Outright plays (total stake per play: 1pt)
Steven Conran to win 22/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
Conran didn't have the best of Australasian Tour seasons, which was surprising as he had finished the 2004 Japan Tour season in such form. Starting with victory in the Hisamitsu-KBC Augusta in August, he never finished outside the top-25 in his last nine Japan Tour events of 2004, finishing in the top-8 on six of those occasions. But with a 3rd place finish in the first Japan Tour event of 2005, he was clearly happy to be back in Japan. Having finished in the top-10 on this course as well last year and generally having a decent record beforehand, he should continue his excellent form when in Japan.
Hirofumi Miyase to win 80/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
Miyase came through the Q-School in November 2003 to earn his PGA Tour Card for 2004 and is probably regretting it now. Even though he secured a top-10 finish in the FedEx St Jude Classic, he really struggled for form and confidence, eventually finishing 202nd on the Money List. His lack of confidence was apparent when he returned to Japan and missed three of four cuts at the end of 2004. But this is a player who won twice on this Tour in 2003, including this event and he does have a very record on the Yamanohara course at Sports Shinko Country Club. The break will have been good for his game and his confidence and though he still only managed to finish 60th in the wintry condition at the Token Homemate Cup, a return to his former self looks much more likely this week.
Steven Conran to win 22/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
Conran didn't have the best of Australasian Tour seasons, which was surprising as he had finished the 2004 Japan Tour season in such form. Starting with victory in the Hisamitsu-KBC Augusta in August, he never finished outside the top-25 in his last nine Japan Tour events of 2004, finishing in the top-8 on six of those occasions. But with a 3rd place finish in the first Japan Tour event of 2005, he was clearly happy to be back in Japan. Having finished in the top-10 on this course as well last year and generally having a decent record beforehand, he should continue his excellent form when in Japan.
Hirofumi Miyase to win 80/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
Miyase came through the Q-School in November 2003 to earn his PGA Tour Card for 2004 and is probably regretting it now. Even though he secured a top-10 finish in the FedEx St Jude Classic, he really struggled for form and confidence, eventually finishing 202nd on the Money List. His lack of confidence was apparent when he returned to Japan and missed three of four cuts at the end of 2004. But this is a player who won twice on this Tour in 2003, including this event and he does have a very record on the Yamanohara course at Sports Shinko Country Club. The break will have been good for his game and his confidence and though he still only managed to finish 60th in the wintry condition at the Token Homemate Cup, a return to his former self looks much more likely this week.
