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 Please note that this season, all four firms will be betting to the same FP rules, which is the amendment that Sporting Index had gone out on their own with during 2006.

For bets on finishing positions, the position of a player who misses the cut will be deemed the number of players who make the first official cut in tournament + 1, unless stated otherwise. If a player tees off but subsequently misses the cut, withdraws or is disqualified, his finishing position will make up at the number of players who make the first official cut in tournament + 1. Part-played rounds do not count.

Summary: Bets 6, Wins 3, Losses 3. Loss 2.5 Pts. Poor week on matches on both tours

Bet 1 - Buy Charles Howell FP at 34 with Sporting Index for 0.6 Pts. M/U 67.5, Profit 20.1 Pts
Two missed cuts in a row here after a promising 6th place in his first start, Howell will still be suffering the mental torture of being two shots clear in Hawaii on Sunday and failing to even get into a play-off. Although Howell is obviously improving, his average finish last year on FP scoring is in the high 40's and even allowing for a poor field this week, 34 is too low in my opinion by about 3 strokes.

Bet 2 - Buy Harrison Frazar FP at 45 with Sporting Index for 0.6 Pts. M/U 10, Loss 21.0 Pts
An average course record of a few points higher than the price available, and with players of better ability and course form around the same price, I would suggest a play against Frazar at anything up to 47.

Bet 3 - Sell Nick Watney over Jeff Gove 18H MB at 4 with Sporting Index for 0.3 Pts. M/U 0, Profit 1.2 Pts
Watney has played here twice, finishing outside the Top 25 on both occasions, although comfortably making the cut. Gove, meanwhile is making his debut. On 2006 form, Watney won half of the 22 matches they played in and although he should be favourite here, it should maybe be by a couple of points lower than it is.

Bet 3 - Sell Briny Baird over Daisuke Maruyama 18H MB at 0 with IG Sport for 0.3 Pts. M/U 31, Loss 9.3 Pts
Head to head's sees Baird only win 7 of the 20 matches they have played in the last year which includes a 5 shot win for Maruyama last week. In five visits, the American has a third place in 2002 as the best effort amongst five starts where 32rd was 2nd best. Maruyama, like Gove, is a debutant but that should not put anyone off supporting either against players who have not stood out at this venue.  

Bet 5 - Buy Bart Bryant FP at 42 with Spreadex for 0.6 Pts. M/U 77, Profit 21 Pts
Bryant doesn't play that many of the pro-am events at the start of the year. He played here in 2005 for the first time and last played at Pebble Beach in 2000 missing the cut after a R3 80.  He generally plays in Hawaii then takes time off before coming back in February so it's a surprise he is here this week. A good 13th at the Sony means he comes into this in a little form, but at 42 is worth opposing given he had a poor year last year after such a successful 2005. His average finish last year was a few points higher than 42 and even allowing for a poor field he is value at the price.

Bet 6 - Sell J. B. Holmes over Carl Pettersson 18H MB at 0 with Sporting Index for 0.3 Pts. Holmes N/R
Pettersson leads 11-7 in matches played in the last year, but both missed the cut at the Sony and although he finished 4th in the opening Mercedes, Holmes has not put together too many good events since he burst on to the scene a year ago. He withdrew here after a poor opening 74 due to a bad back but 74 round here means you are struggling to compete even with 4 rounds to go. Pettersson has only played here once finishing 35th but all things considered shouldn't be the outsider.

Bet 7 - Sell Charles Howell FP at 43 with Sporting Index for 0.6 Pts. M/U 67.5, Loss 14.5 Pts
I am not the greatest fan of closing bets and it would take an extraordinary reason for doing so. This is usually the price having turned full circle to be excellent value in the opposite direction. This isn't the case this week, it is to do with the course rotation. Howell has so far played the two courses which have the biggest average score, La Quinta being 2 strokes harder on average than Bermuda Dunes, and when you make allowances for the field based on courses they have played there is an argument for suggesting Howell is backable at 43. I would therefore suggest closing the original bet but the value isn't sufficient to be taken as a completely new bet if not on the original advice.