Turespana Mallorca Classic

[Stanley]

Outright plays (1pt):

Brian Davis to win 20/1 e.w. @ Stan James, Bet365 and GolfingGods
Just a great record in Spain. Since he won the 2000 Open de Espana, he has finished in the top-5 a further four times in this country. He seemed to lose his form in the run-up to the final qualifying events for the Ryder Cup team, but has played increasingly well since that event and recorded his highest finish for six months in the Dunhill Links Championship last week. With the last three events of the season held in Spain, it is a good time for him to find his confidence again.

Jose Maria Olazabal to win 25/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
Olazabal has been quietly playing rather well over the past couple of months. He has finished in the top-15 in three of his last six PGA Tour events and did the same in the German Masters last month. Now he returns to a course on which he finished 2nd last year. If he is going to win again, this looks a particularly good opportunity.

Marcel Siem to win 33/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
It's hit or miss with Siem and there were good signs last week when he recovered well from a poor 1st round to finish in the top-10. He did the same on this course last year and with course form at a premium, this could just be another week when Siem does not misfire. Generous enough odds for a rare proven winner in this field.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Just a note on GolfingGods for U.S. players they do take U.S. citizens and per Jason West should have Neteller in a week or two.
Been watching them for a while and a little concerned on longevity with some of lines they put up but will venture in for token amount when they get Neteller running, but will use SIA funding approach eg draw down any balance over $500

Whats your opinion on them Stan???

 

[Stanley]

"Once bitten, twice shy" ... just need to be careful when dealing with new books and certainly have a limit on how much you leave in account with them.

I do, however, hope that they are successful. A sportsbook that is dedicated solely to golf betting, uses Neteller and takes U.S. custom ... sounds like something that should be on our Christmas Wish List

 

[hoss]

I have to add that GolfingGods have, to the best of my knowledge, not advertised in our Betting Press over here. They probably are above board, and like Stan, I wish them all the best.

However, I've had a good look round the website + they are no names on there at all + the address just looks like a domestic one. The prices are not too silly though which is a good sign!!

tread with care is my view!

hoss

 

[Stanley]

72-hole plays (1pt):

Marcus Fraser to beat Darren Fichardt -110 @ Ladbrokes
It is easy to oppose Fichardt who, apart from a 10th place finish in the European Masters, has missed six of his last eight cuts. Over the same period, Fraser has missed just one cut and has finished ahead of Fichardt every time except at Crans-sur-Sierre. Unless last year's weather returns to ruin this event, this should be straightforward.

Marcus Fraser to beat Nick Dougherty -120 @ Centrebet
Dougherty's form has improved recently even though he did miss the cut last week, but he is still not as competitive as Fraser who holds a 14-7-0 h2h lead over him in 2004. Will take these odds until there is more proof that 'Little Nick' is back.

Marcus Fraser to beat Christopher Hanell -114 @ Expekt
Hanell hasn't made a cut for two months, so no surprise that Fraser has dominated this matchup during that time. While Hanell does have the advantage of playing last year and finishing 56th, he is not playing well enough to compete at the moment and Fraser should only need to survive until the weekend to win this match.

Stephen Scahill to beat Andrew Oldcorn -116 @ Pinnacle
Oldcorn is another playing seriously struggling for form. His best finish in the last two months has been 71st in the BMW International Open and after withdrawing following an opening 77 last year, he looks set to struggle once again. Scahill has secured a few top-10 finishes recently and should extend his run to six of seven events in which he has finished ahead of the former Volvo PGA Champion.

 

[Stanley]

Further outright play (1pt):

Carlos Rodiles to win 10/1 e.w. @ BlueSq and Tote
Rodiles has hit more greens in regulation than Sergio Garcia and holed more putts from greens hit in regulation than Garcia; it is only Garcia?s scrambling abilities that have kept him in close contention. So does Rodiles have the weekend temperament to catch Khan and hold off Garcia? In short, yes. In the last five occasions that he has been in the top-5 heading into the weekend of a European Tour event and not leading, he has finished 2nd, 8th, 8th, 5th and 2nd. So he has certainly not collapsed under pressure and the last occasion was the 2003 Volvo Masters, also held in Spain and it took four holes of a playoff for Fredrik Jacobson to deny Rodiles the title. Garcia may warrant favouritism with the bookies, but the man from Malaga looks the better value bet at the halfway stage.

 

[Stanley]

Outrights - FINAL RESULT: 1-3; -2.25pts

Davis 36th
Olazabal 10th
Siem 54th
Rodiles 3rd

Rodiles got as close as one shot from the lead in the final round, but never reached the top of the leaderboard. Olazabal might have got there, but left himself too much to do after a poor 1st round.

Matchups - FINAL RESULT: 2-2-0; -0.24pts

Fraser/Fichardt LOST by 6
Fraser/Dougherty WON by 9
Fraser/Hanell LOST by 3
Scahill/Oldcorn WON by 10

Disappointing performance from Fraser in the final round cost us a win in his match again Hanell. Little change throughout the week in the other matchups.

European Tour ytd
Outrights: 22-55; +82.35pts
Matchups: 67-51; +16.25pts