The Bush/The Open

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Gonna do an early E/W that despite some what short odds I like.
Inkster 20/1 @365 1 unit total (1/2 E/W)


This course should give Annika a chance to "raise the level" of her game as she missed the cut in 97 open here firing a 2 day 150 total. That is main factor in determining E/W play on Inkster.

Got 2 i really like that should have some dandy place odds later

 

[Clive]

Hope one wasn't Jeong Jang!?

 

[Stanley]

With DTB's record on this Tour, you should be wishing one is Jeong Jang

Outright plays (1.5 units):

Lorena Ochoa to win 33/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Backed two weeks ago for the Wegmans Rochester LPGA and I thought her odds would now be too short to be backed again, but I was wrong. She finished in the top-3 in the opening major of the year and recorded her 4th top-3 of the year two weeks ago. She is in fine form and has excellent greens in regulation stats, which will be important this week. Stil don't think we'll see 33/1 on her many more times this year.

Grace Park to win 33/1 e.w. @ Stan James
The Witch Hollow course at Pumpkin Ridge has been considerably lengthened since Alison Nicholas won the event in 1997 and will now be the longest-ever U.S. Women's Open course and only a par-71. Rosie Jones had been on the shortlist, but against this lengthening of the course, Grace Jones gets the nod. Ochoa may have finished in the top-3 of the Nabisco Championship, but Park took Sorenstam to a playoff for the 2nd major of the year. It was her second runners-up spot of the season, but she has also won once (Michelob Light Open) this year and was 3rd on her last outing. She has had two top-10 finishes in this event in the last four years and is certainly playing well enough to add another.

Lorie Kane to win 50/1 e.w. @ BetInternet and Stan James
Extremely large price for a player who has finished in the top-3 in her last two events or three in her last five! Like the other selections, she has good greens in regulation stats and will not be harmed by the length of the course. She played her first U.S. Women's Open on this course in 1997 and has since finished in the top-20 on all five occasions, including 4th in 1999. This looks a more open event than in previous years and she should certainly feature at some stage.

 

[Clive]

True! Just didn't want to ruin any prices as it's a struggle these days! Hills restricted me to ?4 on Jang on net, but laid ok on phones.

 

[Clive]

Kane price gone at Bet Internet, Jang now 66 at Hills, don't know whether SJ are still laying those prices...let's hope we can make them sweat!

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Wow What nice finds on odds. I am thinking of getting a Canadian
P.O. address to access these books. See any pitfalls?

Nope Clive but they rank in same odds 80/1 and 100/1 and one is shaking hands with your girl @ 365

Wonder what the scoop is @ Skybet?--put a little extra E/W (@ less than half odds you got ##$@%%$ on Morgan there and still pending


24/06/2003 O/10101267/0000066
Single $20.00 Shoprite LPGA Classic
Morgan B @ 66/1

 

[Clive]

Drop 'em a line...they'll sort it.

Stan, had to do a double take reading your preview....the thought of Grace Jones playing golf sent shivers down my spine!!

 

[Stanley]

:lol:

Caddying for Grace Jones ... now there's a jarring thought!!

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Sheez Trying to find some data in local papers is tough. Oregon publications appear to not know there is us open playing this week. Here is a few points of interest maybe. One is profile on course and as Stan asutely noted course has been lengthened this year. (187 yards) the rought is reportedly only 3 inchs but those that veer far off will find it VERY tough.


Course Profile > More
This course, which is private, along with Ghost Creek, which is public, are the courses owned by Pumpkin Ridge. This course features many hills that can cause uneven lies and trees that line most fairways. The rough is generally long on the sides of the fairways and around the greens. Some holes have tall prairie grass lining them. The members play these areas as lateral hazards, for even if you find your ball, you can rarely get it out and back into play. In areas where the prairie grass isn't present you have large trees that can block your shots. The back nine has three par 3's and three par 5's. The greens are generally very fast. The course has many outstanding holes, but the one that is probably photographed the most is #5, a 211-yard, par 3, which features a large pond on the front right of the green. The green is slightly downhill from the tee, but the distance you save in having a downhill shot is usually offset by the wind. Hole #3 is a very tough and very pretty 414-yard, par 4, which has a dogleg right fairway and plays uphill. In front of the green is a creek so you need a very good approach shot or you'll need to lay up. A second signature hole is #14, a 470-yard, par 5. This is a pretty hole with a dogleg left fairway and it plays downhill. There is a pond in front of the green with a very narrow entrance on the right side of the green. Any shot left of the fairway will be either in tall rough with a sidehill lie or in the water. "Golf Digest" rated this as the 2nd "Best in State" course for 1995-96, and the 3rd best for 1997-98. "Golf Digest" rated this as the #1 "New Public Course" for 1992. In addition, "GOLF Magazine" awarded it 72nd among the "Top 100 Courses in the U.S." for 1996, 69th for 1997 and 81st for 1999. "GOLFWEEK" ranked it 21st among "America's 100 Best Modern Courses" for 1997, 38th for 1998 and 31st for 1999. The Pumpkin Ridge courses were the site of the Nike Tour Championship in 1993 and 1994, plus the site of the 1996 United States Amateur Championship, where Tiger Woods won his third consecutive Amateur Championship. The U.S. Women's Open was played at this club in 1997.

local comments

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1057060796177680.xml

 

[Clive]

and my source!!

"Tight manicured fairways and fast devilishly tricky greens. I was here back in 1997 and they added a few extra yards to the lay-out. The 3rd, 4th, 9th, 13th 17th and 18th holes have been lengthened anywhere from 10 to 40 yards.

They are using an interesting practice format here. They tee us off on both sides with the first time being 7:15 and the last 9:27, just like the tournament. The same is done for the afternoon shift. We were the first off on the back and made the turn too quickly. We had to wait for the last group of Mallon, Daniel and Inkster to tee off before continuing.

The 10th hole is out in the middle of the course and we need to take a shuttle to get there. If you are attending this event and wish to follow a group that starts on 10 give yourself plenty of time to get in position"

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Thanks Clive
Creamer was getting a little lippy saying she was not scared of Wie and had beaten her every time in head to head matches. Gotta like the girl if for name if nothing else.
Is no doubt that Creamer and Head would be my fav twosome to play with.

 

[Clive]

Wont hear a word against Jo Head, as she sent me an e-mail a while back!

Why not add Wie to make it a foursome?!

 

[Stanley]

Bringing the discussion back to the golf ....


Matchup plays (1.5 units):

Hee-Won Han to beat Laura Davies -110 @ Bet365
Apart from a 2nd place finish at the Ladies Irish Open against a much weaker field, Davies has struggled over the past few months. As a result, Han has a 5-1-0 h2h lead over the past three months and has the game to among the leaders this week. Can't see Davies being in the frame this week.

Angela Stanford to beat Pat Hurst -111 @ BetandWin
Have consistently, and profitable, opposed Hurst and will do so again this week. He has not had a top-10 finish in her last seven events and since finishing 4th in this event in 1997, she has steadily finished lower down the leaderboard each year. Stanford's record in this event is not impressive, but she had finished in the top-10 at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic earlier in the month before she won last week. In this form, she should certainly have her best U.S. Open to date.

Catriona Matthew to beat Pat Hurst -118 @ Centrebet
Matthew does have a good event history - two top-10 finishes in the last four years - and has been in even better form than Stanford and for longer. She may not have won an event this year, but she has been a very consistent contender and this week should be no different.

Becky Morgan to beat Michelle Wie -154 @ Expekt
Opposed Wie last week and will do so again. She was suffering from her victory in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and has had little chance to recharge the batteries, physical and mental, for this week. It also makes it easier when the selection has finished in the top-10 in four of her last five events.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

----any opinions on Hee Won vs Fudoh, Stan???

