Portland Open

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The final event of the regular season lands at what will be a new course to most if not all of the tour's players this week, Witch Hollow at Pumpkin Ridge. It is a Par 71, 7041 yard track that has a reputation for being exceptionally difficult so expect the cream to rise to the top. A quick look at the course seems to reveal narrow, tree lined fairways with a number of hazards helping protect both the fairways and greens so Driving Accuracy and hitting greens in regulation will be key this week. Tiger Woods won the US Amateur Championship here back in 1996 as a 20 year old but other than that there is little course form to pick up on.

Carlos Ortiz - 1pt e/w @ 90/1 - I jut have to back Ortiz again this week as he is such a big price on the back of two missed cuts and the fact that he has been on the missing list since his 3rd at the South Georgia Classic back in May. The fact is though, Ortiz has two wins this year and still tops the money list, he will want to stay there. He still sits 3rd in the All-Around ranking which shows his class and despite his drop in form can still lay claim to over 70% of greens hit in regulation - hopefully his week off last week will see him come here refreshed.

Brett Stagmaier - 0.5pts e/w @ 125/1 - A player who has been fairly consistent on tour this year with two top 10s (including a runner up) and five top 25s, he currently sits in 34th position on the money list, around $40,000 outside ot the top 25. I am hoping that his close proximity to the automatic promotion places will inspire him this week. He sits 10th in GIR and 5th in Ball Striking and comes here on the back of two solid tournament performances where he was no worse than 14th in GIR. 

Justin Bolli - 0.5pts e/w @ 150/1 - I think Bolli is overpriced with Skybet. He comes here on the back of an impressive 32nd on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship where he cared three rounds in the 60s and posted a GIR of just under 70%. He is yet to record a decent finish on the Web.com but his performance last week will hopefully give him some confidence to push on here in his home State of Oregon.

Kris Blanks - 0.25pts e/w @ 300/1 - Another player sitting just outside of the top 25 in 33rd position and who could be inspired this week is Blanks. He has plenty of PGA experience and can boast a win on the Web.com this year back in March. However, his form since that win is a little worrying with a host of MCs and nothing better than a 22nd at the Rex Hospital Open but the other thing that leads me to him is his consistency in GIR percentage. Despite MCs and average finishes he has still managed to average his GIR in the 70s and could be a big threat this week.

Total Staked - 4.5pts