The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 11 October 2008 /

The Punter has just had one of those weeks to forget but he's happy to tell us all about it.

Thursday wasn't a great day.

My first bet was at the Madrid Masters on Richard Sterne, who I have to confess I'm a bit of a sucker for. I've been on him when he's won a couple of times in the past but on this occasion it looks like a stray bullet. As a former winner here he was on my radar and I took just [22.0] as he scythed through the field to get to -3 after 11 holes. After that he managed to drop four shots in his last six holes!

More disaster was round the corner at the Valero Texas Open. My main bet, Justin Leonard started off having to make a seven foot par putt. When that was in, and the early nerves were settled I expected him to kick on. He then made birdie on his third hole but then missed further birdie putts from inside six feet at his next two holes and it clearly affected him. His play was scratchy but I somehow managed to lay my bet back at [9.6]. By far my best move of the day.

After that I backed Stephen Ames at [25.0] as he reached three under through nine holes. 27 holes later and he's dropped two shots and only just made the cut!

Also on Thursday I was shrewd enough to back Ben Crane at [30.0] just before he double bogeyed his final hole. Yesterday's round of 71 meant he would have missed the cut anyway but he was actually disqualified for some reason unbeknown to me.

I guess it could have been worse; I could have taken the [6.8] about first round leader Nathan Green. The Australian followed up Thursdays spectacular 62 with a shocking 75 yesterday and is now available at over [200.0].

But all I succeeded in doing on Thursday was spend cash.

Friday started with one of my pre event picks, Paul Broadhurst, atop of the Madrid Masters leaderboard. It ended with him languishing in a tie for 21st!

I've still got Steve Webster and Jose Manuel Lara on the edge of contention and I also had a modest bet on youngster Paul Waring at an average of [38.0] as he finished his round yesterday, but it's not been a great start and if I'm honest I'm not at all sure where to turn now.

Current leaders are Charl Schwartzel and Marcus Fraser but I can't advocate a bet on either man. Charl Schwartzel is the class act on the leaderboard but he's hashed up plenty of chances in the past.

Two back on the leaderboard are Robert 'watch me go backwards on Saturday' Rock and the equally unreliable Steven Jeppeson.

It really is a confusing picture and I honestly wouldn't recommend a bet on any of the leaders and I can see the winner coming from a long way back but who it will be is anyone's guess.

For now I'll stick with what I've got and take another look later. I haven't given up completely on pre event picks Lara and Webster, while Waring could surprise and Sterne or Broady could conceivably climb back up the leaderboard today but I won't hold my breath.

In the US it's as much of a puzzle as in Madrid with Texan injury prone rookie Chris Stroud leading by two shots from a trio of veterans in Tim Herron, Tim Petrovic and Paul Goydos. With a group of nine players three back on -7.

In July this year Parker McLachlin won the week after fellow rookie Chez Reavie had taken the Canadian Open. Following last week's win by rookie Dustin Johnson it wouldn't be completely miraculous if Stroud also got inspired and held on.

Although a low scoring tournament, history has shown that you can't come from too far back to win here and I wouldn't put anyone off Stroud.

Personally I've added to the seemingly hapless mess I've made of things this week by backing Tim Petrovic as he finished off yesterday at an average of [29.0]. I've backed Petrovic from the start plenty of times this year in this sort of low scoring event so I'm a bit aggrieved not to be on at a much better price.

Instinct tells me that my decent run has finally come to an end but you never know. I'll review the weekend's twists and turns on Monday.

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