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Should Charlie Belgian get a special invitation to play The Masters? He would be an asset to the game for many reasons.
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No. Why shouldn't he have to qualify like everyone else? Care to share some of your many reasons?
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And what does it have to do with the matchplay?
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The first thing to say about this weeks WGC World Matchplay is - expect surprises - at this level any top golfer can beat any other top golfer on any given day, however the man lifting the trophy come Sunday will probably be anything but a surprise. When looking at the last four winners they all have a massive amount of experience in this event. Mahan had played it four times before, Donald six, Poulter six and Ogilvy three. Even looking at those that lost in the final we have a similar pattern, Rory three, Kaymer three, Casey seven and six. This does make a lot of sense as it takes a certain type of player to thrive at match play and get through six matches and the more experience the better. The age of winners tends to fall in the bracket of late twenties to early thirties - older players tend to struggle to get through a long week and younger players lack that vital experience. You are also looking for players who have played either on the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup and who are or go on to be Major winners or winners of other WGC events. With all these facts in mind it will therefore come as no surprise that the winner is likely to be a household name.
The one player that ticks all the boxes for me is Martin Kaymer - still only 28 and already a Major winner and a WGC event champion. He already has five appearances in the World Matchplay with a best of 2nd in 2011 losing to Donald in the final. His unflappable nature is ideal in my opinion for this format and he appeared to love the last two Ryder Cups and will relish the return to the match play format. His missed cut in Phoenix last time out doesn’t worry me as he shot four shots better than his previous appearance there and he started off the year with a pair of top tens on the Desert Swing. The last statement there is also important - Kaymer thrives playing in the desert conditions he will get this week as three wins in Abu Dhabi testifies. You could go through the draw a thousand times and find issues with every player but I don’t think Kaymer has a better or worse draw than any other player and at 40/1 is worth an investment - 0.4 points each way. |
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Just one pick TMM.......
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Only one can win
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1. RORY McILROY (10-4) -- Reached the finals last year as the second overall seed before falling to Hunter Mahan.
2. TIGER WOODS (33-9) -- Hasn't advanced past the second round since winning the 2008 title against Stewart Cink. 3. LUKE DONALD (16-7) -- 2011 champ entered last year as top overall seed but lost in first round to Ernie Els. 4. LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN (1-3) -- All four of his Match Play matches have gone to at least the 17th hole. 5. JUSTIN ROSE (5-7) -- Only one time in seven previous appearances has he reached the quarterfinals (2007). 6. ADAM SCOTT (14-11) -- In his first four appearances, his record was 11-4; in his last seven, his record is 3-7. 7. LEE WESTWOOD (11-14) -- His semifinal appearance last year was first time in 12 starts he advanced past the second round. 8. BUBBA WATSON (5-3) -- Reached the semifinals in his first Match Play appearance in 2011. 9. CHARL SCHWARTZEL (5-4) -- He's a tough out; all four of his losses have gone to at least the 18th hole. 10. JASON DUFNER (0-1) -- A quick exit last year but went 3-1 in his four Ryder Cup matches at Medinah. 11. IAN POULTER (18-9) -- Beware of this Match Play specialist. You saw him at the Ryder Cup, right? 12. SERGIO GARCIA (12-11) -- Reached the semifinals in 2010 before losing to Poulter. 13. KEEGAN BRADLEY (1-1) -- Showed his match play mettle at Medinah; is he America's version of Poulter? 14. STEVE STRICKER (12-9) -- Making his first TOUR start since the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions. 15. WEBB SIMPSON (0-1) -- As the No. 2 seed in his bracket last year, he lost to Matteo Manassero in Round 1. 16. DUSTIN JOHNSON (2-4) -- Probably hoping he doesn't play Mark Wilson; he's lost to him last two years. 17. GRAEME McDOWELL (3-6) -- Has lost matches to Y.E. Yang in the last two years. 18. PETER HANSON (4-6) -- Made an impressive run last year, beating Dufner, Els and Snedeker. 19. NICK WATNEY (6-3) -- Has advanced to the third round in each of his first three starts in this event. 20. ERNIE ELS (11-12) -- Take out his quarterfinals run in 2009 and Els has a 3-7 record since 2002. 21. MATT KUCHAR (9-3) -- Backed up a semifinal appearance in 2011 with a run to the quarterfinals last year. 22. BO VAN PELT (1-2) -- Ten top-10 finishes in 2012 but still looking for his first one this year after three starts. 23. HUNTER MAHAN (10-4) -- Played just 79 holes to reach finals last year; that ties for third fewest. 24. ZACH JOHNSON (7-8) -- Has just two match wins here in his last six starts. 25. JIM FURYK (10-12) -- Has never reached the weekend (quarterfinals) in 13 previous starts. 26. MARTIN KAYMER (9-5) -- The 2011 finalist (lost to Donald) has won his last four first-round matches. 27. JAMIE DONALDSON (0-0) -- Should have some momentum after his European Tour win in Abu Dhabi last month. 28. BILL HAAS (0-2) -- Has lost to Bubba Watson, Ryo Ishikawa in his only two starts. 29. BRANDEN GRACE (0-0) -- South African making his Match Play debut after stellar 2012 season on European Tour. 30. PAUL LAWRIE (6-5) -- Went nine years between appearances before reaching the third round last year. 31. GONZALO FERNANDEZ-CASTANO (0-1) -- Put up a tough fight against Tiger Woods in Rd. 1 last year. 32. RICKIE FOWLER (2-2) -- Reached the third round in 2011 but lost to David Toms in opening round last year. 33. CARL PETTERSSON (1-3) -- Making his first appearance here since 2007 when he lost to K.J. Choi in first round. 34. FRANCESCO MOLINARI (1-3) -- Molinari brothers are a combined 2-5 here; Francesco goes alone this year. 35. SCOTT PIERCY (0-0) -- A year ago, before he won in Canada, Piercy ranked 152nd in the world. 36. ROBERT GARRIGUS (0-0) -- Made his only WGC start last year at the HSBC Champions. 37. NICOLAS COLSAERTS (0-1) -- The Belgium Basher won the Volvo World Match Play last year. 38. THORBJORN OLESEN (0-0) -- Ranked 146th in the world a year ago but moved up by winning the Sicilian Open. 39. GEORGE COETZEE (0-1) -- Lost to Rory McIlroy in the first round last year. 40. RYAN MOORE (3-2) -- Made a quarterfinal run last year before losing to Luke Donald. 41. JASON DAY (3-2) -- Was the seventh overall seed last year; lost to John Senden in the second round. 42. MATTEO MANASSERO (3-2) -- His three victims in this event? Steve Stricker, Charl Schwartzel, Webb Simpson. 43. JOHN SENDEN (2-2) -- Rolled through the first two rounds in 2012 before losing to Sang Moon Bae in Rd. 3. 44. HIROYUKI FUJITA (0-1) -- Lost to Robert Karlsson in the first round in 2011. 45. FREDRIK JACOBSON (2-3) -- Made the field when Brandt Snedeker withdrew with injury; now he's 47th in world. 46. DAVID TOMS (24-10) -- Only Tiger Woods (33-9) has won more matches in this event. 47. THOMAS BJORN (5-8) -- In eight appearances, he's managed to reach the third round just once. 48. PADRAIG HARRINGTON (11-11) -- Three-time major champ returns to Match Play after missing last year's event. 49. ALEXANDER NOREN (0-1) -- Only appearance came in 2010 when he lost to Geoff Ogilvy in the first round. 50. DAVID LYNN (0-0) -- Until this year, his lone start in U.S. was 2012 PGA Championship when he finished second. 51. HENRIK STENSON (12-5) -- Eleven of his 12 wins came in 2007-08; since then, he's lost three Rd. 1 matches. 52. MARCUS FRASER (0-0) -- First Accenture appearance but has played in five other WGC events. 53. THONGCHAI JAIDEE (3-1) -- Strong quarterfinal run in 2010 in his only Accenture appearance. 54. STEPHEN GALLACHER (0-0) -- Only WGC came in 2005 when he finished T-58 at Bridgestone Invitational. 55. RICHARD STERNE (0-2) -- Making his first start in this event since 2009 when he was ousted by Stewart Cink. 56. RUSSELL HENLEY (0-0) -- A year ago, he ranked 457th in the world and started this year ranked 131st. 57. CHRIS WOOD (0-1) -- His only WGC start came a year ago when he lost to Lee Westwood in the first round. 58. RAFAEL CABRERA BELLO (0-1) -- Lost to Jason Day in 19 holes a year ago. 59. TIM CLARK (3-6) -- Rached the third round in 2009 and 2010 but did not play the last two years. 60. K.J. CHOI (6-9) -- Best result in nine appearances was reaching the quarterfinals in 2008. 61. RICHIE RAMSAY (0-0) -- Became the first Scot since 1989 to win the U.S. Amateur with his win in 2006. 62. MARCEL SIEM (0-0) -- Kevin Sutherland won from No. 62 in 2002; can the German pull off the same magic? 63. CHARLES HOWELL III (4-7) -- Last time CH3 played Tiger Woods in match play? 1996 U.S. Amateur. 64. SHANE LOWRY (0-0) -- Last seed in the field gets to face fellow Irishman McIlroy in first round. |
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If Poulter is not rusty and wins the 1st and 2nd round matches, I reckon he could lift the trophy on Sunday. Also, the Irish lads are due to start showing for the season. Very unlucky on Shane Lowry to draw Rory.
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And McDowell v Harrington. Come on.
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Just to remind everybody that the matchplay starts on WEDNESDAY.
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poulter has to go thru ponce
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only had $10 on sterne @ 100's so far.
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my initial reaction was to lump on RORY but due to his lack of golf missed cut in the middle east new clubs and lack of money on here has tempered my euthusism........he could have a tricki 2nd rd match with ricki so have decided against it......
takin a player from each side of the draw have instead plumped for kuchar and kaymer to win 2500 k on each . |
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SL Preview
http://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/article/585/8508476/kaymer-the-match-play-king |
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Tiger, Donald and Kaymer make up my three-man team. All have excellent records here and look in pretty good shape form-wise.
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ye sundays 75 for luke was pure class
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10 each way @ 67 . going on theory that this guy surely cant lose first round again....
 [ This image is no longer available. ] 10 each way @ 81. going for a swedish invasion... [ This image is no longer available. ] |
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I said pretty good, not perfect padlock
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Luke was pretty ropey all week last week and his score was massaged by the chip ins and hole out for eagle. Not that surprising when you consider it was his first start of the season. He looks to be in a decent section of the draw but this event is a bit of a lottery.
Rory's price just keeps drifting and drifting. Surprised to see him such a big price. |
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its a bit of a lottery,im trying kuchar ffs and manaserro
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I fancy Justin rose this week. He's been pretty solid so far this year and with a little break I think he go there fresh. Dustin Johnson, kaymer and poulter makeup my 4 semi finalists with Rose my E/W tip
Good luck! |
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Sergio seems a decent price at 33/1 to me. Also backed Schwartzel at 20's both e/w.
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Scott +447
Kuchar +600 Moore +697 Piercy +900 Toms +1020 Been hard at it trading this week, all greens are free have no liability thus far. Dufner's price is interesting, held firm at 50s most of the week I think he could go well, was probably the Yanks best at the RC, matchplay seems a good fit for him. |
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Garrigus and Hanson for me so far.
Also thinking Toms could go pretty well if getting past Watney in the first. Solid match player over the years. |
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Rose and Watney for me this week.
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There is some value to be had in 1st round matches. If you have been following for the last 5 weeks you should be able to get at least 60% of your bets correct, allowing for price differentials. Favourite bet of mine is a patent. 3 singles, 3 cross doubles and a treble for those who are not familiar with the bet.
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Bonus this week is that the tied match is not a hindrance.
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@therhino......good work sir. Hope the winner is in there somewhere.
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Cheers tobe I'm pretty happy with it. Just need Dufner to come in a bit for another freebie.
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Love this event!
Harrington Zachary Bradley Rose Dufner Westwood Donaldson ( 50/50 with Olesen taken Donaldson because double the odds and US experience) Covers on Woods and Donald Biggest first round upset woods to beat Bubba |
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Jason Day E/W @ 66/1 looks a fair bet to me
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Day has a huge task on his hands, a very tough draw starting with Zach, just can't see him beating 6 players of quality
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Punters going mad for Tiger at the moment, he's attracted almost 1/5th of all money this week and is now shorter here than just about anywhere else.
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Decided to back adam scott top australian. Think senden and fraser will go out 1st round and then youve got day vs z.johnson then probaly schwatzel. Scott should get rid of clark then donalson or olesen.
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1st round outsiders to go through?
Zach woods Donaldson Senden For me, if these 4 qualify its a winning week for me. |
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how do i get all the matches up as a coupon on here please?
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Just click on Golf, then on Coupons and then on WGC Matchplay 1st Rd.
Not the hardest thing to find or am I missing something ? |
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I am missing something, you are probably on the new disimproved site and I can't find it there either.
Revert to the old site and you'll find it. |
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cheers pal
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My advice to anyone with spare money around with different bookies who accept these kind of bets. Invest a few quid in an acca of Tiger, Scott and Oosthuizen as bracket winners.
For those of you who are really gready, throw in Suzann Pettersen as winner of the Honda LPGA as well. Thank me later... |