Golf Bets / Steven Rawlings / 22 December 2011 / 1

Steve Rawlings marks your card five ante-post picks for the golfing year to come and it tees off in South Africa on January 19 with the Volvo Golf Champions

Thomas Aiken - Volvo Golf Champions
This year will be remembered for many things. We've witnessed the horrific shootings in Norway, the deaths of Osama Bin Laden and Colonial Gaddafi, the sad passing of the brilliant Steve Jobs, the Japan earthquake and tsunami, riots across the UK, and of course, we also witnessed a royal wedding and Manchester City winning the FA Cup (yes that was a big story!). But the most historic event of the year was surely the Arab Spring. Dictatorships toppled one by one, with the obvious couple of exceptions, one of which being the Kingdom of Bahrain. And that's where's where South African golfer Thomas Aiken comes in...

The European Tour's top brass have correctly decided to move next month's Volvo Golf Champions from last year's inaugural venue in Bahrain and the event will this year be staged at the stunning Fancourt Links in South Africa.

Readers with decent memories may well recall the titanic struggle for the South African Open at Fancourt between Ernie Els and Retief Goosen back in 2006, which eventually went the way of the Goose. That pair pulled miles clear of the field and I fancy the home contingency will again have a considerable advantage at a venue they'll know very well and Aiken, who represents Fancourt, could be the best value amongst them.

Alvaro Quiros - Qatar Masters
A week after the Volvo Golf Champions, Martin Kaymer will be attempting to win his third Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in-a-row and his fourth in five years but I've a feeling he'll be no sort of price in what will be a very competitive field - waiting one more week for another standing dish at a better price maybe the way to go.

Quiros has shown in no uncertain terms this year how much at home he is in the desert and he could quite easily have been looking forward to the Qatar Masters seeking a four-timer. After winning the 2009 event, he finished runner-up in 2010 and again this year. He's not going to be a huge price but he almost guaranteed to compete and he'll be in my portfolio for sure.

Phil Mickelson - US Masters
I've been a huge Lefty fan for years but even I have to admit his career has moved into the twilight stage now, but it's certainly not too late for one or two more last hoorahs at Augusta. Nobody plays the Georgia venue better than Phil and if he turns up in April in any sort of form he'll be a single-figure price.

He did himself no favours last year, peaking seven days too soon at the Houston Open, where he played some of the best golf of his career. Even if his form goes to pot in the early part of 2012, he'll still be on my side for the year's first major.

Rickie Fowler - Open Championship
We've seen a few classy rounds this year, Lee Westwood's produced a couple recently for starters, but I was blown away by Rickie Fowler on the Saturday at Royal St George's in July. Playing in deplorable conditions the young American shot 68 when mere mortals were shooting 78 or more and what that round confirmed to me was how strong a links player Rickie is.

Like Rory McIlroy, young Rickie hasn't found winning easy, in fact, he has just one title to his name, this year's Kolon Korea Open on the OneAsia Tour, so I'd really like to see him notch another event or two before July. But even if he hasn't, I'll be backing him at this year's Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. And I'll probably be backing in every Open Championship for many a year to come.

Tiger Woods - Chevron World Challenge
I've missed Tiger Woods over the last two years. Or should I say my pocket has. Prior to the debacles of 2009 Tiger was a very easy pick in a number of events and backing him at Torrey Pines, Doral, Bay Hill and for this event at the Sherwood Country Club each year were the cornerstones of the punting year. Not having those banker bets to rely on over the last few years has been a hindrance but after his win at this year's Chevron, his first in two years, it could be time to start bringing the great man back onside.

Whether he'll win at the first three venues, which host the Farmers Insurance Open, the WGC-Cadillac Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational respectfully, time will tell., but even if he fails at all three, I'll still be backing him at Sherwood. His record there is simply stunning and his win there this year would rank as one of the most important of his career.

I didn't back him this year as I felt gaining that illusive first win in two years was starting to become a huge issue and I didn't see him as a value play. All picks are always price dependant but he'd have to be extremely short for me to let him go un-backed in this in 2012.

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1. Anonymous | 23 December 2011

   Ante-post? So where can I find the betting for the Volvo Golf Champions the Qatar Masters and the Chevron World Challenge?????

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