The Punter's In-Play Blog: Can Morrison hang on

10:30 - May 26, 2012

Firstly, a big thank you to Mike Norman for kicking off the blog in my absence, a sterling job indeed.

It's been a roller-coaster couple of days. On Thursday morning I very much enjoyed Ernie Els' serene passage to -6 through 13 holes but it didn't last. Two bogeys at 14 and 15 soon followed and he's pretty much gone backwards ever since.

After Ernie had finished his round, I drove down to my mate's house in readiness for Wentworth on Friday, arriving soon after the afternoon TV coverage had started. Everything was going to plan - a cup of tea, laptop on, golf on the telly, home from home you might say. Accept things didn't quite go to plan. My mate's Sky wasn't working and his internet connection was pants! I didn't get to see any play and I wasn't a happy chappy. At least he had tea bags and milk.

Anyway, before an evening in his local I did manage to get a connection and I can't tell you how relieved I am that I did! As Mike has already said, I'm a big James Morrison fan and I've backed him umpteen times this year already. The only In-Play bet I've had so far was a small wager on him at 260.0259/1 on Thursday evening.

I had a great day out yesterday but I can't imagine how I'd have felt if I hadn't backed Morrison. Watching him steam through the field before streaking away would have been awful had I not backed him. Whether he goes on to win is extremely debatable and I should probably take some profit but as I really haven't gone mad this week I'm going to let it roll for now.

I enjoyed my day out yesterday but you're far better off watching it on telly if you want to get a proper feel for the event. I followed Luke Donald's group in the morning before flitting about in the afternoon and I don't really feel as though I'm in-tune with the tournament at all.

I fancy Luke Donald to win now but at just 3.3512/5 I'm happy to let him go un-backed for now. Paul Krishnamurty's probably right when he says Justin Rose is the value play today but he putted poorly yesterday and I'm not a huge fan, so for now, I'm leaving well alone.

Before I sign off, just a quick mention of the conditions. I was amazed at how confusing the wind is at Wentworth. As you stroll around, one minute you're in a gale and the next you couldn't feel a thing. It's no surprise it confuses so many.

As Mike mentioned, those drawn Thursday afternoon - Friday morning dominate the leaderboard and I was a little surprised that the disparity in the scoring wasn't wider. The Thursday afternoon guys averaged 2.57 strokes better than those on the other side of the draw over the two days but I thought it would have been closer to five strokes. It looked and felt brutally difficult yesterday afternoon.

Although only at the halfway stage, the Crowne Plaza Invitational already looks a straight fight between Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson and I'm more than happy to let them get on with it. I do have Harris English, Tom Gillis and John Huh, all in the top-ten but I'm not hopeful, whilst Mike himself recommended Johnson and Bo Van Pelt before the off.

18:10 - May 25, 2021

What an odd few days at Wentworth. To look at it on the TV screen you'd have thought that there was very little difference in the weather conditions throughout the opening two rounds, but a close inspection of the current leaderboard tells a very different story.

Of the leading 13 players, 12 of them played Thursday afternoon/Friday morning, whereas the same can be said for about 23 of the leading 25 players. At the time of this update, only Spaniard Pablo Martin and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger are within seven shots of the lead having played Thursday morning/Friday afternoon.

True, there was a 10mph breeze on Friday afternoon, but you'd have to think that there has been a massive draw bias here with today's morning starters having a huge advantage.

It all means that Englishman James Morrison (6.411/2) leads the BMW PGA Championship on -12, four shots ahead of countryman Luke Donald (3.412/5) and Scotsman David Drysdale (34.033/1), with a further shot back to one of The Punter's picks Alvaro Quiros (16.015/1) and Irishman Peter Lawrie (44.043/1).

The big story however has been the performance of Rory McIlroy who followed his opening round 74 with a shocking round of 79; only a birdie at the par five 18th enabling the world number one to break 80.

Along with McIlroy some big names have missed the cut but Lee Westwood looks to have scraped in on the cut mark thanks to a closing birdie.

Donald looks the obvious one from here with so many infrequent winners around him but with the likes of Quiros and Justin Rose (13.012/1) within touching distance of the man destined to return to the top of the world rankings, we are set for a very exciting weekend. And that's not being disrespectful to Morrison; I just doubt he will hold on and anyone who has backed him at huge odds will undoubtedly have laid some back by now.

The one thing that might happen is that the early starters on Saturday climb the leaderboard before the later starters get a stiffer breeze and firmer greens. I'm sure The Punter will have his say on this at some point tomorrow however.

Over at the Crowne Plaze Invitational the unstoppable Jason Dufner (-11) has seemingly assumed complete control, opening up a five shot lead over his pursuers.

The likes of Zach Johnson (-6), The Punter's pick Harris English (-5), and Sergio Garcia (-4) have their second rounds to play but it will take a huge effort on a difficult course to close down Dufner's lead significantly.

