Chrysler Classic of Tucson

FINAL RESULT: 1-2; +5.63pts

Tway 46th
Magee 51st
Calcavecchia 2nd

A nice profit on the event, but definitely a missed opportunity. Calc had been the leader at the cut and was involved in a great head-to-head with Geoff Ogilvy in the last round, but then the putts stopped dropping on the back nine and it was left to everyone else to hand the tournament to him. They didn't and when Calc took a double-bogey on the first playoff hole, the great opportunity for bumper payout had gone. What a frustrating game!

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)

Bob Tway to win 20/1 e.w. available generally
Showed good form last week around soggy Riviera to finish 8th in the 36-hole event and that augurs well as he returns to Tucson where he has an exceptional record. In his last seven visits since 1995, he has finished in the top-six on six occasions and the only "failure" was in 1997 when he finished 17th. Buoyed by last week's performance, he looks to have a good chance of continuing his fine record here.

Andrew Magee to win 28/1 e.w. available generally
By contrast, Magee missed the cut last week, but that should not detract from his start to the season. Playing on a major medical extension, he opened with two top-10s and looked set for a third at Pebble Beach until a poor final round. But the confidence has returned and he looks set to retain his Tour Card for next season and play well on this course. Not only is this the venue for his last Tour win in 1994, but he has finished in the top-10 in three of the last five events on this course since 1997. I'll take this odds on such a revitalised player on one of his favourite courses.

Mark Calcavecchia to win 50/1 e.w. @ Ladbrokes
This really is a standout price from Ladbrokes and won't last. While his record in Tucson does not match that in Phoenix, he is a good player on desert courses. In terms of money-earners on desert courses since 1995, he ranks 2nd only to Phil Mickelson. When the Tour was in Arizona three weeks ago, he finished in the top-10 and could certainly repeat the feat this week.