John Deere Classic

FINAL RESULT: 0-4; -6.00pts

Cink 29th
Crane wd
Taylor mc
Sluman 66th

Came very close to backing O'Hair at the cut, but opted for Sluman instead. Just about sums up my efforts in this event!

Further outright play (total stake: 1.5pts)

Jeff Sluman to win 14/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power
Long given up hope on three original plays, so adding another at the cut. The Illinois native has been playing particularly well from tee-to-green, ranking 2nd in greens in regulation and 2nd in driving accuracy over the first two rounds and was still improving yesterday when hitting 17 of 18 greens in regulation. He has finished in the top-10 in two of his last three visits to Deere Run and has won twice in neighbouring Wisconsin. A consistent player who should drawn on a large amount of home support if he remains in contention.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)

Stewart Cink to win 14/1 e.w. available generally
It has been a disappointing season for Cink after opening with two top-5 finishes and he has just one top-10 finish since Hawaii, which was at the Bay Hill Invitational in March. But he did record his best finish since Bay Hill at the U.S. Open (his last start) and was challenging for the title on his debut on this course last year. Against this weak field, he should do so again this week.

Ben Crane to win 50/1 e.w. available generally
The winner of the 2003 BellSouth Classic has shown some good form recently, particularly with a 2nd place finish in the Booz Allen Classic last month. With two years' course experience as well, these odds seem a little large for such a player.

Vaughn Taylor to win 80/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Taking a chance on a player returning from injury as he has not played since pulling out of the Booz Allen Classic with a stomach muscle injury on 10th June. But as he had been 4-under-par after 17 holes and in the top-5 at the time, he is clearly a player that was in form. He finished in the top-5 in the Wachovia Championship the previous month and won the Reno-Tahoe Classic in his rookie year last year, so he can certainly beat this weak field. It also helps that he had a particularly impressive debut on this course last year, opening with a 63 and remaining in the top-3 until the final round.