The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 14 April 2010 /

Is the Punter feeling flat after the magnificent Masters? Not a bit of it, our man's looking forward to one of his favourite events of the year in the States...

This week could easily have had a bit of an "after the Lord Mayor's show" feel about it, after what was such an enjoyable and exciting US Masters, but both events have decent fields and the Verizon Heritage is always a favourite of mine. I'll start with this week's Race to Dubai event first though - the Volvo China Open.

Fellow columnist Tareq Quiroz has described the course perfectly and although it sounds like an interesting venue, I completely share his frustration at the fact that, yet again, it's a new one we have to contemplate.

I also share his believe that the favourite, YE Yang, could well be jaded after his outstanding performance at Augusta and although he's done me a few favours in the past he was the first one I put a line through.

Given the links style back nine, Thongchai Jaidee was on my radar, but he withdrew from the Masters during round two with an elbow injury so is perhaps best left.

Recent winners, Rhys Davies and Andrew Dodt were also considered, as was in form Richard finch, but all three were ultimately left out, as I felt that they were just too short.

First up of those that did make the squad is Wen-Chong Liang, who I've followed on a few occasions this year already. At [40.0] he looked fairly priced considering he's a recent winner in his homeland, having won the Luxehills Chengdu Open in the Sichuan Province, the first event of the 2010 One Asian Tour season, just two weeks ago.

Another over-priced recent winner has to be Tetsuji Hiratsuka. A winner on the Japanese Tour five times, he's qualified for the Asian Tour this year, where his form figures read 3-3-MC-1, following an extremely impressive win last week in Myanmar, by a massive ten shots!

Runner-up last week was Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng. He started the final round just three back of Hiratsuka but poor driving saw him struggle and he went on to shoot 73, but he claimed afterwards that he was almost back to his best form. We'll see...

I had to have a small interest in Kiradech Aphibarnrat following his brave effort in Malaysia, where he very nearly bagged me a monster payout, and finally, I've also backed Bret Rumford. His 3rd placed finish in Qatar, a little over two months ago, was an impressive effort and he has a fair record in China too.

Selections:

Wen-Chong Liang @ [40.0]
Tetsuji Hiratsuka @ [48.0]
Prayad Marksaeng @ [90.0]
Kiradech Aphibarnrat @ [85.0]
Brett Rumford @ [110.0]

The US PGA Tour event this week, the Verizon Heritage, is a lovely event to watch. The Harbour Town Golf Links course, the event's home for its entire 42 year history, is very pleasing on the eye and very often produces an exciting close finish, but that wasn't the case last year...

Brian Gay, an excellent scrambler and accurate driver, has all the right attributes for this tight, short tree-lined course, and he absolutely dotted up 12 months ago, beating Luke Donald and Briny Baird by a remarkable ten shots. He was always going to be included in my plans this week.

As was Boo Weekley, winner of the event in both 2007 and 2008. I highlighted him as a player to watch after an improved performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. If that wasn't a one-off, [50.0] is massive.

Another player I highlighted recently as one to watch is Ben Curtis and I'm in complete agreement with Paul Krishnamurty about his chance this week. He really has the game for Hilton Head and led here at halfway on his first sighting back in 2004. He's not really shone on the track since but he's nearly always a late starter and has possibly arrived in South Carolina out of form in the past. This year he comes here in form though, and I'm very hopeful of a good showing.

Whenever I come across an event like this, where there's plenty of course form to ponder and nice clear patterns to follow, my biggest problem is always in reducing the number of selections. KJ Choi, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald and Tim Clark were all on my rather long shortlist but none of them found their way into my bulging portfolio, and purely on price.

Choi came closest to an inclusion. He hasn't played here before but his game should perfectly suit Hilton Head. My biggest worry is that he'll be at a low ebb after his Augusta exploits though - he traded at less than [3.0] on Sunday and at one point looked the likeliest winner. A hangover is highly likely so he's reluctantly been omitted.

Stephen Ames has always struck me as a possible winner here, though his 6th in 2005 is his best effort to date. He's doesn't scream great value at around [40.0] but I felt I had to include him.

Heath Slocum was runner-up on his debut here in 2002 and comes here following an eye-catching 18th last week. Again, he has all the right attributes for the venue.

With two top tens here, including a 3nd place in 2004, Carl Pettersson looked too big to leave out following a couple of very good efforts this year at the Transitions Championship and the Sony Open.

And last but by no means least; I couldn't possibly let Graham DeLaet go un-backed. I backed him two weeks ago in Houston at [600.0] when he finished a single shot shy of the play-off. Yet again he ranks highly on the two key stats required - he's the number one scrambler so far this season and he ranks 10th for GIR (Greens in Regulation). He came so close a fortnight ago that I'm going to turn a blind-eye to his 142nd place ranking on the Driving Accuracy list and hope that someone nicks his woods!

Selections:

Brian Gay @ [36.0]
Stephen Ames @ [42.0]
Boo Weekley @ [50.0]
Ben Curtis @ [75.0]
Heath Slocum @ [85.0]
Carl Pettersson @ [130.0]
Graham DeLaet @ [150.0]

I'll post an update on Saturday morning after the conclusion of round three in China and at the halfway stage in the States.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: