Barclays Classic

FINAL RESULT: 1-2; +0.38pts

Perry 3rd
Van Pelt mc
Durant mc

Perry finished each round in the top-5 and so the place return was deserved, but this was a rollercoaster ride! He would have bursts of very poor play and then get back on track with an eagle or he would challenge for the lead and then immediately slip back with another poor run. Just a pity Harrington hadn't shown that form when a selection last week!

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)

Kenny Perry to win 22/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler and BetDirect
None of the top-10 from last year's post-U.S.-Open event had finished in the top-10 the previous week and the winner, Adam Scott, had missed the cut. So avoiding players immediately after a strong U.S. Open seems appropriate and this event does have a history of throwing up surprise winners when played in this position on the schedule. What makes Perry different is that he was never really in contention last week, finishing 23rd; he is one of the more laid-back players on Tour; and from the four occasions that he has played the week after the U.S. Open, he has finished in the top-5 twice. This year he is already a two-time winner on Tour and on a course that demands good iron play above all, it augurs well for the player who ranked 1st in Greens in Regulation a week ago and finished in the top-10 on this course last year after a decade away.

Bo Van Pelt to win 50/1 e.w. @ BetInternet, William Hill, Victor Chandler, BetDirect and Boyle Sports
Van Pelt currently stands in 15th position in the PGA Tour's Greens in Regulation category and he also finished in the top-10 alongside Perry last year. But he differs in that he did not play last week. Four of the top-10 in last year's post-U.S.-Open event hadn't played the previous week and it must be a huge benefit to be mentally fresh coming into this event. His form has been good with a top-3 finish in his penultimate start and that makes 50/1 attractive odds.

Joe Durant to win 100/1 e.w. @ BetInternet and William Hill
In his last two starts, Durant has finished 3rd and 7th. In the Players Championship against an extremely strong field, he finished 5th. In terms of Greens in Regulation, he ranks 7th on Tour and in terms of Total Driving, he ranks 5th. He is also fresh from not competing last week. Against these stats, this price is huge. But the missing piece is course form ... and it is poor. But a close examination of his form in previous years shows that he was in the middle or the start of a run of missed cuts virtually every year bar 2000 when he finished 42nd and in 1998 when made the cut, but the event was shortened to 54 holes. So long as he believes that he can play well on this course, he should be a contender once again this week.