IT was a spectacular day at The Open with the big three now top three in the betting – Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Tiger Woods.
McIlroy is a best 9-2 at 888sport after opening with a six-under 66 to lead by one from Matteo Mannasero, my tip to be top Italian but he only just leads that market.
World No.1 Scott is 11-2 with Paddy Power after shooting a 68 while Woods, unfancied before the start after just two competitive rounds in five months is 14-1 at Coral – although he was as big as 33-1 after bogeying the first two holes before recovering to shoot 69.
My antepost bets were on Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler, Graeme McDowell, Miko Ilonen, Shane Lowry and Mannassero and all shot under par except Stenson (level) and Kaymer (one over).
Early starters have been contending with winds over 20mph and the conditions are classic links despite the warm weather. The later starters are expected to have slightly favourable conditions and one man who stands out for me is Ireland's Graeme McDowell – a so-called expert in this type of golf.
McDowell suffered a two-over 74 yesterday so needs a low round to get back into contention. I'm backing him to outscore partners Matt Kuchar and Louis Oosthuizen today with Paddy Power going 7-4.
On the Tour de France Norway's Alexander Kristoff won a sprint finish to claim victory in the 12th stage while the top of the leaderboard remained unchanged with Vincenzo Nibali odds-on favourite to win the yellow jersey – two minutes, 23 seconds ahead of Team Sky's Richie Porte.
Put up all your sports tips here including The Open and 13th stage of the Tour.
Recommended Bet
McDowell (2.49pm)
(7-4, Paddy Power)
(7-4,
Wetstwood top Englishman 7/2 with most bookies,
Put him up at 66/1 yesterday each way made solid start be a lot better but for the usual poor putting
Kristoffer Broberg had a good first round and has been quietly hitting a bit of form. 150/1 50 E/W 8 places seems reasonable to me. Can always lay him off after the cut if odds come right in.
Lay Rory on Saturday morning,before he plays in the rain!!He doesn`t like rain!Know the feeling!G`luck today!
Tour de France stage 13
Even with the main contenders already out, some people say the Tour starts today as we have the first serious climbs in the Alpes. It should be an exciting stage and I expect some guys will fall out of the top of the GC.
I will be on below match-ups, winner in capitals:
MAJKA v Spilak
NIBALI v Valverde
Double @ 2.58 with Unibet
Majka is one of Contador’s helpers, but with their main man out of the race he can go his own way. He has some excellent climbing skills and had a good Giro this year. Spilak is a good climber, but has some serious trouble with high temperatures. I think he will struggle with the 32C today, like he did yesterday.
Nibali is the best rider left in the race and I think he will be with the best in the end. He is a guy who doesn’t give away stage wins to others and I think he will try to win as much time before the time trial.
RODRIGUEZ v Navarro
Single @ 2.03 with Unibet
Rodriguez was on the podium of the Tour last year and is one of the best climbers in the peloton. He already lost about an hour on GC leader Nibali on purpose to have some playing time in the mountains. Navarro was already in a break-away last week and didn’t looked very good. Rodriguez was also in a break-away and showed his climbing skills, think he will try to go for the stage win today.
Navarro has abandoned the race, not sure what will happen to the bet.
What post are your original outright tips in MR F?
Hi gang, golfs hotting up nicely, anyone think woods is going to come back with a bang after his brilliant last 9 yesterday? i got him each way at 13s placed 1-4. Doesn’t look like his back is bothering him and he just seems to slip straight into top level having been out for a while. Also anyone got any news on the free bets from the world cup?
Dundanator, I wrote off Woods before the tournament so can’t reverse that thinking despite his fine round. Free bets will be credited any time soon.
Cheers Mister, just got feeling Woods head is in the right place and conditions favour him in the afternoon, if he is up there after the cut he won’t be far behind by the end, roll on 14.05pm
MR F WHICH PAGE IS IT WHERE TOUR ANTE POST BETS WERE POSTED FOR THE OPEN IVE FOUND ONE PAGE WITH 4 NAMES ON BUT NOT THE REST? , CHEERS
GAZ B, I commented mine several times on the end of golf or sports posts.
How on earth did Mayer lose 6-1 6-1 to Youzhny?! whoever joked about him being out celebrating Argentina….its the only explanation i can think of for the discrepancy in performance!
depending on what time they get started the conditions in stuttgart could give Rosol some help against Kohlschreiber. 31 atm and playing very fast. Should stay like this all day and Rosol has the game to take advantage.
World Matchplay Darts Sat 7pm
Afternoon Guys, one of my favourite tournaments of the sporting calendar starts tomorrow night. I will be attending Winter Gardens for the semi finals and final night. Last year final between Lewis & Taylor was arguably the best final ever played in Blackpool so I will be hoping for more the same.
This year the Matchplay is wide open with a case to be made for 8 or 9 of the top boys to win. This year we have seen nobody dominating with 3 different winners of the 3 big tournament so far. Michael Van Gerwen tops the betting 9/4 with the sponsors. I have said on this site for past 18 months I’m a MVG guy, and he is in the easier top half of the draw. He opens against Steve Beaton who recently got to a tour final in Gibraltar and would face the winner of Ian White/Terry Jenkins. MVG has yet to make the final at the winter Gardens, but I think he will add the second biggest major to his resume
Phil Taylor is next in the betting at 7/2 with the sponsors, I cant remember him being this big before a tournament. He as won this title six times in a row and he couldn’t have picked a better opponent to start with. The second round could see him face young Michael Smith who you may remember from the world championship, when “bully boy” knocked Taylor out. I would love to see this matchup in Blackpool. Taylor could get through to the semis but then would face the likes of Lewis, Anderson, Bunting. It would be no surprise to see Taylor win, but would need a turn around in recent form to do so. Betvictor offer evens that Taylor or MVG win the title and that will appeal to most people I would imagine
James Wade is 14/1 and he recently won a tour event in Gibraltar and comes to Blackpool with a point to prove. He was the not selected to play in the Premier league and that must hurt. He is the second most decorated player in PDC history and has made the final six times. If you think he can beat MVG in the semi he looks a good each way bet. I will be on him at small stakes to do that, but I will be on him to win his quarter at 9/4 Bet365. Simon Whitlock and the inform Barneveld are in his section, but the “machine” could out last them over the longer distances.
The 4th quarter in football terms is the group of death. Gary Anderson form as been picking up last few months but the draw hasn’t been kind to him here. He also doesn’t seem to enjoy Blackpool having never made it past the second round. Peter Wright faces Stephen Bunting and that for me is the tie of the first round. The winner of that faces Anderson in round two. For me it maybe better to take Adrian Lewis who faces Andrew Gilding in round one and then the winner of King v Huybrechts match. The UK open champion made the final last year and maybe the one to scrape out the group of death. He is 5/2 Various.
There are lots of player specials on offer, but one I think offers decent value is player to hit a 170 checkout. Andy Hamilton has had a quiet year so far but has made the quarter finals three years on the trot. He opens up against Wayne Jones who he should beat then would face Chisnall or Winstanley. Last year here he hit a 170 checkout and doesn’t often desert the treble twenty bed so the 6/1 at Betvictor looks worth a small punt, as he could play plenty of legs without getting out his quarter.
Ante-post main bets
MVG TO WIN THE MATCHPLAY 9/4
WADE TO WIN 2nd QUARTER 9/4
LEWIS TO WIN 3rd QUARTER 5/2
HAMILTON TO HIT A 170 CHECKOUT 6/1
Good luck if your having a bet
Somehow don’t think Andujar’s going to pull off a Zverev from here! When i saw the odds drift from what i thought was a generous starting point i feared the worst for my gamble on pablo.
at least Rosol’s going to bet getting on court nice and early!
at least the commentators picked andujar before the game to make me feel a little less silly. though no richer it should be said.
Hey Ad, you really think Rosol will beat Kohlschreiber?
I think it could go either way mate but my gut says Rosol and the conditions should favour him. Kohlscreiber has lost to Falla at Halle, then Bolelli at Wimbledon and Rosol at Stuttgart in a short space of time and i don’t think his level of play or confidence is at its highest right now.
But then again I thought Andujar had a chance against Ferrer! What a performance from Davide. Can’t see anyone stopping him from lifting the title after that.
By the way, I had a bet on Zverev and almost tore up the slip after first set!! :-)
Plus I was on Mayer to beat Lajovic!
Ad – what do u think about our old friend Jimmy Wang to beat Karlovic this evening? He is 2/1 but beat ward 6/1 6/3 yesterday and Ivo had 2 tough tie break sets v Sela…..plus he has beaten Karlovic before.
moderation grrr I will try again
Afternoon guys, Having trouble getting my darts ante-post bets through moderation, so will just put up bets for rugby without write up, just in case it doesn’t get through.
Widnes Vikings v Warrington Wolves Main bets
CHRIS BRIDGE TO SCORE 6/4 Betfred
RHYS HANDBURY TO SCORE 6/5 Various
Small stakes bet
BEN CURRIE TO SCORE 11/4 William Hill
Good luck if your having a bet
Tour de France stage 13 result:
MAJKA v Spilak
NIBALI v Valverde
Double @ 2.58 with Unibet WIN :)
Nibali won the stage and Majka was second :)
RODRIGUEZ v Navarro
Single @ 2.03 with Unibet ? Think it will be a VOID, Navarro didn’t finish.
