Outright Picks - Champions Tour |
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Commerce Bank Championship |
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FINAL RESULT: 1-2; -1.50pts Morgan 3rd
Edwards 44th
Wadkins 56th Morgan finished one shot out of the playoff, but having finished
the first and second round in 2nd place, this always looked like being one that
would get away.
Outright plays (total stake per play: 2pts)
Gil Morgan to win 14/1 e.w. @
BetInternet,
William Hill
and
BetDirect
After coming so close in the Senior PGA Championship, Morgan won for the first
time in two years at the Allianz Championship earlier this month. On that
occasion, he beat a much stronger field than that assembled this week with only
Haas and Morgan from the top-5 in the Tour's Scoring Average category playing
this week. And there must be serious doubts about Haas' ability to win a fourth
consecutive Champions Tour title. He finished 37th at Winged Foot last week and
admitted to feeling very tired. It may be too much for a 52-year-old to
overcome. So that should really leave Morgan to be the player to beat and he is
available at odds that are four points higher than I expected.
David Edwards to win 16/1 e.w. @
BetDirect
Edwards ranks 6th in Scoring Average on the Tour, which is hardly surprising as
in his five Champions Tour events to date, he has yet to finish outside the
top-15. His scoring has been built upon accuracy - he ranks 1st in driving
accuracy and 2nd in greens in regulation on Tour - and that should be
particularly important around this short, par-70 course. And with this being
such a weakened field, this should represent a good opportunity for his maiden
win.
Bobby Wadkins to win 66/1 e.w. @
Paddy Power
Not as consistent a player as the other two selections, but he has certainly
been consistent in this event: he has finished in the top-15 in each of his five
appearances. He even won this event around the Meadow Brook course in 2001 when
making his Champions Tour debut, just ten days after his 50th birthday. The
venue changed in 2003, but he has still continued to play well in this event and
could have easily won in 2004. He has tied for the lead with Jim Thorpe with one
hole to play; they both missed the green short-right and chipped to 20 feet, but
it was Thorpe who holed the putt to win. It was a similar story in March this
year when he held the lead for the Toshiba Senior Classic, but Bart Bryant holed
a good putt on the last hole to deny him a playoff. However last month, he was a
wire-to-wire winner of the Boeing Championship to prove that, even though he may
not be the most consistent player on Tour, he is capable of winning on this
Tour. In this event, his chances of winning appear to be greater than at any
other time. |