The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 06 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

After making a pig's ear of last week's event, Steve looks to make nothing but profit in Madrid and San Francisco...

I can't say I really enjoyed watching Monday's final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and although I didn't have a single bet on the final day I feel as though I made a right pig's ear of it.

I'd set my stall out on Friday, siding with those due to play St Andrews in the poor weather forecast for Saturday - which I felt was a good plan. Not laying back my bets and starting again once play was abandoned on Saturday was a bad decision though, and I really should have been on the winner, Simon Dyson. After all I don't like Luke Donald in contention and I'm repeatedly saying that Rory McIlroy is consistently poor value and yet to prove himself. The fact that I was still holding so many bets made me cautious, and cost me in the end.

Anyway, that's enough regrets, betting aside it was great to see Dyson win. He's worked very hard over the years and is a likeable guy. And after many years of being fairly wobbly in the mix, he must be applauded for the way he's learnt to keep his nerve just lately.

On to this week, and there's only one stroke-play event, the Madrid Masters, won last year by Charl Schwartzel, but that was at a different venue. This course, Centro Nacional de Golf, was last used for the 2007 Open de Espana, which was also won by Charl Schwartzel, so you could say he's attempting a double defence of sorts. It was also the venue for the 2006 Challenge de Espana on the Challenge Tour.

Despite his constant putting woes, Sergio Garcia is the favourite. He has a cracking record in his homeland and his place at the head of the market is justified, even if his price isn't tempting.

Second favourite, Luke Donald, makes no appeal at all after his disappointing effort on Monday. While third best, Schwartzel, looks a shade short now. Though those that snaffled up the [30.0] plus that was available earlier in the week have themselves a fair price.

Whether I'm a bit jaded after Monday's mess up I don't know but I can't seem to muster up much enthusiasm for anyone in particular. I've picked out a few that look to be a bit over-priced though, and one youngster that looks to be quite a prospect.

Jorge Campillo's the current Spanish Amateur Champion, has a couple of top ten finishes on the Challenge Tour, from just five starts and is on the verge of graduating from Indiana University after an incredibly successful year. He's had three collegiate wins and three other top fives in just 12 starts, and he's also just been signed up by Cleveland golf. He's a fun bet at a big price this week but he certainly has potential and looks worth keeping an eye on.

Selections:

Thongchai Jaidee @ [55.0]
Ignacio Garrido @ [85.0]
Peter Hedblom @ [95.0]
Marcel Siem @ [230.0]
Jorge Campillo @ [240.0]

The event on the other side of the Atlantic this week is the Presidents Cup, at Harding Park, San Francisco, and at first I nonchalantly thought the US Team would be unbeatable under the leadership of Freddy 'Boom Boom' Couples, but on closer inspection I'm not quite so sure.

The International Team have some very fine matchplay players and it may not be as easy for Tiger Woods and co as I initially thought. I've not gone mad by any means but I've had a small play on the International Team.

I've also backed Ernie Els to be the Top International point scorer and I'm hoping to get matched on Hunter Mahan in the Top USA point scorer market.

Selections;

International Team @ [3.75]
Ernie Els - Top International @ [8.8]
Hunter Mahan - Top USA @ [15.5]

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

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