The Fed Ex Cup came to a close last weekend with the dramatic victory of Bill Haas in The Tour Championship and the attention now turns to the European Tour and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
The Dunhill Links consists of a Pro-Am for the first three days with each pro getting a chance to play with a 'celebrity' in a better ball format. The final day is always played around St Andrews where the Top 30 pairs play for the Team Championship and the Pros' play for the individual trophy.
Alot of golf punters tend to stay away from this championship, they feel the introduction of the Pro-Am is an unnessary distraction for the players in what is already a busy time of year. Many of the players will be trying to secure their tour cards for next year and of course the big boys will be jostling for position in the lucrative 'Race to Dubai.'
The three courses in which the players play are Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the home of golf itself St Andrews. Along with the obvious test each course brings the players more often than not usually have to do battle with the elements, 30mph winds and rain, the norm!
Down the years the low scoring usually takes place at Kingsbarns, where birdies are as frequent as an Andy Garcia shank! When trying to find a winner in an event where conditions tend to be blustery I always look through the field for the ball strikers! When you look at past winners these guys know how to grind out a score when others would rather just throw one away and head for cover. The previous winners include defending champ Martin Kaymer, Robert Karlsson in 2008, Padraig Harrington in 2002 & 2006, Stephen Gallacher in 2004, Lee Westwood in 2003 and Paul Lawrie in 2001. I think theres a definate pattern in the calibre of winner that the tournament produces.
I have picked out two golfers this week at big prices. My first pick is Matteo Manassaro at 50/1 with Paddy Power who are very kindly offering six places this week! My reason for picking Manassaro is not because of previous form in the tournament, he has only played this event once, this coming last year when finishing 22nd. But for anybody who was lucky enough to see him win the British Amatuer in 2009 at Formby Golf Club in Merseyside they will understand my view that he has the potential to win more events on links golf courses. He gave the field an absolute masterclass that week and demonstrated skills on the links that some established tour players would have struggled to do at the peak of their powers.
Matteos' 2011 season peaked in the spring and he hasn't had the finest run of results of late, but he has posted a few good early rounds in tournaments and with the relaxed atmosphere partnering an amatuer for three days I think he can get his season back on track.
My second pick of the week is Paul Lawrie at 100/1. This price is with various firms but the all important six places with our friends at Paddy Power. As Lawrie is a previous winner of this event he automatically deserves the respect of any punter when they view the market. Like Matteo, Paul peaked in late Spring and hasn't exactly set the world alight since, but whenever your feeling low theres no place like home!
Like any player playing in their home country there is added pressure on the their shoulders but as we all know pressure didn't get to him around Carnoustie in '99 nor did it get to him in '01 when he won this championship, so thats definately not a negetive for me. If the wind blows you will see a smile from ear to ear on this guys face, and who can blame him, he's a grinder and this type of golf is right up his street (pun intended).
Hopefully the two lads give us a run for our money and the bookies get a little sweat come Sunday afternoon but as I previously stated its a wide open event and therefore minimum stakes are advisable.
1pt e-w on Matteo Manassero @ 50/1 (Paddy Power)
1pt e-w on Paul Lawrie @ 100/1 (Paddy Power)
4 pts staked in total.
Good luck folks.
