FINAL RESULT: 0-3; -4.50pts

Clark 12th
Watson mc
Bjornstad mc

Just as Verplank 2nd place finish last week was a total surprise, it looked far harder for Tim Clark not to finish in the top-5 than to do so ... but he managed it! On each of the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes, he missed putts from inside 10 feet and had he kept his drive on the 18th hole on the course, he would have still finished 5th ... but he hit in the Pacific. Payback for Verplank, I suppose. And don't even mention the player who was knocked off the shortlist in favour of Tim Clark!

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)

Tim Clark to win 28/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Also fancied Oberholser, but with that player available at only 33/1, there is better value on Clark at this price. After opening his season by making the cut at the Bob Hope event, he showed his abilities a week later at the Buick Invitational. On that occasion, he finished only three shots out of the playoff, but, just as importantly, he ranked 1st in driving accuracy and greens in regulation that week. And greens in regulation will be important given the smallness of the greens at the host course, Pebble Beach. That may be one reason why he has finished in the top-10 in each of the last two years here and against such a weak field, he should repeat the feat once again.

Bubba Watson to win 100/1 e.w. @ Stan James, Sportingbet, Sporting Odds, Ladbrokes and BlueSq
If Keith Elliott's "Inspiration by Comparison" has any basis, this should be a good week for the only player to outrank J.B. Holmes in driving distance on the Tour. So far, he has come close to matching Holmes' FBR Open performance with finishes of 2nd in the MasterCard Masters in December, 4th in the Sony Open last month and set for another high finish until a final round 79 in the Buick Invitational. So long as he is driving well, these courses set up for pro-ams should play very easy for Watson. That makes 100/1 rather good odds.

Henrik Bjornstad to finish in the top-ten 11/1 @ Stan James
Bjornstad has been quite a revelation since returning from a spell outside the game. He qualified through all three stages of Q-School and even though he did little more than make the cut in his first PGA Tour start, he has certainly found his feet since then. He held the sole lead in the final round of the Buick Invitational against a much stronger field than is present this week and though he struggled under the pressure, he still finished 10th and just three shots out of the playoff. And if a pressure hangover might have been expected the following week, it was certainly not evident as he remained in contention throughout, shooting every round under 70 in the FBR Open to finish 12th. Like Watson, he has not played in this event previously, but his successful start to the new season, the success of new-boy Holmes last week and the weakness of this field all point to a good chance for another top-10 finish for the only Norwegian to have competed on this Tour.