Telkom PGA Championship

FINAL RESULT: 0-3; -3.00pts

Oosthuizen 8th
Van Der Walt 23rd
Otto 34th

Very surprised to draw a blank on this event. Oosthuizen surged into sole possession of the lead after 8 holes of the final rounds. Needless to say, the rest of his round was not particularly impressive!

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1pt)

Louis Oosthuizen to win 10/1 e.w. @ BetInternet and GolfingGods
Can't see far behind the name players in this event; the Southern Africa Tour just doesn't have the quality in depth, so siding with two players who are well established on the primary Tours elsewhere. He had a couple of top-10 finishes on the European Tour last year to easily keep his Card and has made all four cuts, finishing inside the top-40 on the 2005 European Tour schedule, and also finished 4th in the Dimension Data Pro-Am three weeks ago. With those credentials, a top-10 finish on this course last year and a win on this Tour in September, he deserves such short odds. Also 12/1 at Centrebet, but only four places.

Tjaart Van Der Walt to win 20/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Rather surprised to see Van Der Walt at these odds. He is a full PGA Tour member on a major medical extension after not playing again after the Open Championship in July because of a wrist injury, but he made his return in the Platinum Classic at the end of last year and finished 12th and in his three starts this year he has finished 8th, 3rd and 11th. Capable of much higher finishes when his competitiveness has fully returned, he should certainly go close to matching his top-5 finish on this course in 2002.

Hennie Otto to win 33/1 e.w. @ BetInternet, Paddy Power and Victor Chandler
Siding with the bad boy of the Tour. Playing in the final group at the Nashua Masters two weeks ago, Otto was reported by his playing partner, Richard Sterne, for foul and abusive language. He entered that round in 2nd place and slipped down to 10th, but was disqualified on Sunday as the shot 83 and signed his card incorrectly - the previous day's troubles had clearly affected him a lot! Take out that final round and the incident with the authorities and Otto is playing rather well at the moment, just as he did at the end of 2004 when he secured a couple of top-5 finishes on this Tour. He course form is also very supportive - he didn't play last year, but in 2002 he finished 2nd and in 2001 he was 2nd after the first round ... when he was disqualified again! So, providing he can keep his temper under control, Otto could certainly have something to celebrate on Sunday.