Betfair Official Blog

Not a great week on the golf betting front

"The Punter" talks us through his weekend golf betting where Peter Lawrie came from nowhere to win in Spain and Anthony Kim showed us all just why he's tipped to be the next big thing

As I'd expected Ignacio Garrido was jittery on Saturday and his level par round of 72 opened the door for his rivals. Two of my in running picks, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Soren Hansen moved menacingly into position with rounds of 67 a piece.

In the Wachovia Championship Heath Slocum played well and looked to have manoeuvred himself into a great position for Sunday but Anthony Kim was exceptional. Making putt after putt he finished his round in style with a birdie at the last, giving him a four shot cushion over Slocum and the field.

In the final round in Spain, Ignacio Garrido picked up where he had left off, looking most uncomfortable in the heat of battle. By the time he reached the tenth tee he had left the door wide open for my two picks, Jimenez and Hansen. Unfortunately they both contrived to walk straight into the frame! A triple bogey at the 10th, after visiting water twice, did for Jimenez. While Hansen's back nine of level par was just too one paced to get the job done. Thankfully each of them traded at odds on and I layed both at around [1.7] resulting in a profitable tournament.

It had been very frustrating though, I also backed Lynn @ [50.0], Garcia-Heredia @ [60.0] and Marco Ruiz @ [21.0] at various times during the day in a vain attempt to cover all bases.

And for most of the day I felt I was likely to secure a really decent profit but it wasn't to be.
After many twists and turns the upshot was that Garrido steadied the ship and birdied the last to get into a play off with Irishman Peter Lawrie. Lawrie had birdied three of the last four holes to sneak in under the radar. I had noticed Lawrie's late charge but hadn't backed him. When he drained a monster putt on the 17th the price was gone and besides, you can't back them all.

On the first play off hole Garrido looked likely to win when his second shot stopped about five feet from the hole and Lawrie left himself with about thirty feet for his birdie. At that point Lawrie, who had been matched at [1.02] in regulation play, drifted out to [10.0] but he bravely sank his lengthy putt. Garrido made his too but found the water with his second shot on the next play off hole to hand the event to Lawrie.

It was a shame really and I felt for 'Nacho'. His Dad had won this event back in 1972 and it would have ignited some rapturous scenes had he won.

As for the eagerly awaited final round at the Wachovia, well it was the most sodden of squibs for me. Anthony Kim was quite frankly magnificent. Those that know their golf have been chirping on about Kim for some time now. Though he'd impressed me in spasms in the past, the evidence I'd seen of him in the mix led me to lay him modestly @ [1.2], after he'd extended his lead early on to five. I was never going to do anything but pay out though and despite a few late bogeys he coasted in by five shots.

This is a big tournament on a very difficult course and yet Kim had destroyed the field. I think it's safe to assume this won't be the last time he finds his way into the winners circle.

Another neutral week and it seems a while now since I had a decent win. I just hope winners are like busses, as in you wait for one for ages then a few come at once. Odd analogy really as I can't remember the last time I went on a bus either.

I'll post my picks for next weeks Italian Open and the Players Championship on Wednesday.