It's the first event of the Web.com tour this week and we travel to Panama for the 10th edition and the first thing I have to say is it is great to see so many bookmakers having prices and after a bit of badgering Betfair as well! Over the past few seasons a definite pattern has emerged as to what type of player wins and basically it is an older experienced pro who has travelled the globe with wins often in far flung places. This sort of makes sense as it's a tough course where patience is needed, not overly long with small greens and a climate alien to a lot of the young Americans. Also there does appear to be a trend favouring players who have been playing on the main tour and are dropping down in grade. Last year Edward Loar bucked the trend in age slightly at 33 but he had been a pro for twelve years and won in South Korea and Thailand and even been runner-up in the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews. He had already played four events on the PGA tour prior to his victory. Matt Goggin was a well travelled 37 year old with wins in Australia, Italy and the Netherlands making his first start back down in this grade after an unsuccessful year on the main tour. Fran Quinn was a 45 year old veteran who had played three events already that season and could boast wins in China and Thailand earlier in his career. I can't find any overseas wins for Veazey but he won it for the second time aged 45 (first time 40). Scott Dunlap was 45 and he had won in Peru and South Africa. Going back further Carbello had a win in Guatemala and even Isenhouer had won the Trinidad Open! The problem has been narrowing down selections as past course form is not really a requirement - in the end I have spread the bets around five players but have left out Chopra, Slocum, Canete, Bertsch, Cejka, Micheel, Hamilton and Lonard! Arjun Atwal is pick number one having picked up wins all over the world the 39 year old has also played here once before finishing 2nd in 2008. He blew the cobwebs away at Pebble Beach but will feel more comfortable in the heat in Panama - it's due to be in the high thirties so he might even take his sweater off! His last win at this level came at Black Creek in an event Carbello had also won 0.4 ew 80/1 (66/1 OK) Gavin Coles is now 44 and returns to the tour where most of his success has been - he has always struggled a bit at the higher level. He can boast wins in Australia and New Zealand as well as the States in a long career. He also has a best of 6th here the last time he played so should have some pretty good memories 0.2 ew 80/1 Roland Thatcher (35) unbeknown to most actually won his first ever pro start on the TLA tour in Mexico back in 2002. He also has three wins from 108 starts on this tour so clearly feels more comfortable at this level. He drops back in grade this year having failed to keep his card despite a best finish of 4th at the Travelers Championship 0.2 ew 100/1 Jeff Klauk has already played four times on the PGA with a best finish of 16th at the Phoenix Open. He got those starts on a medical extension after his return from brain surgery last year. Whilst he cannot claim any international victories he has been 2nd and 9th here before and years ago was 4th and 12th in the Panama Open 0.3 ew 50/1 Swede Richard S Johnson definitely falls into the category of well travelled golfer and has won at home, Switzerland, Australia and the USA. He has played here once before when a very respectable 11th back in 2005. Well worth a bet at the price 0.2 ew 125/1
Good write up TMM. I've gone for a bunch of outsiders at big prices.
Meen Whee Kim 125/1 Andres Echavarria 125/1 Joe Affrunti 150/1 Vince Covello 200/1 Adam Crawford 250/1 Peter Lonard 225/1 Andrew Loupe 250/1
Good write up TMM. I've gone for a bunch of outsiders at big prices. Meen Whee Kim 125/1Andres Echavarria 125/1Joe Affrunti 150/1Vince Covello 200/1Adam Crawford 250/1Peter Lonard 225/1Andrew Loupe 250/1
well done muppet on your write up, and your work getting these events into the bookies eyelines
not had a bet on the golf anywhere this week, but good luck to you and wengersredarmy hope one of you has the winner
well done muppet on your write up, and your work getting these events into the bookies eyelinesnot had a bet on the golf anywhere this week, but good luck to you and wengersredarmy hope one ofyou has the winner
Cheers guys - not just me - a few of us badgered all week - £5k matched so far - not huge but it's a start. Last year only 4 books usually went up - this year - first event and 10 up! Years ago hardly anyone did Seniors/LPGA - now they all do it. Golf is a big betting market these days and it can only grow by offering new markets.
Cheers guys - not just me - a few of us badgered all week - £5k matched so far - not huge but it's a start. Last year only 4 books usually went up - this year - first event and 10 up! Years ago hardly anyone did Seniors/LPGA - now they all do it. Go