Matchup Picks - PGA Tour

Jim Furyk to beat Phil Mickelson -110 @ BetFred & Blue Square

It was tough deciding how to oppose Furyk with as Woods and Singh both had their appeal, but this looks to be a safer choice than

opposing Woods and more value than opposing Singh. I can't argue with Furyk's claims this week; a player showing solid, consistent

form who in his previous starts has amassed six top-10 finishes from eight starts. Arguably Mickelson is the top player around at the

moment but given the possible psychological scar of gifting the US open to Ogilvy, his incocnsistent form in lesser tournaments such as

this and in his five previous starts here his best placed finish is 26th way back in 1996. Despite Mickelsons class in this matchup I would

make Furyk as short as a -130 shot here.

Stephen Ames to beat Chad Campbell -110 @ BetInternet & SportingOdds

After an ropey start to the season Ames is producing some good finishes and has won 5 out of the last 6 h2h's against Campbell. He has

missed the last two cuts but I can forgive him given the "quirky" nature of the courses. Back on a more traditional set-up and where he has

previously performed well, he won this event in 2004, he should be back to his best and I expect a top-20 finish from him this week. Chad

Campbell has had an inconsistent season and has as many poor finishes to his name as good finishes. He also has rather indifferent form here

with previous finishes of 61-08-51-40. I fully expect Ames to recapture his recent good form at this event which should be good enough to

overcome Campbell, take anything above -130 here.

Stricker is in the form of his life at the moment following up his 6th place finish in the US Open with a 2nd place finish last weekend.

Now he arrives at a course where he won in 1996 and has since followed up with decent finishes in 1998, 2001 and 2002. Clark's

form seems to be dipping after a fantastic run around the Masters. He also has mediocre form here with previous finishes of 43rd

and 50th. I believe Stricker should be favourite here to retain his current form on a course which will keep the good vibrations going.

Brett Quigley to beat Zach Johnson -110 @ Skybet & Expekt

Quigley's recent form is clearly outlined by Stanley and coupled with a 5th place finish last time out here where his

wayward driving is not severely punished he holds good credentials for a decent showing this week. Johnson is a

frustrating player to back where he can throw in a missed cut just as easily as a top-5 finish. Expectations were high

for him last weekend and he largely disappointed with a 21st place finish. He now comes to the Cog Hill course where

he has yet to make the cut. Quigley is the logical choice here and I make him a -125 choice to defeat Johnson.

Robert Allenby to beat Mike Weir -110 @ Victor Chandler

We backed Weir in his matchup in the US Open and he duly won for us finishing 6th. But Weir's record in the bigger

tournaments is highly impressive. Ask him to perform like that on a weekly basis and you get a very different Mike Weir.

We opposed Allenby in his US matchup and he duly went and won (although primarily thanks to Immelman being 1 up

with one hole to play, cue double bogey). The primary reason was doubts over his fitness due to his return after back injury.

After a 16th place finish in the US Open he followed it up wth a 9th place finish last week. So Allenby has good current form

and decent and reasonably consistent form here as well with previous finishes of mc-01-mc-10-06-11-16. Weir on the

otherhand shows a lack of consistency here with finishes of mc-02-52-03-38-03-mc-mc. Weir may have won 5 out of the 8

matchup this season, but four of those victories were in high profile tournaments and the other Allenby missed the cut. In this

type of event with Allenby in form and having showed a definite liking for the course I would make him the favourite at around

the -125 mark.

Tipster: Neil