Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre
This week the European Tour visits the very picturesque setting of Crans-sur-Sierre at the top (not the very top) of the Swiss Alps. The views are ri-dic-ulous, from a man that hails from the North Antrim coast of Ireland and appreciates scenary, it’s unbelievable. With the high altitude they will be handing out oxygen masks to Monty et al (I kid). Along with the scenary, this tourney probably provides one of the more relaxed atmospheres of the year. Bjorn summed it up in his pre-tourney presser – "It comes at a great time where it's been a long season and you go to Switzerland and there's good food and good fun and you maybe don't work as hard as you do normally.
The setting this week.
I haven’t actually had a bet on the European Tour in sometime, well my own picks anyway. If I don’t post a blog, I don’t actually do a bet! Trying to fit in research for two tourneys has proved difficult this summer so I’ve just stuck with the Stateside golf as I’m guarenteed to watch it in the evenings. On the rare (ok maybe not so rare) occasion my palms are itching for a golf bet and I haven’t time to preview I usually have a peak at Sporting Life, or in particular Ben Coley’s selections. I really can’t stand it when people write up on Twitter that they ‘tip’ so and so this week, with absolutely no write up or in fact reason for picking them. That’s not the case with Ben or Sporting Life, their articles are always very interesting with plenty of stats. Last week I rushed a post for the Barclay’s where I backed Sergio, Poults and Bubba. Garcia finished 3rd when well beaten in the end by a very good Nick Watney, thou thankfully the place money covered the bets. But if I hadn’t of rushed I might of followed Ben who had both Lawrie (33/1) at Gleneagles and Watney (92/1, on the exchanges) at the Barclays, there’s a lesson to be learned here….
Anyways, back to the Crans-sur-Sierre which hasn’t got any less attractive in the past 10 minutes. First up this week is Jamie Donaldson. I watched Donaldson get his maiden (very overdue) victory at Royal Portrush and like most felt this would set him on his way to a decent season. He finished a creditable 7th in the USPGA before staying on and played the Wydham Championship where he made the cut but never challenged the leaders. Tourney wise, he’s had a mixed bag here, the positives being, 3rd last year, together with three other Top 25’s, the negatives being the four missed cuts! I think he’s definitely a new character since his win and can build on the 3rd place finish from last year.
Jamie Donaldson
Next up is the defending champ, Thomas Bjorn. To be honest I hate putting my ‘hard earned’ on a defending champion unless it’s one of the prolific winners, i.e. Tiger, just because of the media responsibilities etc, it’s a long week. Well Tommy has had 13 European Tour victories, so I suppose he knows the craic by now. On top of playing I would of thought he will start his Vice Captain duties as well this week, with Ole being in attendance I’m sure there’s a lot to discuss! But that being said he's here for the W, he really seems to like it here. In an interview already this week, he was reminiscing of last year - "I hadn't had the belief on the golf course and I needed last year. I needed to trust and believe that when it gets tough, I can stand up and hit the golf shots that matter. And I did that at Crans." Good vibes if you ask me! He’s had a solid year without getting a win, he notched up his sixth Top 10 last week at Gleneagles. I’m happy to have an each way punt on him successfully defending.
Just as a ‘saver’ bet on the European Masters I’ve decided to have a few quid on Colin Montgomerie to have a Top 20 finish. I couldn’t bring myself to back him in the ‘Outright’ market at 150/1. But a Top 20 finish is achievable for a previous winner who is just off the back of 6th place finish at Gleneagles last week.
My selections are:
Jamie Donaldson 30/1 each way with Bet Victor
Thomas Bjorn 25/1 with each way Paddy Power
Colin Montgomerie 5/1 Top 20 finish with Paddy Power
The Deutche Bank Championship at TPC Boston
It’s Labor Day weekend in the US, or for you that can spell, it’s Labour Day weekend in the US. Due to the holiday it’s that time of year again when our PGA Tour action starts on Friday, for Sky Sports viewers Bruce and the boys will still probably start spouting their c*ap on Thursday anyways! TPC Boston hosts this week.
TPC Boston
With the US Captains picks not been finalised yet there’s going to be a few here trying to get the attention of Davis Love 1+1+1=3 (rd). Watney threw his hat into the ring last week with his victory at the Barclay’s when Sergio left the course to read my blog and subsequently went backwards in the back 9. I kid, I kid! All jokes aside with another Top 3 finish I think Watney could earn a late call up.
First up this week is Jason Day. Like others Day needs a good finish to advance to the next round of the Fed Ex Cup at Crooked Stick (BMW Championship). Some people around the ‘bubble’ will be thinking Top 20 would be enough but I think Day will be thinking he can get the W here. He’s sure to be a popular choice with punters this week, third here last year,T-2 in 2010 and his closing 66 at the Barclays last Sunday. This year has been a disappointing one with a few missed cuts, a couple of injuries and not much else. He obviously enjoys it here, a little momentum from last Sunday coupled with good memories and he should more than cement his place at the BMW Championship.
Jason Day
My second pick is Rory McIlroy. Rors had his little hangover last week from Kiawah and I think he’ll be back on form this week. Winning the Fed Ex Cup would top off an already successful year and I think with the course (tends to produce birdies) Rors could do a Congressional/Kiawah and run away from the field if given the opportunity, he’s 2nd in both birdie average and scoring average this year on the PGA Tour. He had a really poor mid season after a great start and he will want to finish it off in style too, he could of course head to the Ryder Cup as World Number 1 with the right results.
I was tempted to go with a third pick but I’m happy enough with my three bets in the Omega event and my two here. In reference to my earlier rant regarding tipsters on twitter if you aren’t following @BenColeyGolf, @DaveTindallGolf and @GolfBetting12 I suggest you do, there are my favs to follow at the moment, they all give insightful info pre-tourney and during it as well.
Until next time, be lucky!
My Selections are:
Jason Day @ 50/1 each way with Bet365
Rory McIlroy @ 12/1 each way with Stan James
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