|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The Wales Open
The first staging of this event and the first staging of any event at the Celtic Manor Golf Resort, apparently designed to be a potential Ryder Cup venue of the future. Certainly the facilities are reported to be excellent, opinions of the course will be deferred until after this event. In a European Tour event the week before the US Open, the field is obviously weakened by the loss of the top European players, all bar Ian Woosnam, a fiercely patriotic character who would treasure winning this inaugural event in his homeland. The course is long at 7,244 yards and with the shortest of the four par fives being 554 yards, this is certainly going to be a stern test after the recent wet weather!
With no course form, bets should be cautious, but the top-ranked is Ian Woosnam who is coming off two top-10 finishes. With a weakened field and in his homeland, he looks one to watch this week and the 10/1 on offer at Sportingbet is just enough to make it worth an e/w shot. Though Gary Orr ranks ahead of him, Philip Price is the other short-priced tip for the win. He lives just a stone's throw away from the course and has already been made a honorary member and has at least played this course a few times. At 16/1 e/w, it looks a good proposition for at least a top-4 position. The long shot for this event is Olivier Edmond @ 50/1 e/w. With length going to be very important on this long, wet course, his game will not be found lacking. Has posed respectable finishes as well as late and a 7th place finish in the Volvo PGA two weeks ago is testimony to what he can do.
Back with matchup plays later this evening.
72-hole plays:
Peter Mitchell to beat John Bickerton -111 @ Ladbrokes
Quite some distance from his early season form for Bickerton; Mitchell can be
counted upon to always be there or thereabouts
Peter O'Malley to beat Brian Davis -111 @ Victor Chandler [-125 @ Sportingbet
with no ties lose]
Four top-10 finishes in his last five tournaments for O'Malley, not many
players can keep up with that, not likely to be the erratic Davis
Nick O'Hern to beat Mark James -111 @ Victor Chandler
Rising star who keeps edging into contention on the European Tour, O'Hern
should be too consistent for Mark James who has disappointed all season until
last week. After controversy with his book, James' mind may wander to the US this week
Nick O'Hern to beat Brett Rumford -110 @ SIA
The opposite to above! O'Hern's experience on the European Tour will help him
find the leaderboard this week; Rumford has had some great successes 'down
under', but takes time to adjust to Europe and cold, wet Britain in particular
Jamie Spence to beat David Park -111 @ Easybets
Already a winner this year, Spence should comfortably make the top-30 and secure
this matchup
Mid-point update:
Of the five 72-hole plays, two were decided at the halfway cut. O'Malley defeated Davis by one as both players finished either side of the cut-line, but Mitchell lost to Bickerton by two as both failed to make the cut. Of the other plays, double-pick Nick O'Hern lies in 5th place, enough for a tie with Mark James and two shots ahead of Brett Rumford, while Jamie Spence lies one shot behind David Park.
Final update: 4-1 and +2.89 units for the week
The three remaining matchups plays were all winners. Nick O'Hern finished 5th in the event and it was enough to record a one shot victory over Mark James and a four shot victory over Brett Rumford. Jamie Spence was a one-shot victor over David Park.
No European Tour event next week as all eyes are on the US Open. Back with more Euro plays in two weeks for the European Grand Prix.
Update on outright bets: 1-2 and -0.75 units
Woosie finished 3rd for a place winner, but having led the tournament going into the final round, not a great result. Price made a final round charge of 65 to finish 5th, one place outside a payout with Sportingbet! If only the play had been with Victor Chandler ... Price finished two shots back of 4th, but bogeyed the final hole, a very birdie-able par-five. Edmond missed the cut