 

[Stanley]

Tough to call. Fudoh is on fire at the moment - only out of the top-5 once in eight starts on the JLPGA Tour this year and three wins - and she is straight off the tee, but she has never been able to bring her Japanese form to the U.S. so I would side with Han personally ... but only marginally

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Thanks Stan That was kinda my thoughts,long ride here andshe isn't used to this style of course but like you said,she been red hot so won't lack conficence. Sure do agree with you on Kane being great bang for buck here also,think her and Ink have better chance at win than Annika,but the dimes sure tweeked her place odds 45/1 win 7/1 place --and I caught as they were being dropped.

Outrights to place at 5 dimes
US Womens Open - top 5 - Catriona Matthew 23/2
US Womens Open - top 5 - Dottie Pepper 17/1
US Womens Open - top 5 - Kelli Kuehne 22/1
US Womens Open - top 5 - Kelly Robbins 31/1
US Womens Open - top 5 - Lorie Kane 7/1

A slew of em but considering the odds I'll settle for 1 to get to the house and be tickled pink with 2.

1st I jumped the gun a little early on Inkster E/W if I'd waited would have opted for Kane at respective odds but that what I get for no patiece as Boyles is 25/1 on her.
Some real long ones here but not asking a one of em to do something they haven't already accomplished in an open since 97.
Am using 97 open performance here and following open history with much more enphasis than current form.Weighing in particular on driving and discounting putting somewhat as none should be accustomed to speed on these greens.

In addition
Kane >See Stans writeup

Matthews still no respect 4th in 01 open 8th in 99 and 27th here in 97 and just now playing her best golf being #1 in birdies and 8th in scor ave on tour.

Pepper>a master of opens with exception of wd in 99 has not been out of top 15 in last 4 opens including a 14th here in 97

Kuehne>Another who seems to excell on open style setup having finished no less than 7th last 4 and @ 22/1 top 5 I'm gonna peak.

Robbins>Finished 3rd here in 97 and 9-12-12 last 3 years opens.
Made some nice scores on her last year and she is quite a puzzler as I follow her closer than some.At 1st look no top 10's in 2003.no cuurent form? Not quite.Ranks in top 10 in gir and driving distance on tour this year. Since she is hitting greens along with distance I have to assume it falls on flat stick and I am thinking while her putting won't improve here that the others may regress to put her on even keel. Would be no suprise to see her continue her success here in opens and the length won't hurt and @ 33/1 I'd look if she was 4 months pregnant.

--and the last one cut was ms Morgan who I will support with some unofficial cheese but asking a lot of 1st timer but she is ranked 1st in driving accuracy and should have gained confidence but had to draw the line somewhere.

 

[orient]

Hee-Won Han to beat Paula Marti -118 Nordicbet [1unit]

 

[lostinamerica]

OUTRIGHTS:

Kelli Kuehne(125/1) for 0.50* e.w. @ 5 dimes
Give an event all the USGA trappings, and there are inevitably some faces you don't try to to explain. And Kelli played well after I was strongly leaning in her direction before the LPGA Championship.

Grace Park(25/1) for 0.50* e.w. @ Bet365
This choice is on the strength of what I will remember as one of the most unexpected (to me) performances of the year, once again in the LPGA Championship. If Grace is taking her game to another level, maybe the progression won't be rudely interrupted by a speed bump this week.

GL

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

I'll be rooting for Grace to be on leader board thoughout just so I can watch her

5 dimes now has Kanes place odds 1/9 of win odds. Thats got to be a record

 

[Clive]

Kuehne is a bit of a puzzler, my personal take is that she is struggling to cope with diabetes and has ballooned in weight.

As for Robbins...all in the head I think....not a coincidence that Webb has struggled too this year.

Lots of bets for me!

Lorie Kane 50/1
Jeong Jang 125/1
PML 33/1 and a bit bigger on BF
Lorena Ochoa 33/1
Carin Koch 125/1 are the serious ones.

Small stakes on
Inkster 25/1
Teske 25/1
Rosales 100/1
Andrews 150/1

Looking forward to some TV coverage too