US Open / Steven Rawlings / 16 June 2009 /

Bethpage yielded three aces in 2002 and Steve fancies that at least one this year is a distinct possibility

My initial thought about this market was that I should have tucked into the [1.82] that was available for NO, but my opinion soon started to waiver when I looked back through the history of the event for clues.

That wasn't easy as there aren't any complete records on how many holes-in-one's there have been, but looking back at recent years should be a decent indicator as to how the course may be set up, and to my surprise there have been 9 in as many years - one in 2000, two in '01, three HERE in '02, and one in each of the years '04, '05 and '06. After two blank years, are we due one?

I took a closer look at the four par threes at Bethpage and the swing to YES was complete. Of the four par three's, the 3rd, 8th, 14th and 17th holes, the most likely to produce another ace looks like the shortest hole on the course, the 14th. At only 158 yards in length, it will be peppered all week with the shortest of short irons and could well yield another one.

In 2002 the only hole not to succumb to an ace was the 8th, but that looks likely to be the most exciting of the short holes this time around. The green has been expanded since 2002, bringing a pond that only duffers like me would have found previously, right into play. The change was inspired by photographs of the original design and the hole can now be played as short as just 135 yards. There'll be plenty of drama here for sure and an ace this time around isn't out of the question.

Any price above 2.2 about YES looks the value play this year.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: