MCI Heritage


FINAL RESULT: +2.39pts

All plays 1.5pts unless stated

Back Stewart Cink to beat Davis Love 3pts @-111 at William Hill, Intertops and Easybets -lost
Happy to keep opposing Love while he struggles to show any consistency. Even on a course where he has such an amazing record. Cink on the other hand is a model of consistent play and as defending champion obviously knows a bit about how to play here as well.

Back Fred Funk to beat Billy Mayfair 3pts @-110 at Ladbrokes - won
This is simply not an even matchup, with the head to head stats showing Funk well in the lead. I thought the price was maybe an over-reaction to some ok recent form from Mayfair, but then there's not many can boast better recent form than Funk with his win at Sawgrass! I'll forgive him his missed cut at the Masters as he has never done that well at Augusta, whereas a premium on accuracy should mean Funk is well suited to this course. This is bourne out by his 6th place last year and impressive record of having never missed a cut at Harbour Town.

Back Joe Durant to beat Alex Cejka @-111 at Paddy Power -lost
Durant is another who's game is based on solid tee to green work and while he often struggles to contend due to a cold putter he can usually be relied upon to finish reasonably well up the field as he doesn't make many mistakes. Leads Cejka on the head to head stats.

Back Jay Haas to beat Lee Westwood @-110 at Olympic - won
Back Joe Ogilvie to beat Lee Westwood @-110 at BetInternet - won
Westwood continues to be priced on his name and reputation rather than his level of performance, which in the US still leaves a lot to be desired. Thus less fashionable, but more effective players like Haas and Ogilvie will always have value odds against him even though all the evdience such as the head to head stats (in the past year Ogilve leads 6-2, Haas leads 5-2) points to them being clear favourites.

Back Stephen Ames to beat Kevin Na @-125 at CentreBet - won
I certainly rate young Na as a promising talent, but he is still defintiely one to oppose in match betting as he is understandably very inconsistent. Ames has been a let down this year after what is probably a career season in 2004, but he still has enough class to be value at these odds.

Back Jonathan Byrd to beat Ian Poulter @-110 at SportingBet/SportingOdds - lost
Like Westwood, Poulter is a high profile player, but without really the game to back it up. In 5 common events this season Byrd has finished above him in all.

Back Mark Calcavecchia to beat Steve Flesch @+110 Olympic - won
Flesch is really in a bad slump of form. He did have an ok showing at Augusta but that is a unique event and can't be taken as strong evidence that he has found his game again. Calcavecchia leads the head to head 4-1 in events this season and I can't understand why he is seen as the outsider in this matchup.