Golf Bets / Mike Norman / 09 March 2010 /

The second World Golf Championship is upon us already so we've asked "Mystical" Mike Norman to look into his crystal ball and predict which Europeans and Americans will go well this week.

I have to confess to not being a massive fan of these World Golf Championship events, though if I do have a favourite then this week's CA Championship at the TPC Blue Monster in Doral is most certainly it.

My reason for liking this event above the World Matchplay (too much of a lottery), the Bridgestone Invitational (normally a one-man event) and the HSBC Champions (too late in the year) is because it's played at a point in the season when every player should be close to his 'A' game. It's also played on a course that doesn't take kindly to wayward tee-shots, poor approach play, or average putting - which effectively means if you're struggling to find form going into this event then you'll almost certainly have a tough four days ahead of you.

Betfair's resident golf expert Paul Krishnamurty, and the in-form Steve 'The Punter' Rawlings have already given their thoughts on who they think will win this week, so I've taken a look at some of the other markets on offer.

Top European

It's hard to look beyond Paul Casey - available to back at [7.6] - as his game appears to be in great order at the moment. True, he found the water more times than he would have liked at last week's Honda Classic but that doesn't worry me one bit - he was literally a few yards out rather than 20 or 30 yards from where he was aiming. He has now finished in the top 10 in all three of his PGA Tour outings this season as well as finishing fifth and 11th in his last two European Tour stroke play events.

Perennial runner-up Oliver Wilson ([23.0]) is another Englishman I fancy to go well in Doral. Despite a double bogey at the treacherous 18th last year, Wilson still managed to finish in a tie for fifth here, demonstrating that he can play well on a tough course like the one he faces this week.

Wilson's last four events have seen him finish fifth in Qatar, 15th in Dubai, reach the quarter-final at the World Matchplay, and 17th last week. You won't find a more consistent golfer at [20.0] and above in this market; in fact, all of Henrik Stenson ([17.0]), Sergio Garcia ([17.0]) and Padraig Harrington ([15.0]) can be backed at a lower price than Wilson - which is incredible to believe on what each of those three have, or rather haven't, achieved in stroke play events recently.

Top US

I can't have Phil Mickelson here ([5.0]) on what he's shown so far this season (which hasn't been much by his own high standards), so my selection has to be Steve Stricker at [7.4]. Stricker has played twelve rounds of golf in stroke play events this year and he's shot par or better in every one of them. On top of that he won the last stroke play event he played in, has had two highly respectable finishes in this event in 2008 and 2009, and his GIR (14th on the PGA Tour) and Putting (21st) stats stand him out as a player who can go on hot birdie streaks.

I also fancy Zach Johnson ([18.0]) to do well this week. He has always played well at Doral whether it be in this CA Championship or a regular tour event, and just to show his game is in fine fettle, Johnson has finished in the top 25 every time he's took to the tee on the PGA Tour this season.

Top 5 Finish

In the world of backing an outright winner with a traditional bookmaker, Retief Goosen is quite literally a death trap; but in Betfair land this talented South African is an absolute gold mine. How anyone can describe him as one to avoid is beyond me. He regularly starts events at [40.0] or above in the Winner market ([8.0] or above in this particular market), yet he often trades at incredibly low prices when in contention - from a punting perspective that's heaven, not a guy who should be avoided.

The Goose has finished fourth, fifth and sixth in his last three events, and with his Driving Accuracy, GIR, and Scrambling stats being significantly higher than the PGA Tour average I'm selecting him to go really well this week. At [9.6] for a Top 5 Finish, he is worth a wager.

Recommended Bets

3 pts win Paul Casey @ [7.6] in Top European market
1 pt win Oliver Wilson @ [23.0] in Top European market
3 pts win Steve Stricker @ [7.4] in Top US market
1 pt win Zach Johnson @ [18.0] in Top US market
2 pts win Retief Goosen @ [9.6] in Top 5 Finish market

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