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AFTER having the last couple of months off I’ve replenished my brain cells and I’m ready to try to pick some winners for you guys – as I did last year time after time.

We’re back at Abu Dhabi for the HSBC Golf Championship with three-time winner Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and many more top players starting off their season.

Obviously Rory is favourite but it will be worth following someone who has been playing recently. With that in mind I fancy Charl Schwartzel who has performed three times in South Africa over December and January.

Last week in the South African Open he finished second in a play-off with Andy Sullivan after a poor two-over fourth round, a seven-shot swing.

His driving accuracy is only 50 per cent at the moment but driving distance is 315 yards, nearly 15 yards longer than last year, and greens in regulation stands at 68.52, up three per cent. Could be a good season for Charl this year and will have a punt on him this week.

Another South African worth a look at is Branden Grace. He won the Alfred Dunhill at Leopard Creek in December by seven shots and T15 last week. His GIR stands at 72.22, driving distance at 318.5 yards and putting average at 28.88. His driving accuracy at 47% lets him down a bit but he seems to be able to compensate for the erratic tee shots.

Someone else worth a small wager is Danny Willett. He won the Nedbank Challenge early in December by four strokes from Ross Fisher with four solid rounds.

A week later in the Alfred Dunhill he was two strokes behind eventual winner Grace after 54 holes but hit a disastrous 76 in the final round. He’s smacking it 310 yards off the tee, driving accuracy is 57.14 and GIR is 72.22%. His putting also looks very strong at 27.25 and stroke average of 68.5 so a good a bet.

Over in Hawaii we have the Sony Open with Jimmy Walker trying to defend his title but I like the look of Jason Day for this one. He had a brilliant 62 in the final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions last week at the Kapalua Resort in Maui. I’m expecting big things from him this year and hopefully he can get the ball rolling here.

Hideki Matsuyama finished T3 with a -20 score He’s played five PGA Tour competitions this season and has three top-five finishes. His driving accuracy is 66.67% and has a GIR percentage of 74.56. He has had three missed cuts at the Sony Open but in 2014 he was first in approach shot from 150-175 yards and 100-125 and I think he has enough in his armoury for an each way.

15pt staking plan

Charl Schwartzel 2pts ew (40-1, Coral)

Branden Grace 1pt ew (40-1, bet365, Betfred)

Danny Willett 1pt ew (25-1, bet365, Ladbrokes)

Jason Day 2.5pts ew (12-1, bet365, Ladbrokes)

Hideki Matsuyama 1pt ew (25-1, Coral)

Ace Venturer

18 Comments
  1. King Biff 9 years ago

    Charl Schwartzel 5/2 for top 10 finish at William hill. What you think Ace?

  2. The special one 9 years ago

    Welcome back ace , hope your picks go well I will be leaving it this week , who do you think will shine this year I think I will be backing Jordan spieth a lot will be good to hear your thoughts cheers pal

  3. shaper546 9 years ago

    3 to follow this year
    Jordan speith a quite year last year but still has the game to challang
    Ricky fowler always knocking at the door and a major shout for a major
    Dustin johnson when he comes back watch his
    attitude will have things to prove and being a father might be a blessing

    Masters ew tip phil mickleson the lefty can do it one more time and left handers at augusta always shine

  4. Ace Venturer 9 years ago

    King Biff as you see he’s my top tip and think top ten finish is a good one.

  5. Ace Venturer 9 years ago

    Sharpe 546. I bigged up Brooks Koepka last year and he did us proud, I certainly think he will continue and is well worth following. Fowler is another. He was targetting the Majors last year and came close. Could do so again,

  6. Ian 9 years ago

    Good to see u back ace.. Hope this year is a good one. Special one.. Like speith a lot for a 20yr old to show so much maturity early in his career is amazing. What I like about speith the most is the control he has in his game. The big hitters hit it 30 yards past speith. Dose it bother him? Not at all. He plays to his strengths. Makes the putts. And has the ability to win. He is 6/1 to win a major this year. And I think he will. V close last year in the masters. Got a lot of experience last year especially in the Ryder cup. One of the states best players. Him and rory will go toe to toe for a long time.

  7. Ace Venturer 9 years ago

    The Special One. Sorry sent your reply to Sharpe 546 but the same applies. Jordan Speith is certainly a Major contender this year and is another to follow.

  8. Wato 9 years ago

    Great to see this thread back again some of the tips on here were nothing short of top class. Looking forward to following again with the occasional bet myself

  9. StevenRG 9 years ago

    Schwartzel played awfully last wknd. How it took him so ling to fall to pieces I don’t know. The odd great approach and a hot putter kept him out in front. His ballstriking from the tee was all over the place and he appeared to be really fighting a hook. Add to that his collapse from 5 clear with 5 to play and I cant possibly have him on my mind this week and a field of great depth. Also hasnt played here too much since course changes in 2011.

    Definitely like Willett and Grace. Expect them both to play very well. Both been hitting greens for fun and scrambling brilliantly when not. Grace just didnt seem to hole anything last week but got rid of any rust.

    Jason Day at 12/1 is a hideous price. This is a man who has 1 PGA stroke play title to his name back in 2011?!
    Theres no doubt on ability he is in top 3 or 4 in this field but to make money long term in Golf you have to back players at least somewhere close to a value a price reflecting their win rate.
    This course also doesnt suit Day in the slightest, a 64th and a 20th back in 2010,2011.Its a short shotmakers course where you plot your way round. Hence the lack of course form. Again I couldnt possibly consider him at 12/1 in this field on a course that doesnt suit, without a stroke play win since 2011.

    I like Chris Kirk here who has some great course form, signed off with a 62 like Day on Monday. He also has great form around the courses that correlate with Sony Open. Sea Island, El Cameleon, Harbour Town.

    Smallish odds but he has proven himself as a regular winner with 3 Tour wins. Ranks this as a favourite course too.

    Every and Todd for similar reasons of course form around the key courses. Every in particular is a great price at 3 figures.

  10. RobertJB 9 years ago

    Great to see the golf tips back and heres hoping we can all pick some big winners this year!!!

    Martin Kaymer for me in Abu Dhabi at 12/1 and Thomas Aiken each way at 100/1 Good luck everyone!!!

  11. Crates 9 years ago

    Good luck for the coming year folks. With little form to go on will just have to see who hits the ground running. With that in mind I’m just going to do some 3 balls to start with and stick to those with a good record at the Sony.

    2pt Treble (16/1 PP)

    Tim Clark @11/8 ( v Boo Weekly/Scott Brown)
    Charles Howell @6/4 ( v JB Holmes/Kevin Na)
    Matt Every @15/8 ( v Camilo Villegas/Scott Piercy)

    Adding 5*0.5pt 4 folds/0.5pt 5 fold

    Robert Streb @7/4 ( v H Matsuyama/A Cabrera)
    Brendon Todd @6/4 ( v Seung-Yul Noh/Gary Woodland)

    0.5pt e/w Brian Stuard 100/1 (PP 6 places)

    At Abu Dhabi
    1pt Craig Lee 6/1 Top 20
    1pt Wade Ormsby 9/2 Top 20

    0.5pt Matthew Fitzpatrick @125/1 (Boyles 5 places)

  12. Wolerine 9 years ago

    Top 20 finish @ the Sony Open

    Small stakes out of interest after reading up on the event.

    Mark Wilson @ 7/2

    Boo Weekly @ 10/3

    Jerry Kelly @ 5/2

    Matt Every @ 7/2

    Just need one to finish in the top 20 to cover my stakes, 2 or above for profit.

    • Wolerine 9 years ago

      I found this wee piece of info that’s very interesting, looks like this is historically a tournament for outsiders to flourish judging by these previous results.

      Previous Winners & Prices: 2014: Walker 40/1; 2013: Henley 100/1; 2012: Wagner 125/1; 2011: Wilson 80/1; 2010: Palmer 250/1

      This adds to StevenRG’s tip for Matt Every @ 100/1,
      a very tempting e/w bet.

  13. shaper546 9 years ago

    sony open betting

    zach johnson, not a big hitter and a par 70 course will play his way a past winner also showed some good form last week and would have been closer bar the bad 3rd round

    will try and give a good chance to win after 2nd round, last week i backed patrick reed in play for a small win and hope can do same this week

  14. Wato 9 years ago

    StevenRG I fancy Chris Kirk to do well this week too. I got a free £5 bet from Coral so at 20/1 I’m taking him to win. Not much point going with him ew for a small bet so hoping he might do the business this week. Good luck

  15. Ian Conway 9 years ago

    ABU DHABI

    J.Donaldson 25/1
    F.Zanotti 200/1

    SONY OPEN

    J.Day 12/1
    R.Knox 125/1

    Not looking great in Abu Dhabi !

  16. Shaper546 9 years ago

    Just backed j wslker in play 11-1 blew the lead last week and previous winner here
    Also jj henry big price ew

  17. Mr Fishman 9 years ago

    thanks RobertJB i followed your tip and its looking very good atm

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