Three Against The Field / Dan Geraghty / 05 August 2009 / Leave a Comment

The big guns have assembled at Firestone but Dan Geraghty is more excited by the betting opportunities on the secondary Tour event.

While the best players in the world are slogging it out with Tiger for a World Golf Championship in Ohio, 132 of the next best will be in Reno, desperate to take advantage of the lack of big names and gain a win that would give them the security of a two year Tour exemption.

I love the events that run alongside the big tournaments, there's plenty of opportunity and value. A number of these players have had good years and will feel they're good enough to be playing at Firestone next year. The field has been weakened further with leading lights such as Ben Crane, Brandt Snedeker and John Merrick having pulled out. I'm confident my three selections will give a good account of themselves.

Bryce Molder has been a revelation this season. He graduated from the Nationwide tour last year and has not missed a cut in his last seven tournaments (of which he's finished in the top 25 five times). As a young man, Molder finished third here in 2001, his form this year entitles him to improve on that. I will be backing him to win.

Martin Laird is a young Scottish golfer who boasts recent form and course form. At Loch Lomond last month Laird went close to winning his first tournament playing as a professional in Scotland having gone to University in the US and as a regular PGA tour performer. It was around this time last year that Laird hit form and a top five finish here kickstarted a run that saw him hit the top 10 three times in three weeks.

I've tipped up Kevin Na in this column more times than I care to remember. He's had an excellent season to date but has flattered to deceive after finding himself in good positions. Na wasn't orginally due to play in Reno this week, perhaps he expected to be at Firestone. Nevertheless he's finished in the top 25 three times out of four starts here and again has an excellent chance to break his duck. I'm giving him one last chance. No more chances after this, Kevin!

Selections: Bryce Molder ([34.0]), Martin Laird ([65.0]), Kevin Na ([30.0])

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