Cox Classic

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This week we find ourselves in Omaha and the Cox Classis at the Champion's Run. Over the seventeen years that the course has hosted this event, one common theme occurs, the winner posts a host of birdies. Looking back, the average winning score for the first fifteen years of the tournament was 21.6 shots under par so we will definately be looking for someone ranking highly in scoring average. Due to the necessity of tapping in birdie after birdie, we shall also be looking for someone who ranks highly in birdie or better conversion while also boasting a decent putting average. With there being twelve par 4s on the course too, it seems apparent that Par 4 birdie or better leaders will come into play and although not imperative, after JJ Kileen's fine GIR perfromance last year, we will look at a competent green finder.

My picks are as follows.

Hudson Swafford - Young Swafford ticks all the right boxes for me this week ranking 15th in putting average, 18th in GIR, 3rd in birdie average, 6th in par 4 birdie or better and 10th in total birdies. To add to all these key attributes, he ranks a respectable 31st in scoring average which will come into play when going low and 10th in driving distance which will help on a course that is over 7100 yards. In terms of form, he comes here on the back of three missed cuts and this may explain his decent price this week, however, he does have a win and a fourth place this year and that win came in Georgia in a quite spectacular fashion. He is a fantastic talent and I want him on my side. 0.5pts ew @ 70/1 Bet365

Scott Gardiner - Gardiner has some quite fantastic form this year with four top 10 finishes, two of which were fourth places. Ok, that vital win does elude him and he does come here on the back of two missed cuts but he has enough talent to be knocking on the door of that first win for the season. In terms of stats, the Aussie ranks 9th in putting average, 2nd in birdie average, 9th in par 4 birdie or better, 25th in GIR and 17th in total birdies. Like Swafford he also ranks highly in driving distance (14th) and 23rd in scoring average which will aid him in Omaha. Finally, its worth noting that Gardiner has a wealth of course form to look back on, having missed the cut only once in six years and having never finished worse than 42nd. Looking at his cards over those six years, he has a wealth of low rounds and if he can put four together this week then he will definately contend. 0.5pts ew @ 50/1 Various

Paul Claxton - Claxton has quite simply been fantasic this year having only missed one cut in fourteen appearances, with three top 10s, a third and a second. He is a two time winner on tour so he knows how to win and he has some terrific form mixed with a few missed cuts at Champions Run, most noticeably a 7th two years ago where he carded a third round 62. With regards to stats, the veteran is 21st in GIR, 28th in birdie average, 10th in scoring average and most impressively 1st in total birdies. His better performances came at the beginning of the tour but he is not slouching having placed 22nd last time out. 0.5pts ew @ 80/1 Various

Total staked - 3pts