I HAVE to say I’m still feeling gutted. I thought that when my US Open selection Dustin Johnson went three ahead midway through the final round at Chambers Bay he would hold on to the finish.
He could have beaten Jordan Spieth to land his first Major title on the last if he had converted a 12-foot eagle putt but of course he missed.
So it was odds on an 18-hole play-off the next day but he fluffed the three-foot return putt for birdie and Spieth had his second Major of the season.
Even I could have holed that one and such is mrfixit's putting he'd have probably holed the 12-footer! At least Johnson gave me a place but it could have been so different.
This week the US Tour travels to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship at the River Highlands Club. My first-choice is South African Louis Oosthuizen who had a superb US Open.
After a horror first-round 77 he bounced back to hit 66, 66 and 67 and that was brilliant. He birdied six of his last seven holes to almost earn a play-off and if he continues that form or anything like it at the Travelers I can’t see past him.
Brandt Snedeker is also on a bit of a run at the moment. In his last three tourneys he’s finished T2, T6 and had that great final round last weekend to finish T8. Whether the punishing Chambers Bay course has taken a lot out of him we’ll have to wait and see but he looks a good bet.
Snedeker is 14-1 second favourites behind Bubba Watson who has won the tournament and finished in the top six four times. Whether he'll be refreshed after missing the cut at Chambers Bay or on a downer after a Major disappointment is up for question. Bubba is a biggest 14-1 with the likes of Betfred and Coral.
On the European Tour the BMW Open is being played at the flat tree-lined course of Munchen Eichenried. Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer, Shane Lowry and Joost Luiten are all flying over from the west coast of America to play here but with the travelling and the gruelling test that was Chambers Bay I’m leaving them out of my selections.
German Maximilian Kieffer has three top-10 finishes in his last five tournaments and the way he has been playing is in with a chance. With driving accuracy of around 65% and GIR of 71.76% his stats stack up so I'm taking him.
Rafa Cabrero-Bello did us a good turn a couple of weeks ago at the Lyonness Open when he finished second and I expect the Spaniard to have another good week here. He’s 10th on the European Tour in GIR stats which could come in handy here.
Recommended Bets
Louis Oosthuizen 2pts ew (25-1, bet365, William Hill)
Brandt Snedeker 1.5pts ew (14-1, general)
Maximilian Kieffer 1.5pts ew (33-1, 888sport, Betfred)
Rafa Cabrera Bello 1.5pts ew (25-1, Coral)
Ace Venturer
Make/Miss the Cut – Treble
Travelers Championship:
– Sergio Garcia to make the cut
– Louis Oosthuizen to make the cut
BMW International:
– Shane Lowry to make the cut
Pays out just over Evens on PP
The breakdown of DJ helped one of my selection win with Jordan speith returning a nice 9/1 my 2 other pics had mixed fortunes, bubba Watson was erratic but Brandt snedeker managed 8th place was thinking some place money or even better was on the cards for him half way through that last round. Nice to be back in winners enclosure onto this week we go to
Obviously Oosty was indeed on fire at US Open. But mental and physical fatigue will surely play its part on someone that has spent the ebst part of the last 2 years injured. He could run away with it but 25/1 for a guy without a win on US soil, coming off the back of a tough grinding week at Chambers Bay.
Not for me.
Quite like Knox this week but his price is also very skinny at 33s/40s.
Like the Cabrera-Bello pick as he looks set to play well as he continues to hit greens for fun. Worry is how much he loves to beat himself on Sunday.
My sole tip for the week is a speculative yet solid looking 4fold.
Langer Top 10 @ US Senior Open
Petterson Top 10 LPGA @ Arkansas
Knox Top 20 @ Travellers
Bjorn Top 20 @BMW
4fold pays about 21s. Looks good for a run if nothing else. Had some joy with these types of bets this season and takes away some of the heartbreak/stress of Sunday back 9s.
StevenRG, I’m going with Bubba and might do Snedeker too. Cabrera-Bello looks a solid tip for the BMW. All eachway.
Fancy Snedeker. Brendan Steele seems to have a liking for this course and may be decent ew value at 40/1. In Germany,a couple of lively outsiders could be Siem at 66/1 and Larrazabal at 60s.
Afternoon
Let’s not forget matsuyama finished 18th last week…
Bonny golfer that boy just needs tae get his finger oot and win!
Was painful watching DJ mess up last week.He’s easily one of the most frustrating players around.Two in form players and a guy who seems to love this course for me this week.Brandt Snedeker (14/1) has had 3 top 10 finishes in a row.Tony Finau(40/1), 5 consecutive top 20’s.Going to stick a few quid on Bubba(14/1) as well.He has had a win,a second and a fourth place here over the last few years.
Does anybody know who won us open competition?
builder, I’ll be putting a thread up later tonight with all the winners of that contest
3 for me as usual this week
Brandt snedeker 14/1 at betfred – tipped him last week due to the form he was in and he franked that finishing 8th, weaker field this week so could be his week
Harris English 40/1 at bet victor has slowly got to grips with this course over the years and playing courses before is something I look for. Last 3 years Harris has finished 64, 43rd and 7th so is getting to grips with this course plus he had a week off last week so will be rested
Tony finau 45/1 at coral outside bet this week is Tony as this course is suited for a big hitter like Tony and is in good form consistently making the cut over last month or so and has been up there or there abouts
BMW INTERNATIONAL
T.JAIDEE 40/1
A.OTAEGUI 250/1
TRAVELLERS
Z.JOHNSON 30/1
R.KNOX 40/1
ALL EACH WAY.
Hope I have better luck on golf this week after putting a few quid on Neymar to be top scorer in the Copa America !!
Does anyone fancy any of the scottish golfers to do well at the BMW international this weekend with scottish open coming up
Paul Lawrie finishes 1st round -4 and molinary is -5 after 17.both 66-1 to win the tournement with current leader -6.great odds if you ask me.thats with sky bet