The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 14 April 2012 / 5

Our man takes a look at the state of play in South Carolina, where Jim Furyk has flopped in round two, and in Malaysia, where yet more delays have caused havoc...

15:40 - April 14, 2012

It hasn't been a great 24 hours at either event for yours truly. At the RBC Heritage, Chad Campbell missed far too many short putts, including on one occasion, from all of two feet and he's gone from tied for the lead to four off the pace - made by Colt Knost on a score of -9. And Jim Furyk, who looked to be in a great position after day one, showed precisely why I so rarely back him nowadays. He was quite frankly awful yesterday, shooting four-over par, having been one-under through four holes and level par through nine, and having been matched at as low as [5.8], he's now miles back and has virtually no chance.

Trailing halfway leader Knost by two shots is Carl Pettersson, with two-time event winner, Boo Weekley and promising youngster Harris English tied for third on -6. Despite Furyk's pathetic performance, I'm not giving up just yet because alongside Chad on -5, I also have Robert Garrigus and Zach Johnson's not out of it either, on -3. I'm going to let this one roll and see what tonight brings.

I didn't bother to get up in the middle of the night to follow the Malaysian Open and I'm glad I didn't - for the third day running the weather disrupted play. Not that I awoke to any good news, when I did surface. I switched the laptop on only to see that Martin Kaymer had just started round three, double-bogeyed the 1st and bogeyed the 2nd. I felt like going back to bed!

Having already had one weather delay, play was suspended for the day just after 5.30pm with Louis Oosthuizen (-13) leading by one over Stephen Gallacher, with three players, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Danny Willett and David Lipsky tied for 3rd on -10. My man Kaymer did recover from the dire start but on -7 he surely has too much to do, even if they manage to get four rounds in.

I'm doing nothing else for now, even though I'd love to take on Louis. He looks absolutely shattered and he hasn't had more than four straight hours sleep since arriving in Malaysia. He has a birdie chance on the 11th hole but he's no good thing at odds on. He looks like he's running on vapours to me and if he doesn't get a good night's sleep tonight he could be in trouble.

I'm not taking him on because alternatives are thin on the ground and there's also a chance that the event will be reduced to 54-holes. And if that's the case, he should have enough in hand to limp home. Too many imponderables, coupled with the fact that it will be played out throughout the night with no TV coverage until 4.30am, make it a classic no bet heat now for me now.

19:55 - April 13, 2012

For the record, I input a modest and ambitious back on Alvaro Quiros in the Malaysian Open market this morning, at [55.0]. I didn't quite get as much matched as I'd hoped for but he's onside too now.

15:00 - April 13, 2012

Things panned out pretty much as I'd hoped for this morning in Malaysia. Martin Kaymer didn't quite catch first round leader Charl Schwartzel but when the South African bogeyed the 1st hole they were level anyway, and Charl's day didn't get any better after that. He'd played 12 holes when the siren blew and play was suspended due to lightening. By then he was three-over for the day!

Playing with Charl, Louis Oosthuizen is two-under for the second round and he's now on -8, one in front of my man Kaymer, who shot five-under today, and one behind fellow South Africans Hennie Otto and Jbe Kruger, who, so far, is the comeback king of the week. Kruger looked to be sauntering along on day one, on -6 after just 11 holes, but he lost his way badly after that and he finished the round on -2. The last thing I expected him to do after that was dust himself down and come out and shoot seven-under par today!

Those that still need to complete round two will be back in the morning at 7.45 (0.45am UK time) and they could have their patience tested to the max if we get any further suspensions. I'm obviously happy with my position on Kaymer but I'm a little worried that we might not get all four rounds done. I quite fancy Kaymer if we get the full 72 holes in but that's no certainty at all. If we get a suspension tomorrow, a 54-hole tournament would have to be quite likely.

I've had a decent start at the RBC Heritage. Chad Campbell, backed at a very big price before the off, led alongside Vaughan Taylor and Colt Knost on -4 after round one and my big fancy, Jim Furyk, finished the day a shot back. They're off and running today and Chad's going the wrong but another big-priced wager, Robert Garrigus, is climbing the leaderboard.

The in-form Carl Pettersson (2nd at the Shell two weeks ago) is looming large and that's a bit frustrating. I've backed him in this a few times but left him out this time around. There's a very long way to go yet though.

I'd written in the preview about how the winners can come from off the pace here but I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't happen this year now. The greens are playing very fast and they've tweaked the course a bit. I can't see it getting any easier on the weekend and low scores don't look likely. Having a grinder like Furyk in the mix might just be ideal.

