The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 08 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Thai youngster, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, backed at [170.0], just fails to bag a bumper payout for our man but he's still crying Yes with Noh!

At the Malaysian Open, 18 year-old Korean, Noh Seung-yul, took the title by a single shot from fellow countryman and mentor KJ Choi, who had earlier in the week, somewhat ironically, told the teenager that it was about time he won again!

Choi had led for much of the final round and had been matched at a low of [1.50], but after leaving a birdie putt lingering on the lip on the 16th, it was all change. Noh, playing in the last group, immediately behind Choi, made his almost identical birdie putt on the same hole, just before Choi bogeyed the 17th. When Choi then managed a birdie at the par five last, he and Noh were back tied.

The youngster, who had his dad caddying for him, played the last in a most bizarre fashion - driving onto the 10th fairway before playing his 2nd to the cart path alongside the practice putting green, from where a favourable drop, a delectable chip and a solid birdie putt saw him home for a deserved win.

At the Honda Classic, Camilo Villegas putted the lights out to win by a massive five strokes, with an impressive 13 under par total.

My Bets

I was in an extremely strong position with a round to go in Malaysia and would have done well to mess it up. Pre-event picks, Thongchai Jaidee, KJ Choi and outsider Kiradech Aphibarnrat were all bang in there and I'd backed the eventual winner in-running at an average of [22.0].

Rhys Davies and Soren Hansen looked the dangers to my four but they struggled early on and I looked as though I may have an easy morning. Johan Edfors threatened to stick his nose in before a couple of horrendous short missed putts scuppered his chances and by the halfway stage of the final round it looked as though it was just a case of which one of mine would collect, but it's never that simple.

Jaidee dropped away to leave me with just three, and my best result, Aphibarnrat, briefly led and hit a low of [3.55], before Choi appeared to take control prior to the final twist in the tale. Frustratingly, Rhys Davies and Soren Hansen both put in late rallies and I ended up backing the pair, at [16.0] and [10.0] respectfully, just to ensure a profit, but I needn't have bothered.

Of my four, the winner was marginally the worst result, but it was still a good win. Aphibarnrat would have been a cracker and he had his chance, but it wasn't to be.

At the Honda, my two pre-event picks, Robert Allenby and Stephen Ames had disappointed but I'd added Vijay Singh at [14.0] during round two and he did ok on Saturday- shooting a one under par 69 to get to within three of leader Villegas.

I'd topped up on Singh at [7.8] as he closed out round three and I really thought he was in a great position. I didn't trust the leader and a slightly shaky start yesterday seemed to confirm my suspicions, but the Columbian putted like a dream, making several early, lengthy, par saves.

Singh was disappointing to say the least and even though Villegas had a bit of a stumble (making three bogeys in five holes after the turn) nobody really challenged him and he won with consummate ease.

Mercifully I hadn't staked much in the States, so it has been a good weekend's work. Tiring, with the early starts in Malaysia, but profitable.

Player to watch

I didn't think Aphibarnrat did too badly yesterday and he looks like a surefire future winner in Asia and one to keep in mind for the co-sanctioned events. He hits it a long way just not necessarily in the right direction! His game's big strength though is his accurate iron play and he'll be an interesting youngster to follow.

Player to swerve

There were plenty of possible candidates this week. Soren Hansen was yet again woeful in contention and should be avoided like the plague. Vijay Singh's putting was horrendous and got me wondering what his future holds and it's worth mentioning that Choi left plenty of putts short yesterday unlike the ruthless closer of old, but the player that deserves particular mention has to be Jaidee.

I've had the Thai superstar onside three times now in the last month and he's disappointed every time. His missed putt on the final hole at Dubai was forgiveable, as, just about, was his inability to finish off Ian Poulter at the Match Play, but this week's effort was a stinker.

He led by a couple on Day one, soon reaching eight under par after just 14 holes, but he trod water after that, missing some very short putts and when he bogeyed three out of four holes around the turn yesterday he'd finally given up a golden opportunity.

He had conditions to suit, came into the event in top form, was given a favourable draw and got off to a great start. Tied 7th was a really disappointing result and it may just put an end to his recent run of form.

What have we learnt for next year?

Named after Jack Nicklaus, who oversaw course changes back in 1990, holes 15, 16 and 17 at the PGA National are known as the Bear Trap. It's a deadly stretch of holes that always have a major say in the event's outcome and although the final hole is a par five, that's no cakewalk either. Plenty of players saw their hopes dashed here again this week. Of particular note was Singh, whose very faint chance was distinguished in no uncertain terms when he bogeyed all three Bear Trap holes yesterday. No lead is big enough and in-running punters may well be wise to lay a little back if their pick leads with four to play.

There are two events on US soil this week, the second of the year's WGC events, the CA Championship at Doral and the Puerto Rico Open. I'll post my preview of both events no later than Wednesday morning.

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