Golf Bets / Paul Krishnamurty / 20 February 2010 / Leave a Comment

Paul Krishnamurty gives us his views on today's quarter-finals with the likes of Paul Casey and Ian Poulter in action and gunning to win this most prestigious of events.

WGC Accenture Matchplay Quarter Final Preview

Ian Poulter vs Thongchai Jaidee

Simply on the basis of each player's victory margins so far this week, Thongchai Jaidee would rate cracking value at [2.52], as he's only needed 42 holes to complete three easy victories. That stat is rather misleading, however, as none of Jaidee's opponents put up much resistance. In fact, the Thai star's overall score has been just -3; a moderate total compared to some others.

Indeed, Poulter's accumulative score over the three days is much superior at -10. He's looked one of the most improved players in world golf for some time, and just needs a high-profile victory to emphasise that status. If Poulter wins this week, he could move up to as high as fifth in the world rankings, and given an excellent matchplay record in both this event and the Ryder Cup, he'll take plenty of stopping.

Pick: Ian Poulter @ [1.64]

Sergio Garcia vs Oliver Wilson

Opposing Garcia this week has been an expensive business, eating into the profits earned by following that strategy over the last year, but now is not the time to change tack. He remains in poor form on the greens, and that weakness is usually fatal in matchplay.

Wilson, the last remaining member of my initial Find Me a 100 Winner quartet , has shown admirable bottle so far to upset three higher-ranked opponents, particularly when beating Luke Donald yesterday with an eagle on the second extra hole. There's virtually nothing between this pair in terms of scoring over the three previous rounds; Wilson is -8 through 56 holes, Garcia -7 through 52; and that suggests to me that the outsider should be supported.

Pick: Oliver Wilson @ [2.24]

Camilo Villegas vs Retief Goosen

Of the four players advised before the second round, Villegas is my last hope. Having shortened in the meantime from [40.0] to single figures, it would be possible to lay back the stake from all four bets, but I'm going to let it ride for one more round yet. With his extra driving distance and high-class approach play, the Colombian has shown a real liking for this Ritz-Carlton layout. His tally of -11 through 48 holes is second to nobody.

It would of course be folly to rule out a player of Goosen's class and experience, but the South African hasn't played that well to get here. He struggled from tee to green against Els in the last-32, and to a large extent owed yesterday's victory to the mistakes of his opponent, Nick Watney.

Pick: Camilo Villegas @ [1.95]

Paul Casey vs Stewart Cink

Casey has been in imperious form in his bid to go one better than last year, when he was unfortunate to bump into an in-form Geoff Ogilvy in the final. He's needed just 42 holes to win his three matches so far, with an accumulative score of -10, and really looked to have the measure of these greens yesterday. Having previously eased to the 2006 World Matchplay title at Wentworth, we know he has the matchplay experience, and the stamina required for what will be a long weekend with up to 72 holes ahead.

That said, this quarter-final is far from being a formality. Cink has finished second and third before in this event, and demonstrated his matchplay skills with three hard-fought victories to reach this stage. He's accumulated the same -10 score as Casey for those victories, but has played an extra twelve holes. For that reason, Casey deserves his status as match and tournament favourite.

Pick: Paul Casey @ [1.8]

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