Wachovia Championship

Outright plays (1 unit):

Davis Love to win 11/1 e.w. @ Five Dimes and UKBetting
Coasted over the weekend when he it looked like was too far back to challenge Verplank which only shows how much his ambition has been raised this year. He is a three-time winner in 2003 and now truly believes he can win week-in, week-out. As with the rest of the field, he has no course form, but he was born in the Charlotte area and so can count on strong support and a warm welcome to his home town.

Chris DiMarco to finish in the top-five 7/1 @ Five Dimes
Generally 28/1 at best elsewhere, so will gladly take Five Dimes' odds. Completed his third top-10 finish in five starts at English Turn last week and looks to be in good form with a game that is suited to a shotmaker's course. He has won in each of the last five years, but they have not been against the strongest of fields and he is not the best front-runner. Will take the place-only odds when available with DiMarco.

Stuart Appleby to finish in the top-five 10/1 @ Five Dimes, SkyBet and Boyle
In very good form having finished 2nd in the Houston Open two weeks ago and right in contention after a third round 63 last week. He will have been very frustrated to have shot over-par on Sunday, particularly after Verplank came back to the field, but following up such a low is very difficult. Taking the place-only option with Appleby as he has not win on the PGA Tour since 1999 but has finished in the top-5 in 6 events in the last year.

Matchup plays (1 unit):

Duffy Waldorf to beat John Daly -111 @ BetandWin
Looking to oppose two players here whenever I can. Daly had the beating of Mattiace in last week's matchup play until he took a 9 on a par-5 and soon withdrew. Waldorf won't win this week, but with five cuts made in six events and four of them being top-25 then he should be there at the weekend and that will be enough.

Luke Donald to beat David Duval -111 @ BetandWin
Donald's form has slumped a little in the past two months, particularly in 2nd round performances, but he did have three top-20 finishes at the start of the year and did make his last cut in the Heritage. Duval hasn't made a cut since February or broken par in twelve rounds. Just a question of how hard Donald tries.

Adding (1 unit):

Loren Roberts to beat Arron Oberholser -111 @ BetandWin
He doesn't look a likely winner, but Roberts has yet to miss a cut all season and has never finished behind Oberholser in an event. Enough for me.

Really scratching around for plays this week and can't find any more that I like. No 1st round plays either, though I haven't been able to get into Moneyplays all evening.

2nd round plays (2 units unless stated):

Stuart Appleby to beat Stewart Cink -105 @ Five Dimes
Tom Pernice to beat Woody Austin -115 @ Five Dimes
Vijay Singh to beat Chris DiMarco -120 @ Moneyplays [3 units]  (-125 @ Sirbet)
Jonathan Kaye to beat Robert Gamez -115 @ Five Dimes

2nd round update: 1-2-1; -2.40 units

Appleby/Cink LOST by 4
Pernice/Austin WON by 4
Singh/DiMarco TIED (Push)
Kaye/Gamez LOST by 8

Mid-point update:

Waldorf/Daly WON by 7
Donald/Daly WON by 4
Roberts/Oberholser WON by 1

Love 56th
DiMarco 21st
Appleby mc

Had struggled to find any matchups I liked for this event so pleasing to have found three that were decided at the cut. They will at least cover the frustrating outrights. Love and Appleby had been in the top-20 when they stood on the 16th tee - they both played three ugly holes. It is a tight leaderboard so there is still hope yet ... until the 16th hole again!

3rd round plays (1 unit):

Tim Petrovic to beat Jeff Brehaut -115 @ Five Dimes
David Gossett to beat J.J. Henry -125 @ Five Dimes
J.P. Hayes to beat Paul Goydos -115 @ Five Dimes
Kenny Perry to beat Kirk Triplett -110 @ Sirbet  (-115 @ Moneyplays)

Adding (1 unit):

Robert Gamez to beat Paul Goydos +115 @ Moneyplays
Mike Weir to beat Peter Lonard -140 @ Moneyplays

3rd round update: 4-1-1; +3.05 units

Petrovic/Brehaut WON by 7
Gossett/Henry WON by 1
Hayes/Goydos WON by 2
Perry/Triplett LOST by 4
Gamez/Goydos WON by 3
Weir/Lonard TIED (Push)

4th round plays (1 unit):

Tom Lehman to beat Woody Austin -117 @ Five Dimes
J.P. Hayes to beat Brenden Pappas -118 @ Five Dimes
Davis Love to beat Mike Weir -120 @ Moneyplays

4th round update: 1-2-0; -1.35 units

Lehman/Austin LOST by 2
Hayes/Pappas LOST by 4
Love/Weir WON by 1

Final update:

Matchups: 3-0-0; +3.00 units

18-holes: 6-5-2; -0.70 units

Outrights: 0-3; -3.00 units

DiMarco 18th
Love 29th

Small loss on the event due to continued difficulties with 18-hole plays on this Tour. Hasn't been the case with any other Tour, but at least the losses are getting smaller. Very impressive win by Toms (until the last hole!) and a very impressive event.