18-Hole Match Picks - PGA Tour

Tipster: Stanley

Odds: 2-Balls

Odds: 3-Balls

3-1; +5.20pts  (system plays: 8-8-3)

Round 1 play (2pts):

Lee Westwood to beat Rory McIlroy +100 @ 5Dimes  WON by 1
McIlroy has said that he was wrong to miss this event last year, but as the World #1 he has to say that. It is not just the fact that he has missed the cut badly in his two previous appearances, averaging 74.00 and failing to break par for any round, it is that last year he admitted "I don't feel that comfortable on the golf course". It has put added pressure on him to perform well on a course on which he never has done, so I'll certainly back Westwood at plus-odds given that he finished 4th here last time (he led after 36 and 54 holes) and in his last three starts, he has finished 3rd, 1st and 5th.

[unofficial rd1 system plays: Stricker tb McIlroy +120 (L); Donald tb McIlroy +110 (T); Mickelson tb McIlroy +133 (W)]

Round 2 play (4pts):

Ben Curtis to beat Martin Laird -110 @ Paddy Power  WON by 2
Whereas Ian Poulter has a very impressive record when leading an event, Laird does not from so early on: he has held the 1st round lead three times on the PGA and European Tours and shot 74-75-73 to finish the second day outside the top-15 each time. Given that his best finish in this event is 69th and his best finish since February is 24th, he should struggle to maintain yesterday's form and beat Curtis who has made the cut in each of the last four years here and has finished 1st, 13th and 5th in the last three weeks.

[unofficial rd2 system plays: Harrington tb Atwal -160 (W); Kuchar tb Toms -120 (W); Davis tb Byrd -125 (T); Ogilvy tb Singh -128 (W); Kuchar tb Simpson -124 (W)]

Round 3 play (4pts):

Jimmy Walker to beat Harris English +100 @ Paddy Power  WON by 8
Opposing English who's 67 lifted him to 4th place yesterday, just one shot behind the leaders. Making his debut at Sawgrass, this is an impressive effort, but the pressure really begins at the weekend I would rather back someone who is just off the pace (Walker is 17th) rather than someone at the top of the leaderboard, particularly over the final few holes as Martin Laird demonstrated yesterday. Twice already this year, English has been inside the top-5 when entering the weekend and then shot 73 on the Saturday; once this year, he has entered the final round in the top-5 and then shot 77 in the final round. Any nerves will be severely punished by this course. Walker is a typical 'under-the-radar' player who has already amassed three top-10 finishes this year and finished 26th this years ago.

[unofficial rd3 system play: Byrd tb Na -111 (L)]

Round 4 play (4pts):

Phil Mickelson to beat Martin Kaymer -120 @ WSEX [available generally]  LOST by 2
Looking for Mickelson to have another final round charge when in Sunday contention. Admittedly, he is eight shots off the lead, but he was six shots off the lead at the AT& Pebble Beach Pro-Am and won by two. He was a previous champion there, just as he is here, and he clearly has a lot of confidence in his game, as shown in his interviews. After a scruffy start yesterday, he was 4-under-par for the rest of the round, didn't miss a green in regulation on the back nine and would have been closer to the Kevin Na, but for missing from 8 feet and 6 feet for birdies on 15 and 17. He should be too far back to win, but on this course, he still has a chance.

[unofficial rd4 system plays: Garcia tb Kaymer +100 (L); Poulter tb Clark -140 (T); Poulter tb Maggert -170 (W); Davis tb Byrd +100 (L); Na tb Vegas -107 (L); Laird tb Wagner -108 (W); Stadler tb Walker +105 (W); Stadler tb Perez -105 (L); Streelman tb De Jonge -110 (L); Westwood tb Hanson -142 (L)]