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The Punter's picks for the KLM Open and The Barclays

The Punter RSS / / 20 August 2008 / 1

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Read the early selections for the big two golf betting events of the week here...

The European Tour parks up in Holland at the Kennemer Golf & Country Club for the KLM Open, a venue used for the last two renewals. The course is relatively short, wind exposed and has a links feel about it.

The player with the best record over the two years here is Austria's Markus Brier who has finished tied 7th and tied 8th. He looks a decent enough proposition at [46.0].

I've also backed a couple of outsiders but have turned my nose up at those at the head of the market.

Henrik Stenson comes here in fine fettle but I can't have him at the price given he hasn't managed a win yet this year.

Justin Rose is always too short for me considering how difficult he finds it to convert any chances that do arise, while last week's selection Martin Kaymer is the same price as last week in a stronger event on a course he's unproven on. Not for me.

Defending Champion Ross Fisher looks a fair price and may not be far away but the pressure of defending may just be too much.

I'm quite happy with the few outsiders I've picked to accompany Brier and to keep most of my powder dry until the event starts to take shape.

Selections:

Markus Brier @ [46.0]
Paul Broadhurst @ [140.0]
Steve Webster @ [200.0]
Simon Wakefield @ [230.0]
Carlos Franco @ [200.0]

In the States, the first FedEx Cup play-off event is The Barclays at the Ridgewood Country Club, New Jersey, which hosts the tournament for the first time.

Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural event way back in 1967 when it was known as the Westchester Classic and this year, much to my dismay, the event switches from the Westchester Country Club for the first time in its history. Fantastic, just when you've got a great bank of course form and you know the venue like a trusted old friend the powers that be decide to move somewhere else!

So what do we know about Ridgewood? It's a lengthy par 71 designed by Tillinghast in 1929 and remodelled last year. It's actually a composite of three courses, seven holes from Ridgewood's East Course, six from its West Course and five from the Central Course. Look out for the signature hole, the par four fifth, nick-named the 'five and dime' as it should be an exciting par four at only 291 yards.

I've gone for just one selection from the outset, Phil Mickelson @ [11.0], who appears good value to me for several reasons.

Sponsored by Barclays, he'll be very keen to play well here. Course designer Tillinghast was also responsible for Beth Page, Baltusrol, Winged Foot and Firestone, all tracks that lefty has excelled upon.

He's been in fine form in his last two outings and he'll be in amongst the rowdy New York fans who love him dearly. He'll do for me as my starter for ten.

Selection:

Phil Mickelson @ [11.0]

As usual I'll post an update on both events on Saturday morning.

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  1. Dean | 20 August 2008

    Hi, best of luck with your selections, here are my picks for both tournaments...

    KLM OPEN

    A Forsyth (has great course form and has just had one of his best finishes of his career, finishing
    TOP 10 in the USPGA, he should go very well this week)

    I like S Hansen and O Wilson, they will be trying there hardest, as they want to make that Ryder Cup team!

    I also like Alex Noren, he is an excellent player who should of won a tournament by now, i wouldn't of thought this course would suit his game as he is not the most accurate of players, but he finished 3rd here last year, so the course is not a problem, this could well be his week!
    Others i've gone for at decent prices are F Molinari, J Luiten, R Dinwiddie, R Mcgowan, M Erlandsson, I Garrido, A Canizares, S Wakefield, & J Van De Velde

    BARCLAYS CLASSIC

    Nobody seems quite sure how the course will play, i personally think Mickelson is not alot of value considering his putting recently has been dreadful and has wobbled under pressure lately, but we all know if he's on his best game he is the likely winner!

    C Villegas (Excellent young player who should be winning his first tournament very soon)

    A Baddeley (could be coming back into form) K Streelman(young rookie who has impressed alot this year) both could go well, and the rest of my picks are based on players who must play well if they have any chance of making the US Ryder Cup team they are...
    Z Johnson, D J Trahan, J Kelly, W Austin, S O'hair, C Campbell, & S Flesch