Buick Open

FINAL RESULT: 0-3; -4.50pts

Furyk 6th
Ogilvy 12th
Daly 66th

Should have gotten something out of this event. Furyk was set for a top-5 finish until he bogeyed the last hole, while Ogilvy had been in the top-5 after the 1st round, after 16 holes of the 2nd round before finishing bogey-bogey and after the 3rd round, but took 34 putts in a poor final round.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)

Jim Furyk to win 14/1 e.w. available generally
He has played here every year since 1994, winning once (2003), making the cut every time and finishing in the top-16 in each of the last seven occasions. His 6th place finish last year as defending champion was all the more impressive as he had recently returned from a long-term injury layoff and was not at his competitive best. His finish at the Buick Open was his highest finish all year. Such is the suitability of this course (Warwick Hills) that in 40 rounds, he has just been over-par just once. With finishes of 2nd and 1st in his last two PGA Tour events, I'll certainly take 14/1 on Furyk on this course.

Geoff Ogilvy to finish in the top-five 9/1 @ BetFred
I did say that I would never back place-only again after two place-only tips won their events two weeks ago, but I still have a hard time backing players like Ogilvy and Daly to win! Ogilvy did win in Tucson earlier this year, but he has improved his leaderboard position in only five of sixteen final rounds this year. However, two of those have been in his last two events and include a top-5 finish at St. Andrews. With impressive course form - 70 or better in 11 of 12 rounds at Warwick Hills with the exception being his debut on this course - and a 2nd place finish in 2003, maybe will contend again this week. I'd say the odds on that are far lower than 9/1.

John Daly to finish in the top-five 9/1 @ Centrebet
Same with Daly. He comes into this event off a 15th place finish at St. Andrews and 3rd place finish in Germany and he also has a 2nd place finish in this event (2004). Wouldn't back him to win as he has only won once since the 1995 Open Championship - 2004 Buick Invitational - and that was only courtesy of a playoff as he shot 75 in the final round as the leader. The big worry here is tiredness. He played 36 holes in Germany on Sunday and flew back for the Monday night exhibition match at The Bridges, but he is a good traveller and won't be short of either adrenalin or crowd support if he is in contention this week.