Outright plays (total stake per play: 1pt)
Geoff Ogilvy to win 16/1 e.w. @ BetInternet [6 places]
Australians continue to struggle in the Masters, but it is a different matter in this event, winning the title in each of the last two years. With respect to Ogilvy, he has been in contention in three of the last four years and is certainly capable of improving on his 3rd place finish of 2003. He has shown very good form recently, particularly in finishing 3rd in the CA Championship and was challenging for the lead last week until a nine at the 15th hole on Saturday. Masters fatigue does not tend to be a factor in this event as only three of the last 25 winners had missed the cut at Augusta the previous week, so I am expecting Ogilvy to carry on his fine form and be the player to beat this week.
Rod Pampling to win 66/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler and William Hill
An example of the lack of a 'Law of Hilton Head' is Pampling. His 6th place finish in 2005 immediately followed a 5th place finish in the Masters. And like Ogilvy, he has been very much in contention in three of the last four years. His driving accuracy has been strong over the last couple of months and that will put him in good stead around this "thinking man's course". But the ability to play in the coastal winds is also a bit help and may explain why Australians have done so well here. He has won twice in the last three years on the PGA Tour and this week should be one of his better weeks for adding a third.
Jose Coceres to win 66/1 e.w. @ BetDirect
Coceres has also won twice on this Tour, but notably one of those wins came in this event in 2001. He has struggled with injury in the intervening years, but has still finished 9th and 11th in two of the last three years here and now, fully fit again, he has been very close to adding another victory this year, losing in playoffs in consecutive weeks last month. In fact, if he had completed enough rounds, he would be the #1 ranked player in scoring average on the PGA Tour at the moment. Odds of 66/1 against a former winner in such good form appear to be extremely generous!
Geoff Ogilvy to win 16/1 e.w. @ BetInternet [6 places]
Australians continue to struggle in the Masters, but it is a different matter in this event, winning the title in each of the last two years. With respect to Ogilvy, he has been in contention in three of the last four years and is certainly capable of improving on his 3rd place finish of 2003. He has shown very good form recently, particularly in finishing 3rd in the CA Championship and was challenging for the lead last week until a nine at the 15th hole on Saturday. Masters fatigue does not tend to be a factor in this event as only three of the last 25 winners had missed the cut at Augusta the previous week, so I am expecting Ogilvy to carry on his fine form and be the player to beat this week.
Rod Pampling to win 66/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler and William Hill
An example of the lack of a 'Law of Hilton Head' is Pampling. His 6th place finish in 2005 immediately followed a 5th place finish in the Masters. And like Ogilvy, he has been very much in contention in three of the last four years. His driving accuracy has been strong over the last couple of months and that will put him in good stead around this "thinking man's course". But the ability to play in the coastal winds is also a bit help and may explain why Australians have done so well here. He has won twice in the last three years on the PGA Tour and this week should be one of his better weeks for adding a third.
Jose Coceres to win 66/1 e.w. @ BetDirect
Coceres has also won twice on this Tour, but notably one of those wins came in this event in 2001. He has struggled with injury in the intervening years, but has still finished 9th and 11th in two of the last three years here and now, fully fit again, he has been very close to adding another victory this year, losing in playoffs in consecutive weeks last month. In fact, if he had completed enough rounds, he would be the #1 ranked player in scoring average on the PGA Tour at the moment. Odds of 66/1 against a former winner in such good form appear to be extremely generous!
