Matchup Picks - Champions Tour
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Senior PGA Championship (2pts unless stated):
Carl Mason to beat Terry Gale -135 @
Five
Dimes [6pts]
In the battle of the leading players on the European Senior Tour, I'll
take Mason every time. Gale failed to finish in the top-60 in his two
starts on the Champions Tour in the past year and while he has just
finished 2nd in the Jamaica Classic (Mason was 4th), he did have a very
good previous record in the Caribbean. Mason won four European Senior
Tour events in a row in 2003-04 and has finished ahead of Gale in five
of their last six common events. He should finish much higher than a
top-60 position.
Bob Gilder to beat John Jacobs -111 @
Stan James
Siding with the player in much better form. Gilder has finished ahead of
Jacobs in their last three common events and the PGA Championship setup
should help the more accurate player, who has finished in the top-10 in
each of the last three years, extend the run to four.
Tom Watson to beat Hale Irwin -120 @
William Hill
Since the start of the year, Irwin has won a title, but has had no other
top-5 finishes in nine starts. That is not the form that he needs to be
competitive with Watson who also has a good record around this course.
(also available at Five Dimes)
Mark James to beat Sam Torrance -110 @
SkyBet
Opposing Torrance who has just one top-10 from eight starts this year.
James has been much consistent with top-20 finishes in every start this
year until his last one and looks more capable of finishing in the
top-20 this week.
Wayne Levi to beat Sam Torrance -140 @
Five
Dimes
Similar story here, though Levi has been much more impressive this year.
His worst finish has been 27th - Torrance has finished outside the
top-50 in two of eight starts - and he has achieved five top-10 finishes
already. Just a different class of player at the moment.
Final update: 2-3-0; -8.72pts
Mason/Gale LOST by 3
Gilder/Jacobs LOST by 5
Watson/Irwin LOST by 6
James/Torrance WON by 11
Levi/Torrance WON by 8
Poor effort. Really liked the Mason/Gale play and while Gale did
struggle and missed the cut, completely overestimated Mason. Only
success was opposing Torrance.
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