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Thank God for that little lay button as Singh loses it

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It's a second profitable week for The Punter but it could have been so much better

Venturing further east on the 'European' tour this week, to Indonesia where the prominence of McGinley in the betting highlights the mediocrity of the field. After last week's big price winner I've gone searching for another needle in a haystack with a dozen massively priced players and a couple more likely contenders, the 2005 course winner Wiratchant (at [40.0]) and the hot-putting young Thai, Chapchai Nirat ([65.0]).

Despite no Tiger, who's never won here, a stellar field is gathered in California for the Northern Trust Open, formerly the Nissan. I'm sticking with Mickelson ([12.0]) despite last week's missed cut, along with Choi ([34.0]) and several bigger priced players.

Day One

Starting just after midnight in Indonesia most of the first round was over by the time I got up and the leaderboard made for poor viewing. With a few players yet to finish, due to the almost guaranteed daily storms, the leaders were on -6 and the best of mine were Wiratchant, Park ([490.0]) and Zanotti ([260.0]) on -3. I decide to make a further play, and back Indian JM Singh at [13.0]. He started the tournament at only [32.0] after a dreadful missed cut last week. Now, on -5, he looks in much better form than he has for ages and the [13.0] seems very fair.

In the US it's a much more pleasing picture, Choi leads on -6 and is now [6.0] while Mickelson on -3 is [6.4]. Sandwiched between them is Chad Campbell -4, backed at [140.0] and now [22.0]. All three enjoyed what could prove to be a massive advantage of morning tee times.

Day Two

In Asia, none of my original picks look like threatening but Singh has a decent day. A three putt bogey takes the edge of his round on the last hole but he finishes -9, four shots off the lead. It's a weak leaderboard and I decide to back him again at [9.0] as he still looks good value to me.

It's approaching midnight and the PGA Tour's website is down, thanks to a broken BT server, and Setanta's 'live' coverage is over so I turn in with things looking ok. Choi has surprisingly stuttered but Campbell's doing well and is in second, a couple behind Mickelson. All three still have six or seven holes to play.

Day Three

It's an early start, with the alarm going off at 5.00am. Some would say I'm mad, in fact maybe plenty would? I like these early starts though, it's peaceful and all over by 9.00am. While the kettle boils I check the US scores. Mickelson's four clear of Allenby on -10 after a brilliant round of 64. Disappointingly, Campbell bogies 15 and 16 and is -5 and Choi's poor play continued as he finishes on -4.

In Indonesia, JM Singh drains a monster birdie putt on eight when a bogey looked far more likely and he's hit the front, albeit in a tie. I manage to get [18.0] on WC Liang after he birdies the 13th. He's only a few off the pace and [10.0] with the bookies. At the close of play the leader is Aguilar, a relatively unknown Chilean trading at [3.3], two clear of Singh (now [4.1]) and Liang at [5.1]. I'm confident of a result.

I lay Mickelson at [1.56] after he fails to birdie the par-5 opening hole and he goes on to shoot an unconvincing -1 round of 70. Fortunately for him only Quinney, thanks in part to a hole in one on the 6th, steps up to the plate and the pair are clear by the close of play.

Day Four

Alarm goes off at 4.30 and before the TV coverage starts at 5.00 I see the leader's already bogied the second and my confidence is growing. Aguilar plays poorly and after the bogey pars his way to the 9th where he stops the rot with a birdie. Liang putts far too tentatively and not for the first time looks exposed when in contention.

Meanwhile Singh eagles the 6th and birdies the 8th. As they turn for home Singh looks in the driving seat and when he makes a lengthy putt for eagle on 11 he looks in command but I lay off for the first time at [1.74].

Then a real turning point comes on 15. With all other challengers having fallen by the wayside it appears a straight fight between Aguilar and Singh, and the former has a putt of about seven feet to tie. Amazingly he misses that and then the par putt back! Suddenly Singh is two clear with three to play but I lay a bit more, this time at [1.18].

A woeful Singh drive on 16 leads to a bogey and the lead is back to one. They trade pars on 17 and I again lay some before the tee shots on 18 at [1.17]. Well it happens doesn't it? Another pants Singh drive leads to another bogey, while Aguilar turns into Tiger and nails a birdie. Not for the first time, nor the last I'd wager, I'm left shocked and stunned by an incredible end to a golf tournament. I rue the larger profits lost but am very thankful for that little pink lay button.

In California, I had planned to wait and lay Mickelson some more in running, I fancied Quinney would start slowly and thought the [1.43] on Mickelson in the morning was too big. But his price dropped almost inexplicably before he teed off and I layed him back at [1.31]. Quinney did start slowly and a further lay was matched at [1.19]. Over cautious maybe, but after earlier events and feeling very tired I just wanted to level it all off for a nice profit. I then sat back and watched the entertainment. On the 9th a birdie for Quinney and a bogey for Mickelson saw the lead change, then a birdie at 10 brought Mickelson level. They then traded blows equally until three bogies in a row from the 13th finally extinguished Quinney's challenge.

In summary, quite a contrast, a decent profit gained despite not picking the winner in Europe. Whilst in the States I would have won more if I'd left things alone. When all said and done though a very pleasing week.