Samsung World Championship

FINAL RESULT: 2-0; +4.70pts

Sorenstam 1st
Park 2nd

Two winners, but a frustrating outcome. Park had this title in the bag after an opening 62, but it all changed in the last few holes on Sunday. Was looking at a lot more profitable outcome.

Outright plays (1.5pts):

Annika Sorenstam to win 15/8 @ GolfingGods
With just 20 players in the field, the odds for any player are not going to be very good, but this is still the first time in a very long time that I've back Annika to win. I'd rather do that in a small field than in a full Tour event with 144 players. The ratios suggest that this is a value play, no matter how small. She has won seven times in sixteen starts this year, including two out of her last three events and she has won six times from eleven starts in California since 2001. Not much value at these odds, but with only three places available, there is not much value in the each-way betting either, assuming that does play to her normal standard this week.

Grace Park to win 14/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
In looking for a top-3 finish to ensure a return, Park looks a decent bet. She has finished in the top-3 in each of her last two starts, ranks 3rd in scoring average on Tour and has had a 1st and 2nd place finish in three events in California in the last year. She played with the Nike Distance Series (NDS) Irons for the first time in the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship and was reportedly very pleased with their performance after playing with the same set of irons for over eight years. They helped her finish 2nd so she should be. And with a little more familiarity this week, they could help to win this title.

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