Again, The Punter will update us on this event in more detail tomorrow including all his In-Play trades but for now here's the current leaderboard and each player's respective odds to win the tournament;

Jason Dufner - 11 2.285/4
Tom Gillis -6 70.069/1
Bo Van Pelt -6 13.012/1
Zach Johnson -6 5.14/1
Harris English -5 24.023/1

12:27 - May 25, 2012

James Morrison has just fired a magnificent round of 64 and he leads the BMW PGA Championship by four shots currently at -12. The Englishman is into 9.417/2 to lift the trophy.

12:00 - May 25, 2012

A quick update from Wentworth. I can confirm that Steve 'The Punter' Rawlings has found the bottled-water bar, has bought a sun hat, and is in great health ahead of his return to In-Play blogging tomorrow afternoon.

Meanwhile two of The Punter's picks are making great moves this morning. Miguel Angel Jimenez - backed at 90.089/1 pre-tournament - is four under for the day and on the fringe of contention, whilst Alvaro Quiros - a 120.0119/1 pre-tournament selection - has made his way to eight under par and sits just two shots off the lead.

The Punter will not be pleased with the man at the top of the leaderboard however. James Morrison is that man, two clear on -10, and the Englishman has been a regular selection for our man during the last two seasons.

Morrison was available to back at the maximum price (1000.0999/1) before the event started and has been matched at those odds for £65. I don't think any of that is The Punter's money. Time to hit the bar again Steve!

19:00 - May 24, 2012

Round One at the BMW PGA Championship was played in near perfect conditions with some of the world's best golfers basking in the May sunshine as well as in the heat of battle.

Regular In-Play blogger Steve 'The Punter' Rawlings was one of the thousands of golf fans to visit Wentworth though the last update I have for him was one that suggested our man had enjoyed just a few too many sherbets whilst forgetting to don his sun cream. I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to his current welfare.

The Punter's strategy this week was to back a lot of outsiders pre-tournament before re-assessing his position at the halfway stage.

Two of his picks - Alvaro Quiros at 80.079/1 and Berndt Weisberger at 160.0159/1 - made more than satisfactory starts and sit just one and two shots off the lead respectively. But it was The Punter's headline selection that gave our man the most reason to cheer as this great championship commenced.

I'm talking of course about Wentworth resident/course designer/expert Ernie Els who through 13 holes this morning was sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard on -6 with two reachable par fives ahead of him.

And if that was the point when Steve hit the Moet & Chandon (other Champagnes are available) then few could hardly have blamed him. But the Big Easy hit the brakes spectacularly, making back-to-back bogies from the 14th before parring in for what turned out to be a disappointing round of 68. Still, Els is just two shots off the lead and is available to back at 17.016/1 currently.

It seemed at one point that no one could break 68 with a plethora of players holding the clubhouse lead on that mark before first David Drysdale (70.069/1), and then Peter Lawrie (38.037/1), carded excellent rounds of 66.

Those rounds were soon followed by a quartet of 67s from Quiros (24.023/1), Justin Rose (7.87/1), Jamie Donaldson (36.035/1) and Richard S Johnson (140.0139/1) meaning that the first six players on the leaderboard, and more than half of the many players just a shot further back, started their rounds in the afternoon. The weather conditions were consistent throughout the day so it's difficult to explain why, on firmer and crustier greens, the afternoon players scored better than the morning starters.

One player who will need a very low round tomorrow to get back into contention is world number one Rory McIlroy - currently available to back at 44.043/1.

McIlroy had a very mixed bag today that included five bogies and a double bogey and currently sits just outside the top 100, this performance coming on the back of a missed cut at the Players Championship. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what the Northern Irishman is doing wrong but just for the time being, and by his own very high standards, young Rory appears to have lost his way slightly.

It's early days in the Crowne Plaza Invitational but pre-tournament favourite Zach Johnson - now available to back at 4.77/2 - has the early clubhouse lead after carding a bogey-free round of 64. The Punter's 110.0109/1 selection Harris English (16.015/1) is just a shot back however with a few holes of his first round to play. I'll update this event in more detail tomorrow.

The Punter's BMW PGA Championship Selections

Ernie Els @ 38.037/1
Robert Karlsson @ 80.079/1
Miguel Angle Jimenez @ 90.089/1
Alvaro Quiros @ 120.0119/1
Paul Casey @ 130.0129/1
Retief Goosen @ 140.0139/1
Thorbjorn Olesen @ 160.0159/1
Berndt Weisberger @ 160.0159/1
Michael Hoey @ 380.0379/1
David Horsey @ 400.0399/1

In-Play Bet

James Morrison @ 260.0259/1

The Punter's Crowne Plaza Selections

Bill Haas @ 46.045/1
Harris English @ 110.0109/1
John Huh @ 110.0109/1
Mark Wilson @ 150.0149/1
Brian Gay @ 170.0169/1
Stewart Cink @ 280.0279/1
Boo Weekley @ 300.0299/1
Davis Love III @ 400.0399/1
Tom Gillis @ 440.0439/1
Scott Verplank @ 440.0439/1
Jerry Kelly @ 450.0449/1
Tim Herron @ 460.0459/1