Links expert McDowell the one to beat
After a week of team golf that was part enthralling and part sleep inducing its back to the familiar terrain of strokeplay with two quality events either side of the Atlantic. Regular readers will know I'm no fan of pro-ams but the Dunhill Links Championship is the one exception. I can just about tolerate the fawning coverage of Michael Douglas, Hugh Grant and co because accompanying that nonsense is an intriguing golf tournament played on three of the finest links courses in the world, Carnoustie, Kingsbarn and two rounds at St Andrews.
David Howell's recent improvement certainly hasn't escaped the attention of bookmakers who have priced him up as a single-figure favourite for an event where he does, to be fair, possess a very impressive record. I'm sure Swindon's finest will be in the shake-up again but there is absolutely no way I'm taking those odds on a man who has still only won once in 7 years. Nevertheless, its very hard to see Howell being too far away on Sunday and he looks a banker for match and spread bets. With the usual market leader Ernie Els absent, Howell's closest rivals in the betting are world class Irish duo Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke. Despite both being top drawer links exponents, lack of recent form and a season of personal problems make neither a very attractive betting proposition.
Instead my main focus is on another player from that part of the world. I've had GRAEME MCDOWELL earmarked for this tournament for a long while now. Raised in Northern Ireland playing the links at Royal Portrush, McDowell is a natural at this type of golf. Despite never threatening the leaderboard, his performance at this year's Open didn't escape my attention. But for a quadruple bogey at the Road Hole on Saturday, Graeme would have finished runner-up but 11th place was still a quality finish in a Major. After a brilliant third-place in world class company at the Bay Hill Invitational early in the year, it does come as a surprise that this tremendous prospect hasn't won this season but, having only lost in a play-off here last year, the Dunhill Links is probably the best chance he'll have.
LEE WESTWOOD used to hate St Andrews and links golf but has improved leaps and bounds at this type of golf in recent years. When he defeated Ernie Els here two years ago, it was in my view the best performance in the 4 years of this event. Despite looking back to his best this year when competing well in the highest company at Sawgrass, the USPGA and NEC Invitational, for reasons that defy logic this prolific winner still hasn't won since that 2003 triumph. I am certain Lee will win again soon and he arrives here fresh after a much lighter autumn schedule than usual.
As always on links courses there are many players who just aren't suited to the conditions and can be confidently written off. Bradley Dredge and Nick Dougherty, both in pretty hot form, have no previous pedigree for example. Even the mightily impressive Henrik Stenson has questions to answer this week. One player who seems to have very much got the hang of links golf in recent years is IAN POULTER. He's made gradual progress in this event, 35th in 2002, 16th in 2003 before last year's 3rd place. Of even more interest was his strong showing at this year's Open at St Andrews and as I've suggested in recent weeks, Poulter will be busting a gut in these final few weeks of the season to keep his fine record of one win for every year he's been on Tour.
Several of last week's Presidents Cup contestants line up in this week's Chrysler Classic of Greensboro but I wonder how many will instantly reproduce their form. The best of them must be Adam Scott, who looked in superb nick again last week when teaming up with Goosen for 3.5 points out of 4. He looks the one to beat this week as fellow favourite Sergio Garcia has looked anything but convincing with the putter lately. The Chrysler has never been a tournament dominated by the market leaders anyway so I'm looking further down the market for my selections.
KJ CHOI was a surprise absentee from the International team, having just failed to qualify after a mediocre year. The Korean has winning form in both the States and Europe as well as some excellent form in Majors so I wouldn't imagine his drought will continue for long. Last week's missed cut is obviously a slight concern but KJ's form at Greensboro is so good that I'm still prepared to take a chance at 40/1. His last three visits have all yielded top-7 finishes as he just loves these huge bentgrass greens.
After several decent finishes without winning recently, JEFF BREHAUT must come into the reckoning on the basis of his course form at 80/1. As one of the lesser lights on this Tour, consecutive top-10 finishes in this event shows he reserves his best for Forest Oaks and 2005 has been Jeff's best year to date. Finally, once again I'm persevering with BO VAN PELT, who I'm adamant is more than up to winning in this company. A few moderate efforts have seen Bo's price drift back out to a very reasonable 66/1 and I'd never forgive myself if I avoided him this week and he won as his course form is progressive.
Good Luck!
