I DIDN'T think Shane Lowry would win the WGC last weekend but I should have with the way he has been playing over the last few weeks.
His second shot at the final hole, a 143-yard sand wedge over the trees, landed 11ft from the pin and up set up a superb birdie.
I can’t complain about my selections as four were in the top 12 with three of them top 10 and hopefully we can improve this week for the final Major of the season.
Wisconsin’s Whistling Straits is the venue for the USPGA and it’s going to be really hard to pick a winner. It doesn’t take a mastermind to guess who my main man is.
Dustin Johnson will be really up for this after his blunder in 2010, the last time the USPGA was held here. He was denied a place in the play-off after grounding his club in a “bunker” on the 72nd hole and was penalised with a two-stroke penalty. I still think he has a Major in him and hopefully Whistling Straits will suit him.
Last week I tipped Jason Day but he managed to land in the water TWICE at the 15th in the third round and recorded a eight which virtually killed his chances. I thought after The Open where he took so much out of himself both mentally and physically he would need time to recover.
But he won the Canadian Open the following week and was T12 at Firestone. My only concern is the par-five fifth hole – The Snake – which is surrounded by water so I hope Jason doesn’t get the shakes! The Aussie is hard to ignore in any Major and I'm sure he'll be up there after 72 holes.
With six top-20 finishes from his last seven starts Brooks Koepka is looking good. He is in the top 10 in driving distance, strokes gained:putting and all-round ranking with 19th (69.76%) in GIR he has all the attributes to win here. His all-round game is strong at the moment and well worth a small each-way wager at the prices offered.
My third choice is also one I selected last week. Henrik Stenson didn’t do much wrong at the Bridgestone International although his driving accuracy was only 48%. The Tour average was 44% so quite a few struggled off the tee.
Stenson has finished third in the last two PGAs and in the last five has had a further three top sixes. He is first on Tour in total driving and GIRs and I expect great things from him here.
Justin Rose has done quite well in the Majors this year with a T2 at the Masters, T27 at the US Open and T6 at The Open and I expect another high finish this week.
With a T6, T4 and T3 in his last three tournaments he seems to be building up nicely to another big win. He hits the ball long, has a 64% driving accuracy, is 13th in GIR (70%) and is 5th (63.75%) in sand saves, which with the amount of sand on this course could come in quite handy.
In his last 16 rounds Robert Streb has been over par once and over 70 twice. I have noticed him over the last four tournaments and he has been up there a lot. He also hits a long ball and driving accuracy is over the 60% and his GIR is near the 70%. So another who ticks all the boxes and is worth a small wager.
Most firms are going six places but some including McBookie, Skybet and Stan James are offering seven.
Recommended Bets
Dustin Johnson 2pts ew (16-1, Ladbrokes, William Hill)
Jason Day 2pts ew (14-1, bet365, Ladbrokes)
Brooks Koepka 1pt ew (45-1, bet365, Paddy Power)
Henrik Stenson 1pt ew (28-1, Coral, Paddy Power)
Justin Rose 1pt ew (20-1, Paddy Power)
Robert Streb 0.5pt ew (90-1, Coral)
Ace Venturer
Think Stensons due this Ace think he got the game for it this week
linfieldaces, I’ve got a piece in today’s Record and Day is my main bet. Quite like Rose each way and will look for a big price although may take Ace’s Koepka or Streb.
Spieth can win but is too short and I can’t see Rory coming straight back and doing it.
Like Stenson and Bubba Watson. Patrick Reed looks big at 60/1. Even bigger prices are Danny Lee and Marc Leishman – 1001/1 – both with good recent form. Mark Warren might be worth 50p e.w at 250/1.
SORRY. Lee and Leishman should of course read 100/1.
Got to love the first round group of Spieth, McIlroy and Johnson … the last 5 major winners!!
USPGA..Koepka Oosty Lingmerth Furyk..Two outsiders for top 20 finish..Howell and Warren too. (Or bunny) as i call him.
Web.com ..Jf valdez yip bertsch vasquez.
Challenge toor..Sordet coupland h.porteous turner..
Bol guys..last couple o weeks poor returns..but feeling confident this week..of some return at least☺
USPGA
H.MATSUYAMA 45/1
Z.JOHNSON 50/1
M.KUCHAR 60/1
B.SNEDEKER 70/1
Had Z.Johnson in the Open at 100/1,hope he will do the double this week.
Was all looking so good last week, coming into final round I had the first and second on the leader board with Justin Rose 22/1 and Jim Fuyrk 40/1 leading the way but for the 2nd week running I ended up with places only as both finished tied for 3rd, least the consistency is there just needed Rose to putt better on Sunday as it really let him down.
