The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 30 June 2009 /

It's about time Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter won again, so why not this week. While across the pond Steve's gone for a trio of outsiders.

This week's Race to Dubai event, the Open de France, has been pretty tough on punters over the years with outsiders aplenty wining the event. So backing the favourite, Ian Poulter, may prove to be a bad idea, but that's what I've done.

Poults has had a very solid year to date and his form on the other side of the Atlantic has been top notch. He's shown an aptitude for the course with a few high finishes, including a third place in 2006. A return to Europe might just be the drop in grade needed to see him gain his first win since 2006, when he won the Open de Madrid.

Second up is Martin Kaymer, who I considered backing to defend his BMW International title last week. Given he'd have the pressure of defending in front of his home fans I felt he was a tad short at around [17.0] though, and I was right to be cautious. He never got competitive and missed the cut. As he did in this event last year, but that can be easily forgiven too; considering it was just a week after his prestigious BMW win. His only other appearance here was in 2007 when he finished 7th.

Last but not least, is Niclas Fasth, who was fancied last week at a track he'd won at before but after a decent start he lost his way a bit but did shoot an impressive final round 63. That, along with his 2nd in Wales in his previous event, suggests that the swing changes he's made are finally starting to pay dividends.

Selections:

Ian Poulter @ [18.5]
Martin Kaymer @ [34.0]
Niclas Fasth @ [55.0]

On the PGA Tour, it's the third staging of the AT & T National at the Congressional Country Club in Maryland. As well as staging this event for the last two years Congressional was also used for the 2005 Booz Allen Classic, scene of the infamous Ben Crane - Rory Sabbatini spat and it was also used for the 1997 US Open, won by Ernie Els. It will also be the venue of the US Open in 2011.

The last three winners here - Anthony Kim, KJ Choi and Sergio Garcia (in the Booz Allen), and the fine records here of Jim Furyk, Rod Pampling and Robert Allenby show that it's a shot-makers course.

It's really hard to envisage Furyk not challenging this week but he's just too unreliable in contention for me nowadays and at less than [20.0] I've left him alone.

Tiger Woods is obviously the favourite but as he's the tournament host, which can be a distraction, and given he's not been at his absolute best, I'm prepared to pass him over for now too.

Just three picks from the get-go then, and first up is Boo Weekley. He's a duel winner of the Verizon Heritage, on another shot-makers track, and his 12th here in '07, in his only appearance, show he has the game for Congressional. His 14th last week was his first decent effort since he withdrew from the Players' Championship due to injury.

Arguably the most in-form player in the US at present is Paul Goydos. He's had three top four finishes in his last four tournaments. He does struggle in the mix but had to be backed at [90.0]. He also has course form to boast having finished 13th in the 2005 Booz Allen.

Last up is last year's US Open runner-up Rocco Mediate. A canny old pro who loves a tough test with two top 20 finishes here in the last two years. There doesn't seem to be too much of a downside at nearly [300.0].

Selections:

Boo Weekley @ [65.0]
Paul Goydos @ [90.0]
Rocco Mediate @ [270.0]

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

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