Anything that follows the Masters has to be an anti climax, Adam Scott taking the title was a great result for us, though my own best outcome would have been a Snedeker win. I really fancied him to land the green jacket as we headed into the final day, fortunately, when the rain came I sensibly took my profits, doing so on the basis that in my view, Sneds putts far better on very fast greens and of course the heavy rain accentuated his lack of length versus some of the other nearest challengers.

In an attempt to keep our run going, I believe I have some strong picks again this week, both sides of the pond.

Beginning with the Spanish Open played at El Saler. Francesco Molinari defends his title here and his precise golf looks on paper to be perfect for this tight, wind affected course. Be warned, the diminutive Italian posted on Twitter on Tuesday evening "Having some problems with my lower back, I hope to be able to play as defending champion" On that basis, we simply must overlook him this week.

I never thought I would ever back Gonzalo Fernandez Castagno, however, the time has come. He has truly raised his game in the last 15 months or so and he had a super Masters. His putting stroke and routine isnt something to watch for too long, you would never sleep at night, but it seems to be getting the job done. The tour players rate his ball striking as one of the best and this and his tee shot accuracy will pay rich dividends this week on a course truly made for his game. I have backed Gonzo at 20 with Betfair.

Ask a Spaniard how important their domestic Open is and they will keep you talking all day, add to that the fact that this years event is only a week after the birthday of the late, great Sevy and the biggest risk of backing a Spaniard is that the emotion of the occasion may find them out. One very passionate home boy is Pablo Larrazabal , the young swashbuckler would love to win here this week and he has a very good record in the event with a string of top ten finishes. He has climbed the World Golf Rankings in the last 18 months and clearly has the game to win events and make it into the top 50. I have always felt he needs a strong caddie on his bag to try and keep him on an even keel. So often he follows a run of birdies with a bogey or two that look as if they were the product of poor game management and too much adrenaline.

I know he is well rested and has practised well and is ready for this like never before. He also has a strong  early morning draw with Paul Casey and Eduardo Molinari and can post an early score giving a nice position from which to trade. I have taken the 25 with Betfair. Of all my selections, a win for the Barca supporting Larrazabal would give me the greatest pleasure.

Sergio Garcia is a worthy, if short priced favourite and I wouldnt wish to put anyone off backing him. He has a similar fragile looking putting stroke to that of fellow Spaniard, Gonzo and like Gonzo, he has still managed to get himself over the winning line in the last 12 months. This week is crazy like no other for Sergio, he is the biggest draw card of all the home players and he will have a schedule full of demands and sponsor requests that just might deflect his focus enough to derail his chance of winning, I do however expect to see him make a top ten finish.

My final two picks are non Spaniards. Firstly, the young Dutchman Joost Luiten. he son of a fruit wholesaler, Luiten came very close to turning his back on the game a few years back and since he re dedicated himself he has flirted with the winners enclosure on several occasions. No question he has the game, has no worries playing in the wind and believe me, the wind will be a factor on this tight tree lined track. He has watched the Masters with envy, but has been working very hard on his game, unlike some, he is well rested and has everything i his favour this week, at 50 with Betfair he looks real value to me.

Shane Lowry visited the USA recently and was reported to have had his head turned, a missed cut in Texas was followed by a much better show in his pre Masters event and he will have realised that he has the game to mix it with the big boys. Brought up with links golf, the back nine will fit his eye really well and I really fancy that the porky Irishman can be in contention from day one. It remains to be seen whether he will venture full time to the USA, my inside track is that he favours the full Irish breakfast, soda bread and local sport to tear himself away right now, the European Tour will be all the richer for hanging on to him. I took 46 on him but he may drift to 50 before kick off.

Finally, a good word for Miguel Angel Jimenez who returns this week following a broken leg caused while skiing, welcome back to the Mechanic.

RBC Heritage below

The players simply love paying in the RBC Heritage over the truly stunning Harbour Town Links. The tree lined course rewards precision ball striking and the past winners provides ample testimony to the top ball strikers in world golf, interestingly, the course also throws up multiple winners.

Brandt Snedeker led the Masters after 54 holes and perhaps looked a little under cooked on the last day due to lack of competitive action caused by injury. He also struggled to find the pace of the rain soaked greens, he remains in my sights this week despite carrying a favourites tag. The American won here in 2011 and has the perfect game for the tight Harbour Town links. He didnt enjoy his final round at Augusta nd to some extent has something to prove again this week. Watch him go and believe me, he will content this week, the current 15 with Betfair will look mighty generous come Sunday.

The stellar field is awash with players who had the Masters experience, top players often take a break the week following a Major, it shows the esteem within which they hold this truly wonderful golf course.

For my remaining picks I am looking way down deep into the odds lists and for a back to lay prospect, I have landed with English journeyman, Brian Davis. You may recall he famously called a foul on himself off the side of the 18th hole during a playoff, effectively handing the title to a relieved Jim Furyk. Davis a Florida native, has performed very well in the last tow years and features with regularity on PGA Tour leaderboards. He tied for 6th in Houston in an equally strong line up and he is over priced at 70 with Betfair, take the hint.

With Adam Scott winning at Augusta, the Australians have been in party mood ever since, in all honesty, I expect that win for Scott to lift the spirits of all Australians and dont be surprised to see more than one contend here and in the next few events. The one I like the look of is the left hander, Greg Chalmers. Chalmers has truly wonderful putting stroke and he is also very accurate on his day, he has won most recently back in Australia , but can win on a track like this, small, slick greens are to his favour and at 150 with Betfair, he is great value.

The legend that is Jonny Miller simply drooled over the swing of young Australian Matt Jones. Born in Sydney, he now resides in Scottsdale and he is one of those players yet to really hit the real big time, but in my view, he has the all round game to make a big impact and I expect him to breakthrough real soon, perhaps it will be this week at Harbour Town. Interestingly, he is ranked rd in total driving on tour, thats a combination of accuracy and distance, perfect for this tricky links. If the youngster can enjoy a decent putting week, then he can mix it on Sunday, I have backed him at a tasty 260 on Betfair.

Expect Luke Donald to show this week too.

I hope some of you took my advise re Francesco Molinari and either avoided backing him or chose to lay.

Zurich Classic Selections

Justin Rose 14
Graham Delaet 65
Matt Jones 110
Trevor Immelman 200

tbf to golfdaft if he did that it would take yonks to scroll through his picks

hes kept it going nicely through thick and thin and well done to him for that, whatever the outcome

The Players Championship is the standout event outside of the four majors and aside of the top class field, its also the stadium course and in particular the closing holes, that deliver maximum golfing drama, time and again.

When considering your betting plans this week, you need to be aware that the Stadium Course is one of the few tracks on the PGA Tour that doesnt favour any particular kind of game, in short, anyone can win here. Who can forget the rather agricultural Craig Perks grabbing his own personal glory with an eagle, birdie, birdie finish.

At 7200 yards, even the shorter hitters can feature, though you should be aware that torrential rain last week had the course completely waterlogged so it may play a tad longer and softer than usual.

My standout bet for the week is arguably the hottest player on tour this year, Billy Horschel. Our boy has finished in the top ten in his last four events, winning one of them and adding a second and third placed finish too.

If Horschel were to win here this week, he would become the first Players Championship debutant, therefore making history. I have balanced this with the knowledge that Billy has played over 80 rounds at the Stadium Course as he lives adjacent to the property and this must give him some sort of advantage. By his own admission, playing here at other times of the year is nothing like tournament week, however, he added “I think the advantage I get out of it is I know where you can miss on the golf course,” Horschel said. “The lines don't look as intimidating because I know there is more room".

Horschel is already an acquired taste, sometimes his antics on course are less than impressive, but his golf game is pure gold and he is a potential golfing superstar.

I cant believe he is trading at 70 on Betfair and I have backed him to win, top 3, 5 , 10 and 20.

The belief handed out to all Australian players courtesy of Adam Scott`s Masters win has been obvious to all. Check out the results of one Brett Rumford as fitting testimony to that.

I am drawn to another Australian this week in Jason Day. After a below par 2012, Day has re dedicated himself this year and his performances have reflected that. Day has a top game and he is long too, I fancy the Stadium Course will suit his game and if he get the putter to behave, then he is a real danger to all. He is 55 with Betfair.

When I had lunch with Billy Foster recently, he identified Thorbjorn Olesen as "a bag that any caddie would want to be on" high praise indeed from a man who was with the late and great Sevy for many years and latterly, Lee Westwood. Olesen was a couple of bad holes away from landing the Green Jacket at Augusta and has made a fantastic start to his move to the USA for the 2013 season.

The European Tour`s loss is the PGA Tour` gain and I fancy that the bookmakers have made a real mess in pricing him up this week. He is long, straight, scrambles with the best of them and is a Major winner just waiting to happen. How on earth he can be 130 on Betfair this week, goodness knows, I have also backed him for the same place finishes as I covered Horschel.

I have also covered two further players this week on an ew basis, I like the look of Kyle Stanley at 170 and the in form Lucas Glover at 220.

Good luck

Almost every year it seems, there have been significant changes to the West Course at Wentworth. Remember the heavy criticism aimed at the Big Easy for the dramatic changes to the 17th and 18th holes and of course the very poor condition of the putting greens.

Well, I can tell you that the putting surfaces have been re laid and are vastly improved on last year and the landing area on the par 5 finishing hole has been flattened out to allow a realistic opportunity to hit that green in two and therefore increase the chance of eagles on 18. I was at Wentworth last year and aside of James Morrison chipping on for an unexpected birdie on 18, it was as dull as dishwater, expect fireworks and final day drama this year.

This was great event for me last year, selecting the winner Luke Donald, Paul Lawrie and Peter Lawrie at a huge price for places, all delivered. So, its an event I enjoy and I am pleased to say that with a Gmac / Peter Uihlein double last weekend, my form is warm to say the least.

With the traditional Pro Am event due to deny the players any further worthwhile course practice, it will be full steam ahead early on Thursday and I cant wait.

Luke Donald is an understandable bookies favourite, however, his form this season on the USA Tour has been well below his usual standards and he doesnt appear to have the spark of previous years. Of course this may change now he is back at European Tour HQ, but somehow I doubt it and I would be keen tom field against him this week.

The European Tour have been keen to market the fact that the entire victorious European Ryder Cup team will be present this week which is great news for TV and patrons alike, shame none of them, other than Paul Lawrie, actually practice their craft here on a full time basis.

Justin Rose was edged out last year and simply miss fired on the last day when Donald stepped up his game, I fancy things will be different this time and with his wonderful ball striking, I can see Rose taking revenge and the bumper first prize. At 13 with Betfair he is fairly short, but I am already on and have backed Rose to win the event outright, I am pleased to see he is also out early on Thursday and with a somewhat rejuvenated Martin Kaymer.

It should be noted that its not always a superstar that wins this prestige event at the home of European golf, remember journeyman Simon Khan lifting the trophy only a few short years ago. Branden Grace is on the verge of that superstar bracket, the South African won an amazing four times in his rookie year in 2012 and placed 5th here too. The course is made for his power game and he has sublime touch, he also has a prized early / late combo and at a rather large looking 50 with Betfair I simply had to dive in.

Tongchai Jaidee was narrowly edged out by a very focused Gmac at last weeks Volvo Matchplay, I followed the Thai sensation at Wentworth last year and he hit the ball extremely well. Given his relative form this year over last and his lift in confidence, I fancy Jaidee can be in the mix again this year. He is a seasoned pro and class act and at 90 he represents some real value.

Golf tipsters live for the prospect of a big priced outsider landing the spoils and in that regard, I am no different and I think I may have found a couple of alternatives to the popular choices at the head of most betting lists. Last year I gave you Peter Lawrie at silly prices, this year I have two more at even more extravagant odds.

First up is a player who has featured here at Wentworth on more than one occasion, Fredrick Andersson Hed. The tall Swede is at home around Wentworth and at 450 is a very tasty back to lay proposition. Runner up in 2010 and top 18 in 2012, he is over priced and ideal as a prospect for trading out.

This event often throws up a young upstart and, Danny Willett showed here and so did young James Morrison last year and this year I fancy the flamboyant young German Maximillian Kieffer can hit the early headlines. You may recall he lost that elongated playoff and was one good putt from a maiden European Tour victory. He has no ear and I am told fancies the course this week, at 500 on Betfair, why not ?

Two final words, one for Marcel Siem who my contacts tell me is very confident of a strong showing this week.

A shout also for the caddie Billy Foster. I had lunch with Billy a couple of weeks ago in Leeds and what a top bloke he is. His knee injury cost him his job with Lee Westwood and its a year since he last carried a golf bag. I am delighted that he is back this week and will have the pleasure of caddying for Thomas Bjorn, the very best of luck Billy and welcome back.

Thanks Donny, sadly not ! I backed both in singles and neglected the usual across the card ew doubles. I really dont enjoy betting on matchplay events and hence the decision, no regrets though. Nice bets on Uihlein and jumped on him on the final day too.

sparkling form golfdaft, well done

Pleasing start to the Lyoness

Merion will have dried out to an extent before we see the first boys tee off on Thursday morning and its interesting to note that at 6,996 yards, this is the shortest US Open course since Shinnecock Hills back in 2004.

Its tight, with rough described by Ernie Else as "the worst I have seen" and with the weather forecast to see continued rain through Thursday, expect some high scores and some big names missing the cut.

You may be surprised to learn that Merion has seen more USGA Championships than any other venue, ironically, the majority of the field will never have played the course until this week, so there are no real home boy advantages.

All the talk all week has been about players with good ball striking and inevitably the name of Jim Furyk will be on the lips of many, not for me. The American veteran has had his chance at US Open glory and like a boxer with too many heavy fights, he carries way too much scar tissue to be given a serious chance.

Another fancied player is Phil Mickelson and in true lefty fashion, he has reportedly flown out of Merion to seek dry weather practice and attend his daughters graduation. You have to admire his work life balance and its not impossible to see him take a hand this week, though I fancy he may just fall short.

On no account should anyone looking to back golfers this week, look only at short straight hitters with the best fairways and greens in regulation stats. This event often throws up unusual results and none more so than Michael Campbell and to a lesser extent the Argentine, Angel Cabrera. Be aware, there are lots of contenders here this week and just as many outside of the bookmakers top ten.

Until I saw the weather forecast and the recent pictures of a waterlogged Merion, I would have included Graham McDowell, but he is a dry ground player and he tends to pick his shots off the surface rather than go deep and this will be a disadvantage for Gmac this week.

My main bet for the week will be the unpredictable Rory McIlroy, reported to have told friends that his irons are "dialed in" this week, exactly what I wanted to hear. The young Irishman has already bagged two Majors and its interesting to note that both were achieved on heavily rain softened venues. He will hit three wood more than driver this week and that will afford him a far higher percentage of approach shots played from short grass, bad news for the other players. Rory is backable because his form has been patchy at best and a further much reported management change must have impacted focus. Have no fear, he is up for this and his camp report him in the same mindset as his previous two Major wins. At 23 with Betfair it looks like a real betting proposition and I am on big time.

Charl Schwartzel is a truly magnificent ball striker and I expected him to kick on and challenge more after his amazing Masters victory, but for a number of reasons he has stumbled, especially in the USA. His recent US form has given me reason to take note and in particular, he seems to have regained his confidence with the short stick, when this boy putts well then he troubles the judge. Like Rory he will play three wood of many tees and hi high, towering irons will separate him from many in the field. I have backed the South African bible puncher at 40 with Betfair.

There will be a deal of attention on Sergio and of course Tiger. The former will get some spiteful remarks from a partisan crowd and he may struggle to make the cut. The latter blows hot and cold these days and if your a teenager, you struggle to remember the last time the Tiger landed a Major. Even hitting three wood , Tiger is just too wayward and his distance control in not what it was when he was at his peak, I pass on him this week and may also take Rory to eclipse him in the match betting.

Next up for me is a man who you may be surprised to learn leads the US PGA Tour stats for fairways hit and is also in the top three for greens hit in regulation, what more could you want folks for a US Open contender. The big Swede has no fear of winning and he is also a real danger on the par 5`s. I expect to see Henrik up there all week and have backed him at 80 s and for first round leader.

I remain a fan of Snedeker and had the rain stayed away, then he and Gmac would have been my main picks, but Sneds has struggled since his rib injury and blew out at the Masters on the final day when he looked a real potential winner. the rain came that day and Snedeker struggled with the course when others prospered, hard to forget that.

Top ball strikers will go well here this week and if you ask the players, they will tell you that there is none better than Boo Weekley. The American showed his form by winning at another "ball strikers" course at Colonial, landing the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Sure, he doesnt strike you as a ready Major winner, but the track is right and the conditions wont worry him, besides, at 120 on Betfair, he is great value for a speculative play.

My lively outsiders are;

Peter Hanson 200
Carl Pettersson 320


And there are much worse 1000 shots than Jose Maria Olazabal who is almost back to his best and leaving driver in the bag will help him, he could feature for 3 days and give a nice back to lay opportunity.

Finally, you will note at Merion this week that there are no pin flags. Tradition dictates that small wicker baskets replace flags on the metal poles ( flagsticks ). Should a players ball get stuck in the basket, the the local rule allows that player to place his ball on the rim of the cup as a free drop.

Good luck

Another lovely winner last week with the Big Easy, its been a really profitable few weeks, remember, my posts can always be found at www.open4golf.com Irish Open this week and my selections are as follows;

Shane Lowry
Jamie Donaldson
Rafa Cabrera Bello
Marc Warren ( back to lay )

Good Luck

Scottish Open

Martin Laird
Branden Grace
Soren Kjeldsen
Phil Mickelson

well done on your scottish open picks

and good luck this week too !

good luck !

promises to be a cracker

Alfred Dunhill Championship

Charl may win but is way way too short, each way and place betting is best at the outset.

I rather like these four and have had a decent bet on Walters

Justin Walters 85
Alexander Levy 220
Richard Sterne 15.5
Jaco Van Zyl 55

Australian Open

Greg Chalmers 50
Geoff Ogilvy 50

Casio Open

Hideki Matsuyama 8 ( very strong each way advice )

happy new year golfdaft, good luck for 2014

Omega Dubai Desert Classic

The first tow legs of the desert swing have been won by Spanish players in the shape of Sergio and Pablo and I rather fancy that the third leg may well go to a Spaniard too, this time in the shape of Rafa Cabrera Bello.

He has flattered in the last two events and of course was a desert winner in 2013, he enjoys these conditions. He is perhaps the fittest and hardest working of the young professionals and he has a game to match his physic. More importantly to us, he is a very tasty 28 with Betfair, I am on.

My full picks are;

Rafa Cabrera Bello 28
Seung yul Noh 100
Branden Grace 46
Henrik Stenson 10

One down, one to go

The Masters 2014

No Tiger Woods and that is always a body blow, especially for the great American TV audience, but true golf fans will still be glued to the screen this week, waiting for the drama to unfold as it surely will.
Is this the most open Masters ever? I think it just might be, with no current standout player, it really is completely open and you could make a case for probably 50% of the field.
I had hoped that the reuniting of Billy Foster and Lee Westwood might have delivered much better than it has thus far, but with such a turbulent couple of years, fixing all the problems takes time. Billy told me that Lee played the best he has in 2 years for the first 28 holes in Huston, the wind affected his game during the last two rounds and the swing changes they have been working on are still a little fragile. They are trying to get Lee back into the swing positions he had when he played his best and most consistent golf, when he has achieved that and gains a little more confidence, then he will be back in the world`s top ten for sure. Having said that, Billy still expects Lee to contend this week, even if winning the Green Jacket may be left to another year.
Course conditions always play a significant role at Augusta, so let me tell you on Monday the place was washed out and under water, it would suggest that Thursday conditions will see the course very soft and consequently, it will play very long. Soft conditions also help the long hitters as an errant tee shot may still stay short of the trees or primary rough, when its wet at Augusta, it is very much hit and stick.
Looking at the top dozen or so in the betting, I am bypassing several of these for the following reasons. Kuchar showed last week why he cant win this, he is also a fader of the ball and other than the 11th and 18th holes, it’s a soft draw that works around here. Sergio still struggles to put four rounds together and the putting will come under maximum scrutiny on greens that will stimp around 13 at the very least. Big Dustin pulled out in Huston after a first round where he failed to break 80 , Rose and Snedeker are out of form and Phil doesn’t look 100% but I still fear him.
Jason Day is a very skinny price given a largely poor win record and it will be interesting to see how he goes carrying significant expectation and his pal Ricky Fowler is destined to win at least one Major but he needs a little longer to bed in those dramatic swing changes.
Rose is out of form and I am not a Poulter fan on a long wet course and, I guess the same could be said of Zach, however, he is in great form and he can contend this week for sure.

One interesting stat is that only American or Australian players have won on the PGA Tour this year, quite amazing really, perhaps a pointer for Adam Scott. He has everything in his game but I just fancy he may come up a tad short, retaining a Major is a rarity and it may just be beyond the likeable Aussie this time.
My first pick is Rory , I am loving how he is striking it right now, he has the length, the ball flight and the short game and confidence to land his first Green Jacket. Cast your mind to his other Major victories and you will recall that these were delivered one wet and testing courses where length was an essential requirement, Rory is up there with the big hitters and his final round at in the Shell Huston Open last week told me that he is ready to strike. 12/1 ON Betfair may look short right now, but when he is heading up 18 with shots to spare, it will be looking pretty tasty then.
I backed Henrik Stenson several months ago for Augusta and then toyed with the idea of laying him as his form naturally dipped after such a stellar year in 2013. However, he has drifted to a decent price now and he clearly has the game to win here. He has been fiddling with his swing in recent weeks and perhaps a little too steep with some of the irons, he has the class and the mental strength to make a real fist of it this week and if he can stay in contention early, he can give Rory a run for his money, tasty price at the current 32/1.
Now I don’t know Charl Schwartzel personally, though I was surprised to learn from a friend that he served Charl this week in Florida, where the South African purchased all his clothing for Masters week, but I do know that there are more intellectual players on the Tour, lots more actually. Luckily for Charl, he does have a golf game and at his best he can look sublime, who can ever forget those last few holes and the putts he holed when he lifted his Green Jacket. He looked completely out of sorts with himself and indeed with golf in general in recent signs have been very good and I like what I have seen, last week too he looked back to something like his best. You can get 40/1 on Charl and that is real value and I see him making a top 5 finish.
Patrick Reed is my hero, well, his waistline is my hero ! In an era when the players spend as much time in the gym as they do on the range I take the view that Patrick may be eating a large jam sandwich as a reward for a good practise session and I rather like that “regular” guy so many of us might relate to. He is now a multiple winner on the PGA Tour and over very different courses which suggests he can adapt his game and guess what, he grew up around here and has had numerous rounds at Augusta. Local boy can come good, remember Larry Mize, another unexpected winner of the Masters. Reed is very confident and very relaxed and sadly he isn’t the price I hoped he might be, but of you shop around you may get bigger, Betfair have him at 65 and I am already on at bigger.
Keep an eye out for Angel Cabrera ( 70/1 ) this week, he loves it here and also Trevor Immelman ( 230/1 ) the former winner is almost back to his best and he has the ball striking game for a damp Augusta.

On the other markets, take the Even money a Hole In One and my two ball tournament match betting selections are as follows;

Zach to beat Dustin 2.08
Henrik to beat Bubba   2
Every to beat Matsuyama  2
Reed to beat Donaldson 2.1

Good luck