Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters

FINAL RESULT: 2-2-1; -1.20pts

Katayama/Izawa WON by 4
Katayama/McDowell TIED (dead heat)
Taniguchi/McDowell LOST by 1
Smail/Jones WON by 11
Smail/Kase LOST by 4

Small loss on the matchups and an unprofitable opposition of McDowell even though there was only shot between the two matches against him.

72-hole plays (1pt unless stated):

Shingo Katayama to beat Toshimitsu Izawa -125 @ Paddy Power
Katayama can't match Izawa's record on this course, but he is the better player as shown by his 9-2-1 h2h lead over his opponent in 2004. He should prevail yet again.
(also available at Five Dimes)

Shingo Katayama to beat Graeme McDowell -109 @ Centrebet [2pts]
No course experience and only ever having played in Japan twice when he finishes 33rd and 44th, McDowell may be one of Europe's best prospects, but he is hardly on level terms with Katayama on his own Tour. In fact, McDowell and Katayama have played in the same tournament on six occasions in their careers and Katayama has finished aheadof MoDowell in all but one of them. With home advantage, these odds should be very different.
(also available at Expekt)

Toru Taniguchi to beat Graeme McDowell +110 @ Paddy Power [2pts]
Same here. These odds may be justified on neutral ground, but not in Japan. They have only met once and Taniguchi prevailed on that occasion.
(also available at Five Dimes)

David Smail to beat Brendan Jones -115 @ Five Dimes
Jones had a great first six months to the season, but his form has completely disappeared since. Smail has finished aheadof the Australian in each of their last five common events and in their respective forms, he should extend that run to six.
(also available at SkyBet)

David Smail to beat Hideki Kase -111 @ Paddy Power
He has finished aheadof Kase in each of his three previous visits to the Gotemba course, he has finished aheadof Kase in four of their last five common events and leads him 12-5-0 h2h in 2004; this should be a tougher test for Smail, but he should finish aheadof Kase as well.