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Senior British Open
Outright plays (1 unit):
John Bland to win 25/1 e.w. @ Centrebet
Bland has never won this title, but he has come extremely close. Three times in
the last five years, he has finished 2nd, once via a playoff, and he led this
event after 36 holes last year only to shoot 76-76 and finish 13th. He has been
in solid form on the Senior PGA Tour, having finished in the top-25 in five of
his last six events, but this course and this field should be more suited to
this links specialist.
Steve Stull to win 33/1 e.w. @ Bet365
Stull had a number of starts as a Monday qualifier on the Senior PGA Tour last
year, but could only finish 18th at the Qualifying School. So he diverted his
attention to the European equivalent and it paid off. He won the Qualifying
School by 10 shots, he won his first title on his second start, has become a
consistent top-10 performer ever since and lost in a playoff for the Lawrence
Batley Seniors three weeks ago. Looks a good price for one of the European
Tour's rising players.
Bob Charles to win 50/1 e.w. @ Centrebet
Amazing price from Centrebet. Surrey go 16/1! At 66 years old, he should be too
old to be competitive on the Senior PGA Tour, but finished 5th in the Greater
Baltimore Classic on his last start on that Tour. Since then, he finished in the
top-10 in the Wales Senior Open and looks to be in good form. But it is his
event form that is most noteworthy. He has played in this event every year and
on only two occasions has he finished outside the top-5 - 34th in 1997 and 9th
in 1998. Twice a winner of this title, he lost in a playoff to Ian Stanley last
year. There can be no doubting his links credentials.
Final update: 0-3; -3.00 units
Bland 10th
Stull 54th
Charles 14th
Nothing to show from the week though Bland and Charles did have
three good rounds out of four. On a wet and windy final day, Bland fell from 3rd
place overnight when he shot 8-over-par on his first nine holes, while Charles
had a poor Saturday. Both looked worthy of a top-4 finish during the rest of the
week, though that was not the case for Stull who only just made the cut.
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