STAKING PLAN
DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
3pts ew GRAEME MCDOWELL @ 28/1 (VICTOR CHANDLER)
3pts ew LEE WESTWOOD @ 22/1 (VICTOR CHANDLER, BET365)
2pts ew IAN POULTER @ 28/1 (GENERALLY AVAILABLE)
CHRYSLER CLASSIC OF GREENSBORO
1pt ew KJ CHOI @ 40/1 (BLUESQ, HILLS, LADBROKES)
1pt ew BO VAN PELT @ 66/1 (GENERALLY AVAILABLE)
1pt ew JEFF BREHAUT @ 80/1 (BLUESQ, STAN JAMES, BETFRED)
David Howell's recent improvement certainly hasn't escaped the attention of bookmakers who have priced him up as a single-figure favourite for an event where he does, to be fair, possess a very impressive record. I'm sure Swindon's finest will be in the shake-up again but there is absolutely no way I'm taking those odds on a man who has still only won once in 7 years. Nevertheless, its very hard to see Howell being too far away on Sunday and he looks a banker for match and spread bets. With the usual market leader Ernie Els absent, Howell's closest rivals in the betting are world class Irish duo Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke. Despite both being top drawer links exponents, lack of recent form and a season of personal problems make neither a very attractive betting proposition.
Instead my main focus is on another player from that part of the world. I've had GRAEME MCDOWELL earmarked for this tournament for a long while now. Raised in Northern Ireland playing the links at Royal Portrush, McDowell is a natural at this type of golf. Despite never threatening the leaderboard, his performance at this year's Open didn't escape my attention. But for a quadruple bogey at the Road Hole on Saturday, Graeme would have finished runner-up but 11th place was still a quality finish in a Major. After a brilliant third-place in world class company at the Bay Hill Invitational early in the year, it does come as a surprise that this tremendous prospect hasn't won this season but, having only lost in a play-off here last year, the Dunhill Links is probably the best chance he'll have.
LEE WESTWOOD used to hate St Andrews and links golf but has improved leaps and bounds at this type of golf in recent years. When he defeated Ernie Els here two years ago, it was in my view the best performance in the 4 years of this event. Despite looking back to his best this year when competing well in the highest company at Sawgrass, the USPGA and NEC Invitational, for reasons that defy logic this prolific winner still hasn't won since that 2003 triumph. I am certain Lee will win again soon and he arrives here fresh after a much lighter autumn schedule than usual.
As always on links courses there are many players who just aren't suited to the conditions and can be confidently written off. Bradley Dredge and Nick Dougherty, both in pretty hot form, have no previous pedigree for example. Even the mightily impressive Henrik Stenson has questions to answer this week. One player who seems to have very much got the hang of links golf in recent years is IAN POULTER. He's made gradual progress in this event, 35th in 2002, 16th in 2003 before last year's 3rd place. Of even more interest was his strong showing at this year's Open at St Andrews and as I've suggested in recent weeks, Poulter will be busting a gut in these final few weeks of the season to keep his fine record of one win for every year he's been on Tour.
Several of last week's Presidents Cup contestants line up in this week's Chrysler Classic of Greensboro but I wonder how many will instantly reproduce their form. The best of them must be Adam Scott, who looked in superb nick again last week when teaming up with Goosen for 3.5 points out of 4. He looks the one to beat this week as fellow favourite Sergio Garcia has looked anything but convincing with the putter lately. The Chrysler has never been a tournament dominated by the market leaders anyway so I'm looking further down the market for my selections.
KJ CHOI was a surprise absentee from the International team, having just failed to qualify after a mediocre year. The Korean has winning form in both the States and Europe as well as some excellent form in Majors so I wouldn't imagine his drought will continue for long. Last week's missed cut is obviously a slight concern but KJ's form at Greensboro is so good that I'm still prepared to take a chance at 40/1. His last three visits have all yielded top-7 finishes as he just loves these huge bentgrass greens.
After several decent finishes without winning recently, JEFF BREHAUT must come into the reckoning on the basis of his course form at 80/1. As one of the lesser lights on this Tour, consecutive top-10 finishes in this event shows he reserves his best for Forest Oaks and 2005 has been Jeff's best year to date. Finally, once again I'm persevering with BO VAN PELT, who I'm adamant is more than up to winning in this company. A few moderate efforts have seen Bo's price drift back out to a very reasonable 66/1 and I'd never forgive myself if I avoided him this week and he won as his course form is progressive.
Good Luck!
STAKING PLAN
DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
3pts ew GRAEME MCDOWELL @ 28/1 (VICTOR CHANDLER)
3pts ew LEE WESTWOOD @ 22/1 (VICTOR CHANDLER, BET365)
2pts ew IAN POULTER @ 28/1 (GENERALLY AVAILABLE)
CHRYSLER CLASSIC OF GREENSBORO
1pt ew KJ CHOI @ 40/1 (BLUESQ, HILLS, LADBROKES)
1pt ew BO VAN PELT @ 66/1 (GENERALLY AVAILABLE)
1pt ew JEFF BREHAUT @ 80/1 (BLUESQ, STAN JAMES, BETFRED)
posted by Paul Krishnamurty at 4:40 PM
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