ON Sunday with four holes to go I thought we had our first winner of the year when Hideki Mitsuyama stormed ahead in Phoenix.
Unfortunately it wasn’t to be but I mentioned on the message board a couple of weeks ago to watch Brooks Koepka this season (why I didn’t take my own advice I’ll never know) and he stormed to a great win.
However, we managed three places with Matsuyama, Ryan Palmer and over in Dubai it was Bernd Wiesberger who did the business behind Rory McIlroy so it wasn’t all bad.
The European Tour moves out to Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysian Open where defending champion Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell are among the contenders.
McDowell played his first tournament after a long break last week in Dubai and finished T9. Had it not been for a par round on the Saturday he could have finished higher.
He had a good finish to last season with a T3 at the WGC-HSBC Champions and is hoping to carry that on this year. He has not been in the world top 10 since September 2013 and is determined to get back there.
His driving accuracy is only in the high 50s but with GIR at 75% and average putts at 28 it doesn’t seem to cause too many problems.
I’m also going for Wiesberger again this week. We backed him last time out but no one was going to catch Rory on the form he’s in.
In his last three tournaments Wiesberger has finished T6, 3 and T4 and in that form the Austrian is going to win soon and it could be this week.
His stroke average is two strokes better than last year and as with most golfers at this time of the year driving accuracy is in mid-50s but GIR is a good 78.79% and putting average 29.
I’m finding it difficult to choose between Danny Willet and Thomas Aitken but decided to go with my gut which is pointing me towards Aitken as his stats are superb.
His driving accuracy is 73.95%, with GIR at 75.82% and in fact all his figures are better than last year with the exception of GIR.
Over at Torrey Pines in California, for the Farmers Insurance Open, I’m backing another one of my tips from last week.
I was impressed with Matsuyama when a brilliant 63 in the third round got him back into the mix. I thought he was going to win when he went into the lead but he couldn’t hold on.
With four top-three finishes from seven PGA Tour tournaments this season he's having a great run. His driving accuracy is not too bad at 65.22% and GIR at 73.50% and he is ranked ninth in strokes gained tee to green. Another one of my favourites for this year. Solid each-way.
He’s only played two tournaments this season but Jordan Spieth has won one and T7 in the Waste Management last week. He is second in strokes gained, tee to green has a GIR of 65.97 and driving accuracy is around 59%. Should go close.
Recommended Bets
McDowell 2pts ew (16-1, bet365, William Hill)
Wiesberger 1.5pts ew (12-1, 888sport)
Aiken 0.5pts ew (55-1, 888sport)
Matsuyama 1.5pts ew (22-1, Betfred)
Jordan Spieth 2pts ew (12-1, 888sport, BetVictor)
Ace Venturer
In December 2020 we sadly 
Hey Ace good stuff last week you were a bit unlucky with having both matsuyama and palmer in contention up till the end and neither to even make it to a play off which i thought it was destined for with a few holes left.
good luck this week Ace.
I am going with, T Aiken, K Aphibarat, D Lipsky and T Hatton.
J Walker Win only, B Sneedker, J Thomas and a small ew on A Baddeley
Hi Ace. I took Matsu as top Asian and weis as top rest of world/continental and they both came up trumps. It’s another option as opposed to going for a straight win. I put higher stake on to make it worth while.
Grillo uhlein stal oleson in Malaysia.
Koepka again (50s winner last week) perez steele in pga tour..
Forgot to add leishman..
J Walker & L Westwood EW Double, Win only just under 100/1 @Paddypower
Ace. Like the look of Aiken at a good price. Will also have small e.w bets on Rock (80/1) and Hatton (85/1).
Fancy Walker in America, but 14/1 is not particularly generous. DeLaet 33/1 and Thomas 35/1 at better odds. Will keep faith with Finau (125/1) who has been there or thereabouts (top 25/30) without yet threatening an e.w place.
