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Welch's/Fry Championship Outright plays
(0.75 units): Lorena Ochoa to win 22/1 e.w. @ Centrebet
Going early on one price. Ochoa is overpriced at these odds and I can't see it
being bettered this week. Glittering amateur career, including eight consecutive
NCAA titles, and poised to join Sorenstam, Pak and Webb at the top of ladies
golf this year. She has had two top-10 finishes in Australian events this year,
so rustiness should not be a concern, and has been a sponsor's invite for the
last two years here, finishing in the top-10 both times, so lack of course
knowledge will not be a concern. Will take 22/1 now because I doubt we will see
those odds on her many times again this season.
 Adding (0.75
units): Juli Inkster to win 28/1 e.w. @ Bet365
and
Stan James
Inkster has a fabulous history in this event. Apart from winning the title in
1999, she has finished in the top-3 in three of the last four years, in the
top-10 in all of the last four years and in six of the last nine. She did lose
her form a little towards the end of last year, but that was after she had won
the U.S. Women's Open. Too good a player, particularly on this course, to be at
these odds. Mi Hyun Kim to win 33/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
These are large odds for a player who is generally 20/1 elsewhere. Presumably it
is based on her indifferent form in this event, but was in 4th place going into
the final round last year. She was a two-time winner on Tour last year and 3rd
only behind Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak in the number of rounds in the 60s.
She has been working hard over the break with her new Honma clubs and they are
reportedly giving her the extra length off the tee that she needs to compete on
a wider range of courses. With the help of the new Titleist Pro-V1 ball as well,
she should be even more competitive than last year.
Matchup
plays (0.75 units): Juli Inkster to beat Laura Diaz -110 @ SkyBet
Really expecting another strong performance from Inkster on this course, so will
side with in the matchups as well. Diaz can also boast impressive form at
Randolph North - she has finished 2nd and 1st in the last two years - but the
pressure of being defending champion is exaggerated as this is first event of
the year. Plus, she finished in 39th and 35th positions in her two starts in
Australia this season so her form is obviously a concern. Juli
Inkster to beat Rachel Teske -118 @
Expekt
Teske was much more impressive in her homeland events - she secured three top-10
finishes - and she should be better prepared than most for this LPGA Tour
season-opening event. But her form at Randolph North is dire. In four visits,
her best finish is 34th and she has finished lower than the leaderboard in every
subsequent visit. Could be a better finish this year, but not ahead of a course
specialist.
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