Said at the Open Spieth wasn’t too short when the bookies start going 8’s and 9’s. He should be another e/w certainty with the best chance of winning so I don’t know why you’d be put off by a price of 8/1 as the most likely winner.
usual 3 for me 2 to win one outsider E/W
Bubba Watson 14/1 @ coral and others
always wonder what you going to get from Bubba think last time i picked him for major he missed cut but he in good form recently coming runner up in his last 2 starts, he is 2 time major winner and done alright here in past
Rickie Fowler 20/1 @ coral and others
Can be frustrating Rickie has always looked like winning but struggles bit like Jason Day for having that tendancy, going for Rickie has he had good season, done well in majors over the years and won the unofficial 5th Major at Sawgrass earlier this year, think took playoff to win it but he got it done
Russell Knox 300/1 – always like to have big outsider and whilst it may be unlikely for Russell Knox I think he could do well here, course will hopefully suit his type of game he is solid if not spectacular. I backed him for Scottish open few weeks back where he finished 10th and he has had 9 finishes in top 25 this year so hoping he can bring his A game. Its 9/1 for a top 20 finish for him
Guys check out DAVID LINGMERTH 100/1 he has 3 top 10 in the last 5 events
Won the memorial tournament
T6 at green brier classic
3rd at quicken loans national
Just a thought for you guys good luck to you all
Jolo21065, I’ve noticed Lingmerth and of course he led The Open for a spell but to win a Major is a huge ask.
Would love to see Fowler or Stenson bag a major.they will be my main picks with Brandon grace an outsider….good luck everyone!!!!
MR F think Rory will surprise though prob wont win he hasn’t anything to lose.I’m a member of Holywood GC home of Rory himself and he’s been home a good bit of his recuperation what better way to heal than to be with family and friends so he could throw out a good 3/4 round if he can get through his first 2rds.I think it’s only a matter of time for Koepka been watching him quite abit as he seems someone who has the game for major honours.Jakey Day can never be ruled out as his record speaks for itself.RobertJB has mentioned another I think has the game in Mr Grace.Good Luck all on what I’m sure will be a great weekend of golf
linfieldaces, Spieth, McIlroy and Zach Johnson will be some 3ball and bad weather is also forecast so that could play a part. I’m on Day – just can’t see how McIlroy can come straight back and compete for a Major title.
I like to do a couple of outright bets in the golf, but I also like a couple of top 20 finishes if the odds are good, so going into the weekend you still have interest.
I’m on the following players for a top 20 finish. Adam Scott has landed a top 20 finish in 14 of his last 16 Majors. Rickie Fowler over the past two years as always been contending Majors including a couple of runners up, while Patrick Reed has been in the top 20 in his last two majors. He is 11/4 Coral. Brooks has 6 straight top 25 finishes so got to be a contender in this market with the with his short game. He is 15/8 at tote and Betfred.
US PGA TOP 20 FINISH
FOWLER 5/4
SCOTT 7/5
REED 11/4
KOEPKA 15/8
(Skybet paying 7 places so E/W on those above pay 18/1, 28/1 55/1 and 40/1 in the outright market, and I will have a small punt in that market E/W)
Outright
DAY 12/1
WATSON 14/1
KOEPKA 40/1
Odds at Skybet, (paying 7 places at 1/4 odds)
Good luck if your having a bet
thechief, good luck with those. I’ll have a look at 2ball or 3ball bets later and see what I fancy. Goodnight all.
Mr Fixit/Ace, can you just explain the points scoring you put next to every bet?
Rickytree, it’s for people who use betting banks and also gives an indication of confidence. 10pts is the maximum bet – 1pt is 1 per cent of my betting bank.
What about rory mcilroy each way?
Agreed mr f just seeing the 3balls there reading an article from Rory in the Belfast Telegraph.He seems pretty upbeat and loves this track if he’s in top 15/10 it will be some achievement he also says hes not gona stop playing football haha should stick to what’s he’s good at.Best of luck with Day gona go with Stenson to start but he can be tempermental in the bad weather and keep a close watchful eye inplay for a bargin.
Harry if you fancy him I’d wait afew holes first see what he’s looking like may get a better price.The pro at our course took a £1 of him round Holywood just before his injury think he was on beans on a bed of toast for tea after losing that haha
I fancy Day to win at 14/1
Will have small ew on Zach 55/1, Reed 60/1 and Kjeldsen 350/1
Jason Day + Bubba Watson
I’m on Jason Day, Louis Oosthuizen, Danny Willet and Branden Grace. Then for my first round leader i have a small bet on Brendan Steele at 150/1 EW. Best of luck everyone I am Excited.
MR F liking the look of one match in the 3balls and I think this player is over priced.
Super Single
DAN BERGER 5/2
Boudicca
Cabrero Bello
What do you think? Cabrero Bello is one of the most uneasy looking golfers around never looks like a player don’t know alot about Bowditch but know Berger has potential for the big stage.
linfieldaces, never heard of Dan Berger so can’t comment. Will have a look shortly at the match bets.
linfieldaces, my two threeball tips for the USPGA are Lingmerth to beat Streelman and Bae and Na to beat Pepperell and Dougherty.
Lingmerth (7.10pm) is 5-4 at Stan James and Na (7.40pm) is 10-11 at Ladbrokes.
Both in good form and Lingmerth is particular has been starting tournaments fast.
Great shot on Lingmerth mr f looking good think you’d when you mentioned he had led the open for a bit I thought he could be potential for 1st Rd leader but don’t do them bets anymore.Hoping Berger can get me a wee win at least I’m not greedy trailing by a shot but plenty of golf left to play
linfieldaces, he seems to be a fast starter – was seven under at St Andrews after nine but fell away on the back nine. Ace will be happy with his players’ start, especially Dustin, but we know all about his last 36-hole record in Majors.
My predict text letting me down bucket loads tonight Lingmerth was meant
Mr fix.. Absolutely brilliant tipping took ur tips on 3-balls double @3.1