Thailand Golf Championship
Well my first blog of the 2014 season didn't have much success. I said it on Twitter and I'll say it again, I will never back Jbe Kruger again, he's like a Kamikaze pilot at times. Brutal viewing. Last week I didn't do a blog as I didn't think there was much point with the small fields and I thought the market favs would probably win. I did two bets in the end - the first being a trixie on Migual Angel Jimenez (Hong Kong Open), Henrik Stenson (Nedbank Challenge) and Tiger Woods (World Challenge). The second was a double on Sergio Garcia (Nedbank) and Graeme McDowell (World Challenge. To say I was frustrated with Tiger ruining any chance of a return is an understatement. I think he was 1.03 on Betfair when holding a four shot lead with eight holes to play. Add the fact that three of the holes left were Par 5's and his closest challenger is one of the shortest hitters on tour (granted one of the best wedge players) I think I am entitled to have a moan. With that said, you got to tip your hat to Zach Johnson, he played well all day and his wedge from the drop zone was sublime. Tiger hit two great bunker shots on 18, but then missed a putt that the old Tiger simply didn't miss. It was interesting to hear a view of his comments after, where he said he was scared of pushing it; the old Tiger would never of let a negative thought like that enter his mind.
Zach Johnson's wedge last week
On a brighter note I really enjoyed watching Sergio's charge on Sunday at the Nedbank. Obviously I'm very biased when it comes to Sergio as I'm blinded a little by the talent he has and usually choose to ignore his poor attitude at times. But it was vintage Sergio last week in South Africa and he only really hit one bad shot all day Sunday (tee shot at 16). I'm keeping it simple this week and sticking with him for the Thailand Open.
As most people know Sergio is a guy who plays well when filled with confidence, so he tends to play well in consecutive tournaments. When he had his last win on the PGA Tour (2012 Wydham Champ) he was third the following week and his last wins in Europe came when he won back to back in Spain at the end of the 2011 season. He was 4th in this last year, though to put that into context he was turning at Becher's Brook when Charl was getting hosed down. Sergio had a decent run of form from the Fed-Ex through the HSBC Champions event and then last week when he really did look back to his old self.
Of the others playing this week I would think the winner will come from one of the market principles. As I mentioned last week I backed Stenson and for the most part he didn't seem to find that other gear that he had in the run of the 2013 season. The fella is bound to be itching to spend all those dollars and euros and I think he'll have a solid finish again this week without really challenging. Schwartzel obviously won this at a hack cantor last year and he's got an obvious chance but he doesn't seem to have his 'A' game with him at the moment and if I am to back someone at 5/1 I want to be sure he's got everything but the kitchen sink with him. Of the Asian players I suppose Aphibarnrat and Messawat are the two I'd be most interested in but I really fancy Sergio to get the W this week and I'm just sticking with him.
My selection:
Sergio Garcia to win 7/1 2 pts (General)
Be lucky!
