I WASN'T able to make it four in a row last week but Emiliano Grillo gave me a good run for my money as he finished tied third in the China Open.
Peter Uihlein also had a good run, finishing T8, but following a four-over third round it was always going to be hard for him. This week is going to be really hard to pick a winner with the new format in the WGC-Cadillac Matchplay.
So what I'll do is suggest a winner of each section and the winner of the tournament. Tall task but here goes.
Group 1: Rory McIlroy looks the like winner in this section. I can’t see Brandt Snedeker, Billy Horschel or Jason Dufner giving him much trouble. McIlroy is 5-4 at 888sport.
Group 2: Same has to be said in this group with Jordan Spieth untouchable at the moment. For him to honour a commitment to the RBC Heritage the week after winning The Masters and then playing so well, albeit after a slow start, speaks volumes of the lad. Take Spieth at 11-10 at boylesports.
Group 3: If Henrik Stenson is on his game should come through this with ease. Stenson is 6-4 at 888sport.
Group 4: Bubba Watson’s group looks a good one with Keegan Bradley, Louis and Miquel Angel Jimenez. Although Watson is favourite I like the look of Oosthuizen for this one. Apart from driving accuracy his stats are really good. Oosthuizen is 11-4 at 888sport and Ladbrokes.
Group 5: After his win in the RBC Heritage Jim Furyk looks the one here. I know he’s not done well over the past year or so but after his win it could be the turning point. Furyk is 13-8 at 888sport.
Group 6: Has to be Justin Rose. After his T2 in The Masters and his win at the Zurich Classic last week he is one of the men in form. Rose is 11-8 at Betfred.
Group 7: Quite like the look of Zach Johnson but my head rules my heart here and the guy everybody seems to be tipping for every tournament since he came back from injury. Day at 5-4 with Betfred is my pick to qualify.
Group 8: If Charl Schwartzel was playing anything like he can he could push Dustin Johnson but I can’t see past big DJ. Johnson is 7-5 at 888sport.
Group 9: Paul Casey is the selection for this one. Adam Scott has not been playing too well recently and Casey has been runner-up twice in this tournament. Casey is 9-4 at 888sport and Ladbrokes.
Group 10: Going for Bernd Wiesberger in this one. Sergio Garcia’s putting is suspect at the moment and his Austrian rival is good on and around the greens and can see him progressing from this section. Wiesberger is 10-3 at Coral.
Group 11: Has to be Ian Poulter from this section. Jimmy Walker could prove a problem but the Ryder Cup maestro loves this format. Poulter is 9-4 at Titanbet.
Group 12: My favourite player Brookes Koepka is in this group but unfortunately I don’t think he can get the better of JB Holmes. JB is 11-5 at Betfred.
Group 13: Graeme McDowell for me in this one. Rickie Fowler hasn’t got going this season and McDowell has such a strong matchplay record. McDowell is 11-4 at Betfred.
Group 14: This section pits the 2012 champ versus the 2013 champ. Find it hard to pick between Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar. Think I’ll go with Kuchar at 8-5 with Paddy Power.
Group 15: Patrick Reed could potentially be the winner here this week. He’s got a proven matchplay record both as an amateur and professional. Reed is 13-8 at Betfred.
Group 16: I know Mr Fixit rates Hideki Matsuyama highly so who am I to disagree. Matsuyama is 7-4 at 888sport to finish above Kevin Na, Joost Luiten and Alexander Levy.
WINNER: It's Patrick Reed for me at the likes of 25-1 ew (to make the semi-finals) with William Hill and BetVictor. If he gets out his group and can triumph over Jordan Spieth in the next round he can make the final. And you never know he might even be taking on Matsuyama who is 33-1 with William Hill and 888sport.
TOP TREBLE: McIlroy, Speith and Rose to qualify.
good week for me last week with back to back winners after Justin Rose followed Jim Fuyrk last week, chances of a hat trick in a tournament like this is going to be nigh on impossible but there 5 hours left of my working day so thats 5 hours to study and make sure i got a work tab in the background in case anyone important pops in
lee, it’s a really tough tournament to call. I’m taking Matsuyama ew after seeing him up close at the Masters but any player who has one bad round could go out. Spieth could be hard to beat if he’s in the mood.
Change of venue for the matchplay is a bit of unknown who will perform at this venue ! Going for Paul Casey e.w and Ricki Fowler e.w good luck all
cheers ACE, have gone for your treble – 23.15/1 @ b365
top yank – speith
top uk – Rose
top irish – Rory
D.JOHNSON 20/1
Z.JOHNSON 80/1
Once again last week, started like a train with P.Uihlein and Brendon De Jonge,and once again finished outside a top six place!
Never mind, there is always another tournament.
Paul Casey for me
40-1 with Betfred
3 guys for me as always looking for people with good match play records and ideally some decent form heading into this snake pit of a competition
Jordan Speith 15/2 his recent form speaks for itself
Henrik Stenson 40/1 a very good match player on his day
Ian Poulter 80/1 has won this type of event before and on his day he can be unstoppable
lee, be careful. Stenson and Poulter lost yesterday so are up against it. Spieth did win his opener though.
Cheers mr fixit I put my bets on yesterday just struggled to connect on my mobile to here last night, hate match play tournament it could easily be won by a kj choi as one of the big boys but the odds are pretty good probably could get lot better on poulter now though
lee, it’s a tough one to call but my man Matsuyama started well with a 5 and 4 win.
Good luck hope one of us finds way thru the minefield and know u have mentioned him a few times on this thread so he must be decent player, watching them live must have been a great experience especially over at augusta
Can someone tell me why on bet365 I managed to get Justin Rose at 6/1 to top his group?
Martin, because he lost his first match
Martin, as Scott says Rose lost his first game yesterday so he’s up against it now.
Thanks Mr f I didn’t realise before I put the bet on. Still only a fiver!!