Golf Events / Editor / 24 April 2007 / Leave a Comment

After producing a disappointing performance in his defence of his US Masters title earlier this month, Phil Mickelson will be aiming for something a good deal better when he returns to action at this week's EDS Byron Nelson Championship.

Mickelson was out of sorts for virtually the whole tournament at Augusta as he finished well down the field behind eventual winner Zach Johnson.

Defeat was difficult to take for the popular left-hander as he struggled to produce the magic that had propelled him to two Green Jackets in three years, and he has taken the last fortnight to take stock of his game.

But Mickelson hopes to be back in contention for honours in Texas this week where he will seek his second PGA title of the year, following victory at Pebble Beach three months ago.

Mickelson is sure to be a popular choice among backers and is second favourite in the early Betfair market behind FedExCup leader Vijay Singh.

He can be backed at 14, with Singh on offer at 11, while English Ryder Cup hero Luke Donald is next best and trading at 18.5 to secure his first win of 2007.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia, a previous winner of the event three years ago, is available to back at 24 with Sean O'Hair available at 30, ahead of Charles Howell III (34) and Robert Allenby (36).

This year's event will be the first time it has been held since Byron Nelson passed away at the age of 94 last September and the field will be keen to put on an impressive display in his memory.

World number four Mickelson, the highest-ranked player in action this week, will be aware that he needs to show an improvement after failing to finish in the top 20 in his last three strokeplay tournaments and, to this end, he has brought in coach Butch Harmon to help with his long game.

Mickelson, who can be backed at 3.75 to finish in the first five and 2.22 to come in the top ten, needs to reduce the number of silly errors he is making, but he won this tournament in 1996 and finished runner up four years later and could be inspired by his memories.

In contrast to Mickelson, Singh could not have started the season much better and seems hell-bent on success in 2007 after, by his standards, a disappointing 2006.

The world number seven, winner here in 2003, already has two trophies tucked safely away in his cabinet and will be highly fancied to complete a quick hat-trick. He is trading at slightly shorter than Mickelson to finish in the first five and ten.

With a par of 70 and measuring just over 7,000 yards, this week's venue at the TPC Four Seasons Resort favours the straighter hitters on tour and, rather than the power hitters, is a course for shot-makers.

It was something of a surprise when Brett Wetterich held his nerve to prevail by one shot from Trevor Immelman last year to clinch his maiden PGA victory.

The win helped the big-hitting American clinch a place on the Ryder Cup team last year but he has already proved his success was no fluke this year by chasing home Tiger Woods at the WGC-CA Championship last month and then leading the US Masters at the halfway stage.

Wetterich, who can be backed at 10.5 to come in the first five and 5 to finish in the top ten, will have fond memories of 2006 and will be anxious to put up a stout defence of his title.

Two players who do possess the games to challenge this week are Donald and Garcia. Donald finished four shots behind Wetterich in a tie for sixth last year and fared better than most on his way to claiming a top-ten finish at Augusta.

Garcia, who is 6.8 to come in the top ten, already has winning form in the tournament having triumphed in 2004 and, prior to missing the cut at the US Masters, finished third and fifth in his two previous starts.

Howell III, 7.4 to place in the top five, lies third in the FedExCup standings and will be keen to maintain his challenge, while keep an eye out for US Masters runner-up Rory Sabbatini (60 to win) and the Australian duo of Allenby and Stuart Appleby, 40 to win this week.

Their compatriot Rod Pampling could also be a man to watch this week after finishing tied eighth in 2006 and looks well priced at 55 to win and 12 to come in the top five.

Last week's PGA Tour winner Nick Watney is trading at 85 to win while the course will suit Sweden's Daniel Chopra, who is available to back at 90 to win and has shown improved form over the last month.

Ian Poulter may be a lively outsider and his odds of 55 to win and 9.6 to place in the top five look attractive, while keep an eye out for O'Hair, who was runner up here two years ago.

Bob Estes, who finished joint eighth last week, is a lively outsider and could also figure at odds of 140 to win and 19 to come in the top five.