MALAYSIAN OPEN
P.UIHLEIN 40/1
E.PEPPERELL 66/1
S.S.P.CHOWRASIA 250/1
FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
M.LAIRD 66/1
R.KNOX 80/1
4 Players in contention last week, not one of them got a place !!
Its been a case of seconditus for me in golf this year, tipped Bubba Watson on here last week following Matt Kuchar the week before so this week hopefully can go one better. 2 fancies and one outsider for me this week
Win Jordan Speith 12/1 – he looked really good last week and that was his first round of the year finishing 7th. Played well here last year finishing 2nd having led at the half way stage
Win Jason Day 14/1 – this is a tough course to play at so it neds a big time player and the way Day played the majors last year this type of tough precise course should suit him
EW outside bet KJ Choi 70/1 KJ has been around for years and is just the type of no frills solid golfer to get a place here. In good form this season finished 22nd last week but has good form at this course finishing 2nd last year and 9th the year before.
Having a few quid at similar odds for first round leader, Speith is on North Course Day and Choi South course
I know it’s early days but what are every ones thoughts on Bubba Watson for his hat-trick in the Masters this year? Always performs well at Augusta and odds are quite generous? StanJames offering 18/1 @ 1/4 the odds for a top 5 finish?
Jordan, too early for me to look at but I’m going to Augusta this year and would love to back some winners to pay for the trip. If Spieth’s on form I’ll look at him – could be his year. Tiger withdrawn from Torrey Pines injured again so the guy who said earlier that I had a better chance of a place was spot on.
Lucky you mr F..Augusta..would love to go there..Daily Record freebie is it?? ha ha only joking..Bubba all the way at Masters
Malkster, no freebie unfortunately – more of a landmark birthday present to myself … and it’s not my 60th!
Daft double
Gallacher and Snedeker
Not looking likely now with Stevie G just making the cut.
Always next week
I’ll be out at Augusta this year Mr F – can’t wait !! Will be working a bit but I’m sure we’ll have loads of happy customers watching world class golf. Let’s get a beer in.
Nick B, look forward to that – got hotels and tickets sorted. Just trying to sort out best way to fly as it’s not the easiest place to get to frae Glasgow.
Well, my prediction of J Walker ( Tied 6th ) & L Westwood ( Tied 1st ) sitting pretty after 2nd round…Loooooooookin gooooood for my fiver ew Dbl.
Pretty much all our guys are flying out of Heathrow to either Atlanta or Columbia. Both are about 1 1/2 hrs drive to Augusta. Can have a look at flight options for you on Monday if you would like. Selling golf holidays is what I do. You have access to my email right?
Nick B, I’ve got someone looking at it but don’t know what they’ll come up with. I’ll email you my thoughts about the route and dates and see what you come up with. Thanks.
RE Augusta gents. For me the value right now lies with Chris Kirk. Yet to contend at Majors but now a proven winner on Tour and has won in Georgia before at Sea Island. Other wins all in and around the south east area where he is obviously comfortable and putts well on Bentgrass greens. He was 21st on his debut last year with 4 solid rounds. He is a natural drawer of the ball which is required for most tee shots for right handers at Augusta. What I like best is how great a scrambler he is. You cant win at Augusta without a class short game.
All this and he can be backed at 150-200s on Betfair. Long way to go but he looks to be a great price for such a profile.
StevenRG, seriously I think it’s too early – got to see who is in form nearer the time.
Well that’s fair enough. I don’t. While form is important I believe being suited to the course is as important at Augusta. Sure you don’t know who is going to be in form/fit but that’s the same with any ante post betting, risk involved. But Id expect Kirk to go off somewhere between 33s and 80s myself.
I was backing Bubba from February onwards in 2012 and that worked out well.
No harm in throwing a few quid at someone you see as value.
StevenRG, that’s important too – I’m looking at Spieth at the moment, think he’ll have a big year.
I must admit I have been firing Spieth into several accas since he destroyed the field in Australia before Christmas. Expect him to go close and looks far better betting proposition @16s compared to Rory at 4s
Lahiri..who knows when hes turning up..2nd again Ace..unlucky mate..but u have to say weisberger bottled..everytime a golf tournament is in Asia..my guys struggle
Finally after 2 seconds this year Jason day brings up a winner 14/1 gotta love the golf
Well done Lee, Jimmy Walker is a TW*T lol
Cheers alasu57 Jimmy gave you a good run for your money to be fair to him