Presidents Cup Tips: Swerve Woods and play bigger odds

Golf Events / Paul Krishnamurty / 15 November 2011 /

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Top putter Stricker could reward at double figure odds

"Ace putter Watney should be in his element at Royal Melbourne, as the greens here are notoriously undulating and fast, comparable to Augusta National. Amongst his team-mates, only Stricker boasted a better putting average in 2011."

Good ole Tiger has been a steamer in the top USA Points Scorer market but Paul Krishnamurty makes a case for a pair of his team-mates at juicier prices

Amidst widespread speculation that the greatest player ever to pick up a golf club is close to his best, the temptation to steam into Tiger Woods to be top USA points scorer has proved irresistible for many punters. Since finishing third in the Australian Open over the weekend, Tiger's price has shortened from an initial [8.6] into [7.0], and it would be no surprise to see those odds collapse further. After all, he fared best of the eight US team members last week and won all five of his matches at the last Presidents Cup.

However, while those credentials are hard to argue with, the tournament format may mean the value has now gone. Unlike the Ryder Cup, where only a few 'team leaders' get to play the full quota of five matches, at least eight on each side will do so in the Presidents Cup. Therefore, any points Tiger earns in the four pairs rounds will also be won by his playing partner, who will most likely be Steve Stricker.

After years of US captains struggling to find Woods a compatible partner, Fred Couples struck gold in 2009, when this pair won every match together. The pairing was retained for the 2010 Ryder Cup, so assuming Couples opts to stick with a winning formula, Stricker must therefore rate better value at [11.0]. Furthermore, Stricker is the only American besides Woods with winning pedigree Down Under, having landed the 2001 World Matchplay at The Metropolitan.

The other American to emerge with credit last week at The Lakes was Nick Watney, so he must expect to play a leading role. This ace putter should be in his element at Royal Melbourne, as the greens here are notoriously undulating and fast, comparable to Augusta National. Amongst his team-mates, only Stricker boasted a better putting average in 2011.

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