From Abu Dhabi to Torrey Pines - This weeks golf

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on the European Tour

It's the time of the year where all the top players release their schedules and show their hand on the run up to the Masters.

This week in Abu Dhabi is as good as it gets for golf fans in January with the return of Tiger Woods, together with the Top 4 players in the world, Donald, Westwood, McIlroy and Kaymer.

Tiger is buzzing with confidence, or at least wants us to think he is! Surely the great man himself will even realise that although he had a strong post 2011 season he wasn't up against the quality of this weeks opposition and would be very content with a solid Top 10 finish.

When looking at the betting market for this week I have argued with myself of how I can possibly oppose Martin  Kaymer when he treats Abu Dhabi GC like his back garden. With 3 wins in his last 4 starts in this tournament and the manner he won in last year, he is in many people's eyes value @ 13/2. But when I decided to set up this blog it was to try and find some value for the punters and that's exactly what I have tried to do.

I think the value lays with a Spaniard, nope not Sergio Garcia but Alvaro Quiros. Quiros has solid course form with Top 25 finishes in the last two years, but what really catches the eye was his win in the season ending 2011 Race to Dubai. Quiros beat all his main rivals (bar Tiger) quite convincingly at the Jumeirah GC in Dubai which makes me think his game suits this part of the world and hopefully he can give alternative value to the hotly tipped Kaymer. With Alvaro's record of fast starts I think he's a definate shout in the First Round Leader market (35/1 with BET365) for those who are interested.

My Selections this week in Abu Dhabi are:  

Alvaro Quiros @ 33/1 each way (1/4 odds 1,2,3, 4 & 5)                                                             
Martin Kaymer @ 13/2 to win   



The Farmers Insurance Open on the US PGA Tour

As mentioned above most of the Top players are in the Dubai this week, but there's still a deep field taking part at the Torrey Pines Resort. The Farmers tournament is played over both courses at Torrey Pines, the South Course and the North Course. The South Course tends to be the most difficult of the two, probably most famous for hosting the 2008 US Open where Tiger Woods won his last major championship, to date!

It it a course where past form is key and my selection thankfully has that. D.A Points finished T-5 last year and has had a solid start to this year. In 2012 he has had two start's, both resulting in Top 15 finishes, and seems to like Torrey Pines. Points shot 68-67 at the weekend last year (South Course) which was one of the lowest last 36 hole finishes in the field. If he can get off to a better start and take advantage of the more scorable North Course I think he has a great each way chance. When I was researching for the blog last night his price was 50/1, he's now 40/1, so someone agrees with me!

My Selection for the Farmers Insurance Open is:  


D.A. Points @40/1 (1/4 odds 1,2,3, 4 & 5)

ANTEPOST - The Masters 2012

My ANTEPOST bet for the 2012 Masters will be the Australian Adam Scott.

Being one of the most naturally gifted golfers in the world it was a bit strange to see him being mentioned in many golfing circles as one of the comeback stories of the 2011 season, but that’s exactly what he was. Scott armed with a broom handled putter seemed to find his form again and posted 7 top 10s on the PGA Tour last season including 1 victory.

Scott was tied 2^nd in the 2011 Masters having led the tournament with two holes of his round remaining before Schwartzel birdied four in a row to win by 2 and swipe the green jacket from his grasp.

Scott hasn’t always had a good time at the Masters and has a couple of MC’s to his name; however it shouldn’t be overlooked how big apart Stevie Williams can play this time around. Williams is his own biggest fan, but the guy knows how to get around Augusta and that’s something that can only benefit Scott. Williams of course has carried Tigers bag to three Masters Victories and there’s a great chance he could help guide Scott to his first and take his own personal haul to four.

Scott doesn’t get his 2011 PGA tour season under way until early February and only plays three tournaments before the Masters, his first being the Northern Trust open on 13^th February. The Accenture Match Play and the Cadillac Championship (6^TH last year), both World Golf Championships follow before he begins his assault on Augusta. A decent showing at either of these events and you can probably say goodbye to the 33/1.

Some people don’t like to invest too much money or time in the ante post market, but if you know where to look there is value to be had. Scott at 33/1 each way with Paddy Power could be great value come April, with 5 places on offer Scott will give you a real sweat for your money.

When it comes tournament week, many of the bookmakers will be competing for your money and they might offer 6 places instead of the ANTEPOST 5, but will you get 33/1? I don’t think so!

The Masters 2012 - Adam Scott – Paddy Power 33/1 (1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 places)

Alfred Dunhill Links 2011

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.