reverse that trend.
Justin Rose to beat Trevor Immelman -111 @ Paddy Power
Rose has recovered his form well since declaring a lack of confidence in his game in June as he failed to qualify for the British Open. He has finished in the top-25 in each of the last two weeks on the PGA Tour and looks to be well-prepared for this event. Not a likely contender, but should have enough to finish ahead of Immelman.