Tipster: Stanley

Nissan Open

Outright plays (1.5pts):

Jay Haas to finish in the top-five 16/1 @ SkyBet
Unusually going for three selections at place-only odds and not because Tiger or Vijay are in the field. Tiger Woods does not play as well on par-71 tracks and Vijay Singh does not have a particularly good around this course either. Rather, these are three players who get themselves into contention a great deal, but without winning too often. Haas had seven top-5 finishes in 25 starts last year and one from three this year (though had he holed his short putt on the last hole at Torrey Pines, he would have secured another one last week), so odds of 16/1 look good value. Add in the fact that it is players who have a lot of experience rather than power who play well here and Haas does look a decent proposition to contend again this week.

Stewart Cink to finish in the top-five 16/1 @ SkyBet
Surprisingly large odds for a player who led last week's event after 36 holes and then again early in the final round. He is not good under final round pressure so place-only is definitely the way to go. He is clearly in good form following his 14th place finish in the FBR Open and his strong challenge last week and he returns to a course on which he has played well: three top-20 finishes in the last four years, including 5th in 2000. As with Haas, there is value at this price.

Nick Price to finish in the top-five 16/1 @ Paddy Power
A year ago, Price finished 4th in the Dimension Data Pro-Am and then finished 3rd here; this year he has opened his 2004 campaign with 2nd in the Dimension Data Pro-Am and could certainly earn a repeat of last year on this course that suits his game. He does tend to play better in the first half of the season these days and he has admitted in interview this year that he was tending to go through the motions as the season wore on, but that he has re-dedicated himself to being as competitive as possible again. Having finished in the top-5 in his first eleven starts on the PGA Tour last year, these do look short odds if he does have that same drive and he is playing on a course that rewards shot-makers.

Final update: 0-3; -4.50pts

Haas 39th
Cink 32nd
Price mc

Cink jumped up to 5th after birdies in his first two holes on Sunday, but that was as good as it got. Little chance of a win otherwise.