Australian Ladies Masters

FINAL RESULT: 1-2; +3.00pts

Webb 1st
Stupples 18th
Sorenstam 48th

Now that was impressive! Against a very promising young Japanese player, Webb was seven shots behind at the cut. She then narrowed it down to four after three rounds to be in the final group alongside Miyazato and was four-under-par after the first four holes of the final round to draw level. Great play by Webb which justifies her selection despite the short odds.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1pt):

Karrie Webb to win 5/1 @ SkyBet
This is an market dominated by the four leading players and with good reason given the rest of the field. Of these four, only Webb has a proven record of winning events in this country as she showed when winning this title in four successive years from 1998 to 2001. She finished 2nd on either side of this stretch in 1997 and 2002 and 2003 and clearly has this course under control. Ending 2004 in good form and blew out the competitive cobwebs from her game in South Africa two weeks ago, so I'll back her to be the leading player of this quartet.

Karen Stupples to win 11/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
Also siding with one more from this group who I am surprised is at better odds than Rachel Hetherington. Stupples finished 2nd on this course last year and followed it with a win on the LPGA Tour a fortnight later in what was definitely her breakthrough year as she won the Women's British Open in July and finished 6th on the LPGA Tour Money List. Having also played in South Africa, she should be well-placed to contend again this week.

Charlotta Sorenstam to finish in the top-five 10/1 @ Centrebet and SuperOdds
Congratulations to Centrebet/SuperOdds on offering 5 places now, so this looks a far better proposition than would otherwise have been the case. Sorenstam has plenty of experience on this course and finished in the top-five three years ago and comes into this event off a runners-up finish in Singapore three weeks ago after a very strong final round left her only one shot short. With the players at the top of the market, definitely worth an place-only punt.