13:50 - April 12, 2012

Although it's early days, given I've got involved in Malaysia, I thought I'd kick off the blog.

The RBC Heritage has only just kicked off so there's nothing to report there but they've already finished round one at the Maybank Malaysian Open and I've had an in-running play already.

My two pre-event picks have flopped and grabbing the headlines are South African friends Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, who played together this morning. Schwartzel leads after an opening eight-under-par 64, and Louis, who shot two shots worse, is in a tie for 3rd. Jeev Milkha Singh is currently 2nd on -7 but I've backed someone much further down the list...

Although raindrops fell and storm clouds threatened, we didn't experience any delays today but that might not be the case tomorrow. Today's afternoon starters may look miles behind now but that may not be the case this time tomorrow and although it really doesn't look like it now, if the weather does close in tomorrow, today's late starters may have the advantage. Given the cream has risen to the top at this venue so far, I've spent the morning nibbling away at the classiest of those that that will be up and at 'um early tomorrow - Martin Kaymer, at odds of over [20.0].

Starting out six behind on -2, it will be his turn to play in the best of the conditions tomorrow and there's a strong chance that Schwartzel and co get delayed in the afternoon and that they'll need to come back early on Saturday to finish off.

There are a few ifs and buts there obviously but I fancy it's worth the risk. Hopefully I'll wake up in the morning to see Kaymer has at least caught Schwartzel and that he's nicely tucked away in his hotel watching the storms gather. We'll see.

Maybank Malaysian Open Pre-event Picks:
Bernd Wiesberger @ [140.0]
James Morrison @ [160.0]

In-Running Play
Martin Kaymer @ an average of [23.0]
Alvaro Quiros @ [55.0]

RBC Heritage Pre-Event Picks:
Jim Furyk @ [20.0]
Zach Johnson @ an average of just over [50.0]
Brian Gay @ [100.0]
Mark Wilson @ [110.0]
George McNeil @ [180.0]
Robert Garrigus @ [180.0]
Chad Campbell @ [250.0]
Stephen Ames @ [280.0]
Time Herron @ an average of [340.0]

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(5)

1. Anonymous | 14 April 2012

   You said: "today's late starters may have the advantage."

   Surprised you said that didn't understand it at all. Weather deleay came when you expected but that was always going to suit Thursday's morning starters. It mean they had to come back to play half a round on Saturday morning meaning they got one and a half rounds in perfect conditions. Thursday's late starters only got one round in the much easier morning conditions.

   The top three in the lead (oostuizen, gallacher and cabrer bello) all started Thursday monring. Think you got this very wrong.

2. Steven Rawlings | 14 April 2012

   Hi Anonymous,

   Thanks for commenting, I think you’re being a wee bit harsh to say I got this very wrong though.

   With the benefit of hindsight, I don’t think there’s that much in it. You’re absolutely correct to point out that the course is always at its best in the mornings and you’re quite right that the first three listed on the leaderboard (Cab’ Bello tied for 3rd) had a morning start on day one but I do feel compelled to point out that the next six were day one afternoon starters...

   And it’s also worth noting that we haven’t finished yet, not by a long chalk. Louis Oosthuizen looks absolutely shattered to me and I wouldn’t mind wagering that if asked, he’d say he’d have rather had the other side of the draw, which would have given him some valuable downtime.

   Good luck with your bets, and once again, thanks for commenting.

   Regards,
   Steve
   

3. Anonymous | 14 April 2012

   Hehe your reading too much into the players that were at the masters last week, how stupid. How do you know oostuizen hasnt had more than four hours sleept. Why shouldnt he have a good sleep tonight. You backed Kaymer and Quiros yet last time I looked they was at the masters also so where are you coming from regarding sleep.

4. Steven Rawlings | 14 April 2012

   Hi,

   With regards to where I am coming from regarding sleep, here's a quote from Louis at the close of play, taken from the link below.

   
   “The jet-lag has been pretty rough, especially having the kids with us because they are sleeping all day and then coming alive at night. Thankfully my wife has been able to sit up with them at night in the room next door while I try and sleep but I haven’t had more than four hours straight at any one time."

   Regards
   Steve

   https://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012020/news/newsid=157491.html#oosthuizen+continues+shine

5. Ste | 15 April 2012

   Louis looked very tired so much the he only won by 3 shots lmfao

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