The Punter's De-Brief: The Nordea Masters and the RBC Canadian Open

The Punter / Mike Norman / 25 July 2011 / 1

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Alex Noren lifts the trophy after a scintillating performance at the Nordea Masters

"Alex Noren's third round 63 will live long in the memory as a demonstration of driving, ball-striking, and putting at its very best, and the Swede fully deserved his second victory on the European Tour this season."

It was a stroll in the wind for Alex Noren on Sunday with his deserved victory denying one of our tipsters a huge price winner, whilst in Canada Sean O'Hair returned to winning ways. Mike Norman de-briefs.

For the second consecutive year Sweden celebrated a home victory at the Nordea Masters thanks to an immaculate performance from Alexander Noren (a pre-tournament [30.0] shot). Forget his fourth round score of 77 in high winds, Noren's pillar to post success - during which he recorded two course records - was an example of a golfer who is at complete ease with his game. His third round 63 will live long in the memory as a demonstration of driving, ball-striking, and putting at its very best, and the Swede fully deserved his second victory on the European Tour this season.

At the RBC Canadian Open Sean O'Hair - matched at [150.0] before the off - recorded his first win in over two years after a bogey on the first play-off hole was good enough to beat outsider Kris Blanks.

betting.betfair Bets

It was a week in which the betting.betfair tipsters can hold their heads up high despite not arriving at a tournament winner.

I've said many times before that a selection doesn't necessarily have to win to make a profit, in theory, a selection only has to trade at a lower price than the one backed at for you to take advantage. And that was definitely the case with a few of The Punter's pre-tournament bets, most notably Bubba Watson who traded as low as [2.2] during his third round after being selected at [20.0] pre-tournament.

Perhaps the unluckiest pre-tournament selection though was Paul Krishnamurty's wager on Richard Finch at [190.0]. Finch finished in a clear second place after shooting an incredible final round 69 (by at least three shots the best round of the day) and can count himself unlucky to have ran into an unstoppable Noren last week.

As for myself, I'm happy to report that the best of my selections - Christian Nilsson - traded at odds on after round three in the Top Ten Finish market (backed at [12.0] pre-tournament) and I just hope every one who backed him got out at that stage as the Swede had a disastrous final day.

Players to swerve

I've been begging The Punter to put Rickie Fowler in this category for months, and now that the decision is mine I have no hesitation including the young American. We keep getting told that Rickie is the brightest young star in American golf so it's perhaps worth pointing out that whilst some of his fellow countryman who have been labelled with the same tag - Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson, Anthony Kim, and Bubba Watson to name but four - are now multiple winners on the PGA Tour (admittedly having been round longer), Fowler is yet to record a single victory.

There's no doubting Fowler's class, but it can't be a coincidence that he keeps folding when in the mix. He failed to make a single birdie during last week's final round at Royal St George's when in contention, and after putting himself in the perfect position this week, he once again recorded his worst rounds of the tournament over the weekend. Of course he'll win sometime, he's too good not to, but until he wins he won't carry a single penny of my money when in contention on the final day.

What have we learnt for next year?

Bro Hof Slott - as proved by Noren and many other 54 hole scores - isn't anywhere near as difficult as the 7,607 yardage suggests it should be when played in calm conditions, but when the wind blows this course becomes an absolute brute. Just one of the 65 players (Richard Finch) that made the cut broke par on a windswept round four compared to 41 players who broke par in calm conditions during round three. Other than an Open Championship perhaps, the weather forecast needs serious consideration here more than at any other event on the European Tour.

At the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club - home of the Canadian Open - you simply can't break par if you constantly find the rough. Just eight players finished under par after 72 holes because of the difficult US Open-like set-up to the course. Look for players who have a high Driving Accuracy percentage, especially in the weeks leading up to the event, when placing your bets next year.

I'm happy to report that Steve Rawlings (The Punter) will be submitting a preview of the Irish Open and Greenbrier Classic from his holiday retreat later in the week, but once again it will be yours truly who updates all the movers and shakers In-Play.

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DML | 26 July 2011

Couldn't agree more about Fowler The Howler, yet another case of overhyping the pudding , or some mixed metaphore.

Avoid like the plague, can't believe that a couple of decent judges have him winning multiple Opens - I mean, even Curtis can fluke one, but MULTIPLE!

Oh well.