Toshiba Senior Classic

Outright plays (2 units):

Gil Morgan to win 14/1 e.w. @ Five Dimes, Stan James, William Hill and SIA
Impressive course form with three top-5 finishes in five starts, including a loss to Canizares in a playoff that lasted nine holes (2001). No complaints about his form either - apart from his frustrating ability to lose two events this year when winning would have been easier - and currently ranks in the top-3 in scoring average and all-round ranking. Is retained as a selection and let's hope he has a three-shot lead when he approaches the last hole!

Bruce Fleisher to win 16/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
Lots of skinny odds around this week, so will side with a player who has displayed this year that he can hold on to a lead under pressure. Not much form this year for a player of his ability, but he has won once and his lack of length off the tee will not be punished around this course.

Des Smyth to win 20/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
Surprisingly large odds after his impressive return to form last week and although he has no course experience, he is a good wind player. Currently ranked #2 in all-round ranking on the Champions Tour and is certainly good enough to win this week. The main worry, though, is not lack of course experience but a very poor tee-time - he is out last.

Matchup plays (2 units unless stated):

Ray Floyd to beat Rodger Davis -127 @ Five Dimes [4 units]
Davis has disappointed this season since his opening event and was a poor 56th last year. Floyd finished in 28th place that time, but should improve this year with greater drive following his recovery from prostrate cancer. He finished in the top-10 last week in his first start back and should not be too far from that mark this week.

Gil Morgan to beat Bruce Fleisher -127 @ Five Dimes
Siding with Morgan in this matchup as he has been the more consistent player this season and has a far better course history. Might be some compensation if they both finish outside the top-5.

Walter Hall to beat Sammy Rachels -125 @ Five Dimes
Rachels put a poor season behind him with a top-3 finish last week, but he did have a very good course history for the SBC Senior Classic and he does not for this one. Hall has beaten him on both occasions that Rachels has competed here and can boast three top-10 finishes in four starts here. In generally good form, Hall could get close to securing another top-10 finish at Newport Beach.

Des Smyth to beat Tom Purtzer -110 @ SkyBet
Playing the same matchup as last week even though it lost that time. Smyth did finish in the top-5 though and is tipped for a good week this week. Looking for a slight fallout from Purtzer's first win on Tour, particularly from the manner in which he won, and with a 66th place finish last year, will oppose Purtzer again.

1st round plays (2 units):

Allen Doyle to beat Tom Kite -122 @ Five Dimes
Morris Hatalsky to beat Hubert Green -113 @ Five Dimes

1st round update:

Doyle/Kite WON by 2
Hatalsky/Green WON by 4

2nd round plays (2 units):

Wayne Levi to beat John Jacobs -118 @ Five Dimes
Morris Hatalsky to beat Fuzzy Zoeller +100 @ Five Dimes

2nd round update:

Levi/Jacobs LOST by 2
Hatalsky/Zoeller WON by 4

3rd round play (2 units):

Jim Ahern to beat Jerry McGee -125 @ Five Dimes

3rd round update:

Ahern/McGee LOST by 2

Final update:

Matchups: 2-2-0; -3.28 units

Floyd/Davis LOST by 15
Morgan/Fleisher WON by 10
Hall/Roberts WON by 5
Smyth/Purtzer LOST by 6

18-holes: 3-2-0; +1.14 units

Outrights: 0-3; -6.00 units

Morgan 6th
Fleisher 49th
Smyth 43rd

Morgan made a late charge up the leaderboard, but finished one short of a place win. Not much to cheer elsewhere on what had been a very profitable Tour.