The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 27 May 2009 /

Steven Rawlings has made his initial moves in the betting for this week's big two golf tournaments...

The Race to Dubai's event this week is the European Open, staged at the London Club in Kent for the second year running, and the first and most obvious question was should I back Ross Fisher?

A winner here last year by a whopping seven shots and a fast finishing second to Paul Casey last week at Wentworth, he understandably heads the market, but he's a few points too short for my liking. The possibility of some mental letdown after last weeks endeavours, added to the pressure of defending meant I'd have wanted at least [17.00] before he'd have hit my radar.

I backed Robert Karlsson last year, thinking the course would suit, but he started poorly and appeared to get very irritated by the pace of play as one of his playing partners, Padraig Harrington, seemed to get slower by the hole. He recovered after the poor start and finished up in a tie for sixth.

His year to date hasn't been great but most of it's been on the US Tour and there were hints of a return to form early on last week at Wentworth, so I've chanced him again this year.

After a fair effort last week I've again backed Alvaro Quiros. He's a fair bit shorter than he was for the PGA Championship but he shouldn't find so much trouble from the tee here and his length may be more of an advantage on such a long course.

I've also backed a trio of in-form players in Francesco Molinari, Johan Edfors and Raphael Jacquelin, who should all be feeling pretty good about themselves after getting into the US Open via Monday's qualifier at Walton Heath.

Stephen Dodd and Marc Warren did enough last week for me to stick by them and last up is Richard Sterne, who isn't exactly setting the world alight but is just too big for such a regular winner.

Selections:

Robert Karlsson @ [26.00]
Alvaro Quiros @ [48.0]
Francesco Molinari @ [65.0]
Johan Edfors @ [95.0]
Stephen Dodd @ [110.0]
Marc Warren @ [140.0]
Raphael Jacquelin @ [170.0]
Richard Sterne @ [170.0]

The Crowne Plaza Invitational has been played at the Colonial Country Club for its entire 61-year history. Only the Masters has been played on the same course longer.

It's a tight par 70 track, with plenty of dog-legs and it's regarded as a shot-makers course where experience is a distinct advantage. Five of the last 11 winners have been aged 40 or over.
Players that show an aptitude for 'Hogan's Alley' tend to do well here time and time again and all of my picks have already shown a liking.

First up is Kenny Perry, who following his 2nd placed finish here in 2002, broke the 72 hole scoring record when winning the following year, shooting a 19 under par total of 261. He then equalled that record when winning again in 2005. In fine fettle again this year; he had to be backed at [23.0].

Stephen Ames' game seems to fit this course really well and he arguably should have already won the event. A third round 77 derailed his attempt in shocking style three years ago but he still finished 4th, which was where he finished last year too. He also finished third back in 2004. Although a tad shorter than I'd have liked, coming here fresh off a fair effort in the Texas Open, he had to be supported too.

No doubt I back Ben Crane far too often, but I've simply had to again this week. In his three attempts here since withdrawing on his debut in 2004 he's finished 17th, 4th, and 5th. That's form I couldn't ignore, so it's a case of once more unto the breach with Ben.

My reasoning behind backing Steve Flesch is outlined in the 'Find Me A 100 Winner' column, whilst R S Johnson looked too big at over [400.0]. He came agonisingly close to winning here before succumbing to Tim Herron in a play-off back in '06.

Selections:

Kenny Perry @ [23.0]
Stephen Ames @ [36.0]
Ben Crane @ [50.0]
Steve Flesch @ [180.0]
R S Johnson @ [410.0]

I'll post an update at the halfway stage of both events on Saturday morning.

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