The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 25 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

There are three tournaments for Steve to get his teeth into this weekend, read his initial selections here.

It's the first of this year's World Golf Championship events this week, with the annual lottery that is the World Match Play, and just in case you didn't know it's also the return to action of Tiger Woods. And if you didn't know that, how was Mars?

I've harped on in the past about not being a fan of this format of golf and I won't play the event to big stakes because there's a lot more luck involved than there is in a normal stroke play event. A player can shoot silly under par and lose, or play over par and win.

I do love the first day though, with so many matches going on at the same time and this year is going to be extra special. Tiger tees off two minutes after Sky's coverage begins tonight, so we'll see every shot and for once I'm not going to complain about that. I, like any other golf fan, can't wait to see him back.

I always do too many in the outright market in an attempt to get one all the way. I did manage to get Cink to the final last year but then Tiger gobbled him up quite comfortably.

I'm swerving Woods this week, guessing his fitness is an exercise in futility and the truth is nobody knows. Even if he was coming here in the form of his life I'd have to think long and hard about taking [6.2] in this format.

The first to catch my eye was Martin Kaymer, who looks to have a very fair draw. I've also backed some other young guns in Dustin Johnson and Alvaro Quiros, both of whom have won twice in the last few months.

Poulter and Mahan served me very well in the Ryder Cup and are kept on side again, and I've also had small bets on Zach Johnson (again!) and Phil Mickelson. So just the seven picks!

After examining the first day's singles I couldn't see an awful lot of obvious value and have staked just two bets, Goosen to beat Clark and Weekley to beat Rose, both at [2.0].

Selections:

Phil Mickelson @ [19.0]
Martin Kaymer @ [60.0]
Ian Poulter @ [75.0]
Hunter Mahan @ [90.0]
Dustin Johnson @ [90.0]
Alvaro Quiros @ [100.0]
Zach Johnson @ [100.0]

The Race to Dubai stops off in Bali this week for the Indonesian Open. The venue, New Kuta, looks spectacular but hasn't been used before. It's a links style course, designed by the same team that designed Kapalua, home of the Mercedes, and like that track is wind exposed. The forecast, however, doesn't look too bad so that may not have too much of a bearing. Given there's so little to go on and given the last two European Tour results I'm taking it steady early doors.

My main bet is Thongchai Jaidee, who was in contention at last year's Dunhill Links, so he should handle the course, and he also has a fair bank of form in Indonesia, so the perfect combination ... hopefully. He was disappointing when I backed him two weeks ago in Malaysia but a lot was expected of him there.

I've also given Chapchai Nirat another chance, together with a quintet of big-priced Englishmen, all of which I admit need an upsurge in form to figure .

Selections:

Thongchai Jaidee @ [24.0]
Oliver Fisher @ [70.0]
Chris Wood @ [70.0]
Chapchai Nirat @ [85.0]
Miles Tunnicliff @ [140.0]
Paul Broadhurst @ [170.0]
Simon Wakefield @ [330.0]

The USPGA Tour makes its annual detour to Mexico where an understandably substandard field assembles for the third staging of the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

I've been tempted by Chad Campbell all week and have finally taken the plunge at [28.0]. Although he's not played here before he's in fair form and could be inspired by not being at the Match play. His last win came at the Viking Classic in '07, which was staged the same week as the Presidents Cup, another event an on song Campbell would have played in..

Again, I haven't gone overboard from the get-go, just playing a few big priced selections. The first of which is Richard S Johnson, who always appears generously priced and has been in decent enough form in his last three events. After Zach and Dustin this year, he's certainly got the name for success anyway!

Heath Slocum seems all at sea just lately but a return to form, albeit fairly implausible, would make his price look ridiculous.

Last up is Mexican, Esteban Toledo, who hasn't exactly been setting the world alight lately but has done OK here the last couple of years.

Selections:

Richard S Johnson @ [75.0]
Heath Slocum @ [130.0]
Esteban Toledo @ [160.0]

I'll post an update on proceedings on Saturday.

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