Golf Events / Steven Rawlings / 26 July 2008 /

The Punter is backing the youngsters in Canada and Russia.

The Russian Open looks just that, open. I can see lots of changes happening on the leaderboard today on what's traditionally known as moving day.
Of my original picks the best so far is youngster Danny Willet backed at [50.0]. He ended the second round four shots off the lead on -9 but it could have been so much better. He hit a low of [5.5] before double bogeying the last following a poor drive.

Although the scoring's low here, there is danger about if you don't find the fairway. Driving is the key stat with errant tee shots often resulting in a bogey at least. All the leaders are high up on the driving accuracy stat.

Co-leader Mikael Lundberg won the event back in 2005 but I'm not convinced he's any value at around [6.0]. The same can be said of the other co-leader Jarmo Sandelin at [7.6], he's never been the most resolute and now at the veteran stage it's hard to envisage that changing much.

Robert Rock, a shot back on -12 and trading around [8.4] is also a player I'd recommend swerving. I've never yet seen him do anything but back peddle when in contention.

I've had just the one in running punt so far and that's on Carl Suneson at [44.0]. Carl has struggled to convert in the past; indeed he played 255 events and got in the mix a few times without converting before he won the 2007 Open de Saint Omer. He suffers from hyperthyroidism and diabetes and sites these conditions as the reason why he took so long to win but now believes medication and treatment have brought both conditions under control. He looks a little bit of value.

Other than that I'm going to wait and see what happens today, hopefully Willett will get back on track and come through because this event is certainly there for the taking.

The Canadian Open has been badly affected by the weather with a delay of nearly six hours on Thursday which means that the second round still hasn't quite been completed. One of my picks, Sean O'Hair , still had nine holes of his first round to play when they resumed yesterday. He was able to tie for the lead on -6 by the end of his first round and kept the momentum going for a while but wobbled somewhat when he made double bogey on both the 1st and 2nd holes (his 10th and 11th of the second round). He rallied with three straight birdies and finished up on -6 for the tournament.

Interviewed after the round, O'Hair said he'd played great for 27 holes and then suddenly started hitting it sideways. He said at that point, somewhat bewildered, he'd asked his caddy what he was doing wrong to which the reply was a rather comical 'you keep hitting crap shots'!

Current two shot leader is rookie Chez Reavie, who may have just been starting to show some nerves when he made a bit of a mess of the easy par five 18th, needing a ten foot putt just to save par.

Despite knowing very little about young Reavie I backed him after he eagled the 13th hole at [9.0] last night. At that point he was five shots clear and I felt the price was just too big. Whether he can hold his nerve and convert is anyone's guess but he did manage to secure a win on the Nationwide Tour last year so he'll have some experience to draw upon.

Although I didn't have a bet before it started and didn't preview the event, in the Seniors Open I've now put a small bet on Tom Watson at [6.0] and think he still looks a bit of value at around [5.5].

As always I'll review all the weekend's action on Monday.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: