Three Ball Bets / Dan Geraghty / 15 February 2012 /

After a clean sweep last week, Dan Geraghty makes his three ball selections for this week's Northern Trust Open. Can our man work his magic again?

After seemingly endless second places I was feeling particularly low while writing last week's column; a friend (Egg) sent me this. Egg's positive vibes and encouragement may well be responsible for last week's clean sweep. Let's hope the column can now kick on into profit.

The European Tour's Middle East swing is over and for the next couple of weeks I'm turning my attention to America.

Luke Donald [2.5] starts his PGA Tour season this week and I think he deserves a little more respect from the layers. Donald upped his game dramatically last year, finishing the year with victory at the Children's Miracle Classic to win the American Money List, that performance showed a killer instinct rarely seen from Donald before. Sure, Luke uncharacteristically missed the cut here last year but the year before that he was second, sixth in 2009 and third in 2008. I really think his price should be a lot closer to Mickelson's this week. His first day opponents are Nick Watney and Adam Scott. Watney's power packed game is more suited to some of the courses already played this year, where he has largely disappointed, and Scott, although a clear danger, can't match Donald's form here.

It's a big name three ball but I'm happy to take defending champion Aaron Baddeley [2.9] to beat bombers Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson. Riviera takes some knowing and Baddeley will be making his tenth appearance at this tournament. Dustin Johnson has some form round here but Baddeley surely deserves to be favourite after his win last year and a fine fourth place at Pebble Beach last week.

Phil Mickelson has been telling us for weeks that his game is in great shape and he's putting better than ever. I guess now we believe him. Kyle Stanley has his work cut out to match Phil on his debut round here and Brandt Snedeker [3.4] has missed three cuts from four attempts at Riviera. However, Snedeker is on fire this season and he finished 20th here in 2010 and shot a first round 66. I think he represents some value.

There's always lots of talk about Riviera suiting the South Africans so I will put up two at nice prices. Tim Clark [3.7] has been absent for what seems like forever but golfers seem to be returning in fine form of late (Sterne, Snedeker). Riviera suits Clark's game and he's worth a speculative punt.

Trevor Immelman [3.1] has often been plagued by his own injury worries but he's in good health at the moment and is worth chancing at a course he likes.

Happy punting!

Recommended Bets

First Round Three Balls

15:16 Luke Donald @ [2.5] 2 points

15:27 Aaron Baddeley [2.9] 1 point

20:12 Brandy Snedeker [3.4] 1 point

20:43 Tim Clark [3.7] 1 point

15:58 Trevor Immelman [3.1] 1 point

Season Profit/Loss: -2.02 points

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