The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 26 July 2011 /

It's all about putting in Killarney and there will be birdies aplenty in West Virginia but who does our man fancy for this week's two events...

With Ireland's four recent major winners all in attendance at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, it's safe to assume a fantastic and almost party-like atmosphere at this week's Irish Open. The presence of Padraig Harrington from south of the border and Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke from the north, will no doubt add to the occasion but it will have to go some to match last year's. The place was buzzing as Padraig made a Sunday charge but in the end it was to no avail as Ross Fisher held firm to take the title.

Last year was the first time the Killarney G&FC had hosted the event since 1992 so an analysis of last year's result is practically all we've got to go on. Fortunately, one very obvious pointer emerges - it seems there's little point showing up this week with a cold putter! Of the first six home last year, five ranked in the top six for Putts Per Green In Regulation and only Fisher was ranked outside the top six for Putts Per Round. That's a very clear pointer indeed and I've made all my selections on the strength of it.

So who's hot with the flat-stick?

Richard Finch ranked first for Putts Per Green In Regulation and second for Putts Per Round last week in Sweden; John Parry ranked second and third in the same two categories. They finished second and tenth respectfully last Sunday.

My other three picks are all in the top-ten for Putts Per Green In Regulation in the Genworth stats and all three are priced up generously. The only glaringly obvious omission from my pre-event picks is Harrington, who on his day is one of the best putters on the planet. I can't help thinking he'll contend this week but I'll be surprised if I can't get a bigger price in-running.

It's completely accidental but of my five selections, two are former winners of the title. Finch won in 2008 and Rumford in '04.

Selections:

Richard Finch @ [60.0]
David Horsey @ [100.0]
John Parry @ [110.0]
Brett Rumford @ [140.0]
Rafael Cabrera-Bello @ [280.0]

Over in the States, it's the second staging of the Greenbrier Classic, an event that last year produced plenty of low rounds. Jeff Overton shot to the top of the leaderboard with a second round 62 before J.B. Holmes shot 60 and D.A points 61 in the third round but they were all gazumped on Sunday when Stuart Appleby took the title with a stunning 59.

We can't expect quite such low scoring this time because the course has been tightened up and lengthened, but I'm still not surprised to see Phil Mickelson turn up for such a birdie-fest. I fancy Lefty could well be a factor but I'm happy to let him go un-backed from the off. Much like Pod in Ireland, I suspect he may trade bigger in-running and I'll be looking to jump aboard in-play.

Given that the par-70 Old White Course has just two par fives and given that going low is the only way to go, the best place to look for this year's contenders could well be the PGA Tour's Par 4 performance stats. Last year's first and second both performed the best on the par four's over the four days, playing them in 15 under par.

Brandt Snedeker ranks tied tenth for par four performance at present, he loves a low scoring event and with a win already under his belt this year, at The Heritage in April, he looks a good thing this week at [36.0].

My only other pick is Matt Bettencourt at [240.00]. He finished tied 16th last year and last week in Canada he finally showed a return to form. He's been dogged by injuries and even allergies this year but when he's fit he's a force to be reckoned with and a player I can see popping in somewhere this year.

Selections:

Brandt Snedeker @ [36.0]
Matt Bettencourt @ [240.0]

As he did last week, Mike Norman will be doing the Live Blog and De-Brief and I'll be back next week with a preview of both the Reno-Tahoe Open and the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational.

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