Kinko's Classic of Austin

Outright plays (2 units):

Gil Morgan to win 16/1 e.w. @ SkyBet and Five Dimes
Retaining Morgan as a selection yet again as his odds start to lengthen. No doubting his form this season even if he hasn't been in contention in the last two weeks when selected. His form in Champions Tour events in Texas is noteworthy: in the last four years he has finished in the top-5 in five of six events and he is due a win this season.

Bob Gilder to win 20/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Gilder has already won and it is difficult to ignore a player at these odds who has finished 1st, 4th and 6th in the last three weeks. He plays well in bursts, so hopefully it's not the end of the bubble this week. Having finished 2nd in the last two Champions Tour events in Texas, the run could last a little longer.

Des Smyth to win 38/1 e.w. @ Five Dimes
No previous history in Texas, but at least the use of a new course minimises the handicap he faces as a Tour rookie. He started the season in excellent form with top-10 finishes in three of his first four events and while he has not been in contention in his last few events, this is a large price for someone who is capable of winning and boasts an excellent first-round tee-time.

Matchup plays (2 units unless stated):

Hubert Green to beat David Eger +100 @ Five Dimes
Both finished in the top-5 in the Legends of Golf two weeks ago, but Green is the more consistent player and can count three top-10s in his past five starts whereas Eger has just the one. He is more prone to falling down the leaderboard when not in contention over the weekend and so is opposed again.

Tom Watson to beat Bruce Fleisher -115 @ Five Dimes
Fleisher did finish 2nd last week but his form this season has been patchy at best and is opposable at the moment, particularly with Watson in Texas. He has played in three Champions Tour events in this State and won once and finished fourth on the other two occasions. It is also in Texas that he won the MasterCard Colonial at the age of 48 and he returned there last year and finished 7th. This should be one of his best weeks of the season.

Tom Watson to beat Bruce Lietzke -110 @ SkyBet [4 units]
Lietzke may live in Dallas but he has not played well in Texas for quite some time and given his erratic form this season, he is also opposed with Watson who has an impressive h2h record against him.

Gil Morgan to beat Tom Jenkins -110 @ SkyBet
Simply opposing last week's winner with an outright selection. Did back Jenkins last week in a matchup on the back of his impressive course form, but never expected him to win the event. It is only his second victory since 2001 and there will surely be hangover this week, particularly as his Texas form is unimpressive.

1st round plays (2 units):

Tom Watson to beat Bruce Fleisher -115 @ Five Dimes
Vicente Fernandez to beat John Jacobs -123 @ Five Dimes
Wayne Levi to beat Ed Dougherty -120 @ Five Dimes

1st round update: 2-1-0; +1.60 units

Watson/Fleisher WON by 11
Fernandez/Jacobs WON by 5
Levi/Dougherty LOST by 2

2nd round plays (2 units unless stated):

Dave Stockton, Sr. to beat Joe Inman -125 @ Five Dimes [4 units]
Andy Bean to beat Ted Goin -120 @ Five Dimes

2nd round update: 2-0-0; +6.00 units

Stockton/Inman WON by 3
Bean/Goin WON by 2

3rd round plays (2 units unless stated):

Hale Irwin to beat Tom Kite -135 @ Five Dimes [4 units]
Tom Watson to beat Bruce Lietzke -115 @ Five Dimes
Andy North to beat Joe Inman -115 @ Five Dimes [4 units]

3rd round update: 3-0-0; +10.00 units

Irwin/Kite WON by 3
Watson/Lietzke WON by 3
North/Inman WON by 2

Final update:

Matchups: 4-0-0; +10.00 units

Green/Eger WON by 14
Watson/Fleisher WON by 7
Watson/Lietzke WON by 4
Morgan/Jenkins WON by 3

18-holes: 7-1-0; +17.60 units

Outrights: 1-2; +0.00 units

Morgan 13th
Gilder 3rd
Smyth 10th

Normal service has been returned! Or at least it's welcome return to form on the previously most profitable Tour. Gilder shot the low round of the day to give himself a chance of victory, but Irwin and Watson birdied the easy last hole to deny him a place in the playoff. Smyth could have finished in the top-5 had he had three pars instead of his three consecutive bogeys on the back nine. Definitely the event that made the week!