Volvo World Matchplay Golf Betting: Kim to reel in Fisher

Golf Bets / Paul Krishnamurty / 01 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

Anthony Kim showed in last year's Ryder Cup that he has the right temperament for matchplay golf.

"Secondly, everyone has commented on just how gruelling this course, and the schedule has been. Fisher is certainly young enough to cope with the demands, but he played eight more holes than Kim on Saturday. Moreover, the American is known to be something of a fitness freak so could enjoy a slight advantage in this department."

Two young guns go head to head in the final of the World Matchplay in the shape of Anthony Kim and Ross Fisher. Here's why the American should come out on top, says Paul Krishnamurty.

Volvo World Matchplay Final Preview

Anthony Kim @ [1.87] (vs Fisher)

It's Britain versus USA in Sunday's 36 hole final, which involves two of the world's most exciting young prospects. Neither Ross Fisher or Anthony Kim have yet to make the ultimate breakthrough of landing a major title, but becoming World Matchplay champion would be the next best leap forward.

The betting suggests a very close match, with Kim marginal favourite at [1.87]. Two reasons lead me to think Kim can justify those odds. Firstly and most importantly, he has been the star of the show this week. Besides a wobble against Scott Strange, when he may have just taken his foot off the gas having looked almost certain to qualify, Kim has been quite outstanding. All his other three matches were won comfortably, as opposed to Fisher who has scraped through each stage.

Secondly, everyone has commented on just how gruelling this course, and the schedule has been. Fisher is certainly young enough to cope with the demands, but he played eight more holes than Kim on Saturday. Moreover, the American is known to be something of a fitness freak so could enjoy a slight advantage in this department. And as we saw in last year's Ryder Cup, Kim has the ideal competitive temperament for matchplay.

Nevertheless, this is no banker by any means. In fact, given the example of today's matches, the best betting strategy may be to lay the leader in-running. These 36-hole matches often swing back and forth, and such a strategy would have paid dividends in both semi-finals. Despite eventually losing 5 and 4 to Kim, Robert Allenby traded as low as [1.5] at one stage, while Angel Cabrera traded at a ridiculously low [1.15] before losing to Fisher.