RODRIGUEZ v Navarro
Single @ 2.03 with Unibet WIN :)
o dear. a hattrick yesterday, a pile of s**t today!
at least I staked in accordance with expectations.
Iddy- not seen any of wang or Karlovic this week but he’s got a shot for sure. ivo will prob win it 7-6 7-6 though!
me thinks young rory is gonna run away with this years open
Dr Ivo is defending champion i think. took down Falla last year. I remember because i bet on Falla!
after failing with the outsiders i think i may go for a treble on the favourites in colombia.
Ivo
Stepanek
Tomic
(though i am always reluctant to back young bernard)
Might through pliskova in there for a v low stakes 10/1 fourfold. its not impossible she can blast past wozniaki on a good day
I’ll be On Karlovic to win 2 sets to 0.
sounds about right.
And I fancy Pospisil to take down Tomic.
I think Tomic will win but not sure i want to touch this. might watch the first few games and see. Tomic is on my betting black list. Pospisil has absolutely no form to speak of, (not that tomic does…..who would have guessed he’d be outside the top 100 at this stage in his career a few years ago?!) but may have some renewed confidence from his amazing doubles title at Wimbledon with Jack Sock. Tomic took home favourite Falla down easily enough though and has looked to be slowly finding his game again lately.
Tomic 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 is my tentative prediction!
Hey Chief I’ll be on your tips, as well as a Rhys Evans anytime as he went to my school ;) as did Gaz O’Brien! (claim to fame!). Just wondering who you support in League? Wire fan myself.
Tomic to beat Poposil 2-0 11/8 William Hill
Tour de France stage 14
No time for a long write up, it’s weekend you know :)
I will be on below match-ups, winner in capitals:
ROLLAND v Roche
KONIG v Majka
Double @ 2.38 with Unibet
MOLLEMA v van den Broeck
Single @ 2.10 with Unibet
Finchy, cheers mate bet you glad you wasn’t now. Amazing how Widnes were getting 16pt start, Warrington never seem to look right on that I pitch. I remember My first game was watching GB v Australia test series in 83 or 84 when the likes of Gary Schofield, Joe Lydon, Ellery Hanley and a player you will know well Des Drummond. I do have a soft spot for Wigan Warriors though, the 85 cup final was in my opinion best final I have ever seen. I’m glad the old teams back in the day are getting success like Cas and Widnes.
Latest score Widnes 24-10 Warrington 57mins
Widnes Vikings v Warrington Wolves Main bets
CHRIS BRIDGE TO SCORE 6/4 Betfred WON :)
RHYS HANDBURY TO SCORE 6/5 Various WON :)
A currie try would be a great ending
may put a small stake on three sets @ 6/4
Chief, thank you so much for your tips. I was paid for Currie as well. He hasn’t scored, has he?
Przemm, YES mate Currie scored :) All three tips landed
Matt, not sure if you did another bet, but 2 out of 3 on by bets were in fact 3 out of 3 make sure if you backed Currie you got paid at whatever odds you got.
After last night it good to be back with a full house :)
CHRIS BRIDGE TO SCORE 6/4 Betfred WON :)
RHYS HANDBURY TO SCORE 6/5 Various WON :)
Small stakes bet
BEN CURRIE TO SCORE 11/4 William Hill WON :)
good call on 2-0 tomic nev
i didnt really fancy it at just above evens before hand.
but once it started it was obvious tomic was going to cruise it.
Pospisil just kept chipping and charging and Tomic was loving the target. Lob or blast, nailed it most times. Somehow did not learn his lesson. Impressed by Tomic, not at all by Pospisil.
lost my small 3 sets bet but made some profit betting on unders in play.
in play gasquet to win 2-0 @ 7/4
disclaimer* posted that having seen the score and none of the match! just watched one game and gasquet was shocking. hopefully he can sort it out asap.
well ive never seen gasquet play so badly. or anyone really. shocking. it’s not much of a push to say i could have done better.
bad day at the office. lumping on estrella to win it 2-0 to save the day. never seen such poorly executed relentlessly defensive tennis
12/5 a great price judging by that first set
Dustin Johnson@13/2 on hills to win golf…Rory will bottle it playing alongside him 2mrw….
Cant see Rory bottling it alasu57 looks in total control of his game and in my opinion likely to build on his lead
Stenson 6/5to beat Cabrera and Palmer at 6/5 Bet 365 in 3rd round
a big 12/5 win there to save my bacon. ill try to pick the right underdog before the start of the match tomorrow..!
Opinion noted Nev, but supposed to be pissin down Saturday & Rory no likey the rain, plus in my opinion, he wont go 3 days on the bounce in form, Friday was his first good 2nd round for months,, I think he will bottle it!!!!!