Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)
Bubba Watson to win 14/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
It seems a long time since he was a 50/1 selection for the Virginia Beach - he had been the 1st round leader in his previous Nationwide Tour event and the finished 2nd (via a playoff) and 1st by eight shots in two starts on the Tight Lies Tour the following two weeks - and he has since finished 5th and 2nd. With a top-20 finish on his previous visit to this course in 2003, he looks a decent bet to continue his fine run of form.
Chris Tidland to win 40/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
Retaining Tidland from last week's selections. Only a poor opening round last week - he was ten shots behind the leader after the 1st round, but finished only eight two rounds later - denied him a chance of extend his impressive recent run that had included seven top-10 finishes in his last ten Nationwide Tour events. He does have previous course experience that includes a top-5 finish in 2002, so provided that he does not start so slowly and the event is not weather-curtailed, he should be back to his consistent best this week.
Jerry Smith to win 50/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
No course form for Smith, but this is a player back on the trail since turning 40 last year. He was a member of the PGA Tour in 2000 and 2001, but lost his Card after the 2002 season. Then, instead of bouncing back via the Nationwide Tour in 2003, he made only two of eighteen cuts and lost his playing rights there. But relegated to the Gateway Tour Desert Series he refound his game and his confidence, winning three of twelve events and finishing in the top-3 on six occasions. Back on the Nationwide Tour, he has finished 3rd, 8th and 29th in his last three starts, but in five starts this year he has been in the top-6 at some stage in four of his five starts, most notably when he held a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Virginia Beach Open two weeks ago, but shot 77. That may have been a serious failing, but these odds look generous for one who keeps getting himself into contention.
Bubba Watson to win 14/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
It seems a long time since he was a 50/1 selection for the Virginia Beach - he had been the 1st round leader in his previous Nationwide Tour event and the finished 2nd (via a playoff) and 1st by eight shots in two starts on the Tight Lies Tour the following two weeks - and he has since finished 5th and 2nd. With a top-20 finish on his previous visit to this course in 2003, he looks a decent bet to continue his fine run of form.
Chris Tidland to win 40/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
Retaining Tidland from last week's selections. Only a poor opening round last week - he was ten shots behind the leader after the 1st round, but finished only eight two rounds later - denied him a chance of extend his impressive recent run that had included seven top-10 finishes in his last ten Nationwide Tour events. He does have previous course experience that includes a top-5 finish in 2002, so provided that he does not start so slowly and the event is not weather-curtailed, he should be back to his consistent best this week.
Jerry Smith to win 50/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
No course form for Smith, but this is a player back on the trail since turning 40 last year. He was a member of the PGA Tour in 2000 and 2001, but lost his Card after the 2002 season. Then, instead of bouncing back via the Nationwide Tour in 2003, he made only two of eighteen cuts and lost his playing rights there. But relegated to the Gateway Tour Desert Series he refound his game and his confidence, winning three of twelve events and finishing in the top-3 on six occasions. Back on the Nationwide Tour, he has finished 3rd, 8th and 29th in his last three starts, but in five starts this year he has been in the top-6 at some stage in four of his five starts, most notably when he held a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Virginia Beach Open two weeks ago, but shot 77. That may have been a serious failing, but these odds look generous for one who keeps getting himself into contention.
