Three Against The Field / Dan Geraghty / 13 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Dan Geraghty takes his eyes off the Royal St George's action to wade through the Viking Classic betting for this week's Three Against the Field column

After tipping Brian Gay last week and deciding to hashtag the word Gay on Twitter, I had a brief influx of homosexual followers appear. Alas they soon realised it's golf that's my bag. A big shame, they say you are on the verge of making it once you've attracted the pink pound.

Anyway, more fool London's Gay Cycling Club and others that subsequently unfollowed me after realising their mistake because Steve Stricker did the business for the column, allowing me to approach this week's Viking Classic with confidence.

No offence to anyone in the line up but this week's field would not raise many eyebrows on the Nationwide Tour. With that and current form in mind, I expect birdie machine Brendon De Jonge to go very close this week. However, after a disastrous final day at the John Deere he's reluctantly passed over, passing the finishing line in front could be a problem.

DJ Trahan [20.0] is certainly capable of getting over the line as he has proved on two occasions, including here (in 2006). This season has not been kind to Trahan but this represents a drop in class and three rounds in the 60's (including a 62) at the Traveler's Championship three weeks ago show he is not far away.

Will Mackenzie [80.0] is partnering Trahan this week and theirs is the three ball to concentrate on (Cameron Beckman's the third member). Will warmed up for this week with his best PGA Tour finish of the season (30th) at last week's John Deere and I think he is a good thing to improve on that this week. His career has stalled but, surprisingly perhaps, Mackenzie has three career PGA tour wins to his name, including here in 2008. He was 29th in this event last year but his overall form has been so patchy that he's largely been plying his trade on the Nationwide Tour this season. He has a point to prove and this week represents a good opportunity to win back his card.

Chris Kirk [34.0] got off to a terrible start last week but went on to make the cut and I'm willing to give the young star another chance in this company. His relatively short price shows how far he's come in the past two years, Chris is currently 26th in the FedEx Cup and his performances over the last few weeks suggest he's returning to form. Kirk is narrowly preferred to similarly priced 'Chris', Mr. Stroud [36.0].

Dangers: If you were to compile a list of players from this weeks field that you'd expect to be competing at the Open then Heath Slocum ([20.0]) would be right at the top of it. Heath is a past champion of this event and is worthy of his place near the top of the market. John Mallinger ([100.0]) showed signs of a return to form last week and he's someone I think is capable of winning on tour (if he can control his nerves!). And finally, something is telling me to write serial non-winner Briny Baird's ([150.0]) name down here, so there it is.

Rickie RoundUp: Rickie's in England and the vibes are good. After his positive Open Championship debut last year Rickie is being tipped up for a good week in a number of places, including in an excellent article by our own Paul Krishnamurty and The Punter.

Selections: DJ Trahan [20.0], Will Mackenzie [80.0], Chris Kirk [34.0]

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