FUNAI Classic

FINAL RESULT: 1-2; +7.20pts

Calcavecchia 8th
Ogilvy 3rd
Baird mc

A nice profit on the event, but not the bumper payout that had been hoped for when both Calc and Ogilvy had started the final day in 2nd place. Ogilvy only had to par the last hole from the middle of the fairway to earn a full payout and 2nd place, but he couldn't manage that ... precisely why he was a place-only bet!

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)

Mark Calcavecchia to win 100/1 e.w. @ SkyBet, BetInternet and BetFred
Big price for a player who won wire-to-wire in the Canadian Open last month and then proved that he could take on the big boys to lie 4th after two rounds of the American Express Championship. He did falter over the weekend, but it was his best performance in a WGC strokeplay event for five years and it has lifted him into 27th place on the Money List and he should be playing in the Tour Championship for the first time since 2001. And he does look set to continue his fine form into this week. The lengthening of the course will not harm a player who can be long off the tee when needed - he averaged 304.25 yards last week - and he finished 6th on his debut in this event last year despite being in poor form - a best of 35th since the Open Championship and a failure to reach the weekend in four of his six previous events. At the start of this event last year, he ranked 129th on the Money List, so the improvement in his game this year is plain enough.

Geoff Ogilvy to finish in the top-five 12/1 @ Centrebet
Had been very tempted by BetFred 125/1 on Carlos Franco, but will opt for two place-only plays to complete the selections for this event. Ogilvy returned to action after a six-week layoff at Greensboro and make the cut, but he was clearly returning to his former competitiveness when he next teed it up: last week in Las Vegas. Although he faltered in the final round, he had been 7th heading into that round and very much in contention. And that is what he has been in this event for the last two years when he has finished in the top-10 on both occasions. With the added motivation of a potential place in the Tour Championship - he currently ranks 37th in the Money List - another high finish could well be achieved.

Briny Baird to finish in the top-five 25/1 @ Centrebet
In many ways, last week showed why Baird should be a place-only bet rather than each-way, but he deserves some attention after the way that he responded to his meltdown on Saturday when in the lead: he was eight-under-par for his first ten holes and eventually finished 8th, having fallen from 1st to 43rd in the 3rd round. If he had not done so, he would almost certainly have lost his Tour Card, having started the week in 132nd position in the Money List. Now he is 116th and should be safe with at least one more cut made. But he should be aiming far higher after the way that he restored some belief in his game last week and particularly how he performed in this event last year. He held the lead after the 2nd and 3rd round and it was only Ryan Palmer's closing 62 that denied him victory - he finished 2nd. The same result would be very profitable this year at these odds.