The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 07 March 2009 /

The Punter talks us through all the action in the first two rounds of the Honda Classic and tells us why his reasons for wanting Robert Allenby to triumph this week aren't all to do with money.

My two outsiders, Aron Price and Marc Turnesa, struggled on day one but that was the only bad news. Ben Crane and Justin Leonard both started steadily enough - shooting level par, while Robert Allenby had a great day and led the field on four under par; despite missing from two and half feet for par on the 8th.

Before the second round started I topped up on Ben Crane at [110.0] and looked at doing the same on Leonard but didn't. That's the good news. Here's the he bad news though; I looked long and hard at Will MacKenzie but didn't take the plunge and yet again threw a few pounds at Scot Piercy, this time at [55.0], not long before he made his only bogey of the day. Justin Leonard however was hopeless - shooting three over.

Allenby and Crane were both out in the morning and both fared well. Allenby three putted the 17th for bogey but still shot two under and when he finished his round he had a share of the lead. Crane made massive strides and despite a double bogey at the 11th he managed to shoot 65 and when he signed his card, he was one off the lead.

Will MacKenzie shot a second successive 67 to sit alongside Allenby and I added him to the portfolio at [11.5].

I was a little aggravated that I hadn't backed MacKenzie earlier as he's a player I back quite often and I'd considered him before the off, as well as after round one.

Unbelievable as it sounds now, I turned my nose up before the off because he was only about [200.0], which was much shorter than I thought he'd be.

Anyway, by seven thirty last night he was safely on board and I looked to be in a strong position and decided it was safe to sneak out for a Friday night beer. Not something I'd have ordinarily done when in this sort of position but we've got guests staying and well, you have to make some sort of effort. Apparently the world doesn't revolve around golf!

Another player I backed several times last year and that I've had half an eye on this year is Korean Yong-Eun Yang and when I got back from the pub I was cross that Id missed him saunter through the field and gazump everyone.

His second round 65 saw him atop of the leaderboard and I've now added him to the portfolio too, at [15.5].

That price looks generous for someone who's won four times in Japan and twice on the Asian Tour, including the HSBC Champions back in 2006, when he coolly held off a certain Mr Woods down the stretch.

This is a very tough cours, low numbers on the weekend won't be commonplace and I'm banking on the winner coming from the current leaders. I've now got four of the top five on side, with Crane being my best result. I'm rather dismissive of Jeff Overton, tied for 2nd alongside Allenby and MacKenzie and the Nationwide graduate, David Mathis, in 6th.

I'm just hoping that the likes of McIlroy, Cink and Garcia can stay where they are. I think these three are making the market and have a fair bit to do to get involved.

I guess the winner I'd like to see would be Allenby, whose Mother passed away at the end of January. He's said, quite understandably, that has mind has wondered in his last couple of events. It will help him that he's only ten minutes from home though and that he's got friends there helping to keep him relaxed. If he can get over the line it'll be an emotional win for sure.

I feel a bit frustrated that I've had to take relatively low prices about two players I regularly back at very big prices but I really can't complain. Tonight's going to be a big night and if two or more of my four can move forwards I'll be in a strong position come Sunday.

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