((((( GOLF ))))) Hero INDIAN / NORHTERN TRUST OPEN's

http://heroindianopen.com/

Miguel Angel too low at 10's for a first time visitor. (famous last words)

ANY Webb Simpson,, Graham Delaet or Brendon Todd fans should throw a few shekels on with Paddy POOR - with 6 PLACES in the US golf.

Davis Love III will be announced on Tuesday as the captain for the United States squad at the 2016 Ryder Cup, according to Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte.

Love III garnered our attention this morning as a late entry into the Northern Trust Open, so perhaps that decision was prompted by today's news.

His attendance at Riviera Country Club will give him a platform to accept the nomination and answer questions.
DL3 was the captain at Medinah in 2012 when Europe stormed back from a 10-6 deficit in Sunday singles.

He's extremely well connected and respected, not to mention still an active competitor on the PGA TOUR as a Life Member.
The 2016 Ryder Cup will be contested at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota on Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

If last weeks 'European' fare was poor, this weeks is absolute tripe. I couldn't be bothered studying it, as I would have even less interest in watching it.

The Northern Trust Open is usually a very entertaining event, played on one of the best courses on Tour.

Though one would imagine that the cream should rise to the top here, I cant bring myself to entertain the 3 at the head of the market, as all have slight question marks over them. Bubba though defending champion, showed little here prior to that, and is yet to prove conclusively it suits as well as some other venues. Dustin is still lacking the touch with the putter, and hype for what he might do now 'clean' seems to be keeping his price lower than it should really be. Jordan Spieth was close to a bet, but I was hoping for 16s, and missed the 14s. With last week again suggesting he is fighting his putter on the Poa Annua greens, it might be best to hold fire on him for another week. He will be winning soon though.

I prefer to back a few others at big prices, all who bring strong claims of their own.

Harris English struggled for a period last year, but after arriving with a bang and a couple of wins, a cooling off period was always to be expected. But he showed in the Farmers that his Sony Open effort would be no flash in the pan this year. Yes he was disappointing over the weekend, but he had not really been in with a real sniff of winning for a while, and he will be more ready I feel this time. He got better with each passing round here last year, and scraped into the top 10. 40-1 was well worth backing.

Charl Scwhartzel is someone I will only entertain when he is a big enough price to allow for his propensity to sh1t himself. At 40-1, that opportunity is afforded this week. Battling with swing changes for a while, they failed him under pressure in his native Open at the start of the year. But to his credit he emerged form that to put in a very decent performance in Abu Dhabi. Two appearances here suggest he has what it takes to certainly go close this week, and he will be fresher than most here.

A player I expect to notch another win this year is Brendon Todd. Last years Byron Nelson victor, always produces his best golf on tougher layouts. Indeed nearly all his prominent showings last year, came when the winning score was akin to his 14 under total in the Byron, or tougher. That will be what he faces this week. Two previous visits here should now leave him equipped to challenge this time around. His flying finish last Sunday will send him here in confident mood.

The 4-1 on offer for him to attain a Top 20 finish is my idea of the bet of the week.

Mark Leishman is another who excels on tougher terrains. He finds greens in regulation for sport, whilst others will struggle. Infuriating at times with the flat stick, he will go close if having an average week on the greens.

Its been quite a feature of late of players who have thrown away a gilt edged winning opportunity to come out and prevail on their next start. This week offers Bernd Wiesberger that chance, and though it is his first visit here, he has the tools to tame it. A player who seems to thrive in the bigger events, he looks made for life on the PGA Tour, and could announce himself in a big way this week.

Another who may figure and is certainly a backable price is KJ Choi. He hasn't been in great form for a while now, but can still pop up in certain tournaments, and this is usually one of them. In now worse form than he was when half the price here last year, he can again show his liking for this superb layout.

Jim Furyk was tempting, as though he again folded under the cosh on Sunday, 33-1 does seem a shade big on a player who is obviously in top form. His course record was off putting enough to leave him out.

.85pt e.w Harris English 40-1
.75pt e.w Charl Scwhartzel 40-1
.5pt e.w Bernd Wiesberger 60-1(6 places)
.5pt e.w Brendon Todd 70-1 (6 places)
.4pt e.w Marc Leishman 80-1
.3pt e.w KJ Choi 125-1

5pts Todd Top 20 4-1(cracking bet!!)

Best of Luck all.

Total Staked Week 6:   37.8pts
Total Returned Week 6: 7.8pts
Total Staked:          262.6pts
Total Returned:        296.3pts
Running Total.........+33.7pts
R.O.I.................+12.8%

A WARM WELCOME to HOGAN’s ALLEY.

Yes it’s Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades within the city limits of Los Angeles in sunny southern California. (Think Pacific Coast highway north out past Santa Monica on your way to Malibu).

Home to the Northern Trust Open since ‘73.
Ben Hogan won here three times in 18 months, including the 1948 U.S. Open, hence “Hogan’s Alley”.

A Par 71 (35-36) of  7,349 yds as per the scorecard here in my hand, this Open began in 1926 and Riviera has been the proud host of a U.S. Open won by Ben Hogan in 1948 plus two PGA Championships and the 1998 Senior U.S. Open and so is one the more demanding stops on TOUR. Over the last five years, Riviera has checked in at 20th, 10th, seventh, 13th and 24th-most difficult.

Faster and smallish greens than last week slow 10’s - the Stimp is 12’ this week on the creeping Bentgrass and Poa annua greens. Doglegged fairways are protected by quite gnarly Kikuyu grass rough. There are 60 bunkers out there with no water on this 1926 design (redesigned by Fazio in ‘08).
Riviera stands the test of time because there are multiple ways to make hay. Short game experts that can navigate the slick greens and gnarly rough can contend with the bombers who can smash it over the doglegs.
Shot-shapers that play from the middle of the fairway will have the advantage of hitting the proper spots on the greens.
Even the putters will be happy to see some pep back into the greens.

There are risk-reward holes; there is a hole with a bunker directly in the middle of it; there is a drivable par four and an easy par five.
It never rains in southern California... it pours, just not this week. Perfect golfing weather at 20* and sunny (no early fog we hope).

In 2014 Bubba Watson shot 269 to win.
Champion: Bubba Watson fired 64-64 on the weekend to defeat Dustin Johnson by two shots ending his 2 year winless drought. Bubba Watson led the field in driving distance and was third in GIR last year. Dustin Johnson was second so that reaffirms ball-striking should be under scrutiny this week.

Kelly • February 16, 2014 11:24 PM GMT
Played much more controlled golf to win with 64 ,64 over the weekend . Impressive .

toberaheena • February 17, 2014 2:28 PM GMT
I have a little doubt over Dustin Johnson and his decision to try and blow the cover off the golf ball on his 17th tee shot. His normal bullet would have been plenty to get up there for a birdie. Lost control through forcing the shot. An amateurish mistake but at least he has shown a hunger for the win. Speith disappointed me again on a Sunday. Does he need a sports psychologist for a few weeks. I think maybe he does. And a 2 week break.

Mighty Whites 2008 • February 17, 2014 3:21 PM GMT
Bubba played very well over the weekend and crucially got the breaks at the right times. He holed a bunker shot, got lucky with a couple of wayward drive. On 13 he hit an awful approach and could so easily have been behind the tree yet scrambled a great par. On 14 he was sailing into the grandstand but bounced back on to the fringe and at 15 he was lucky he could reach the green from the bunker. That said he holed out much better than when recently in contention.

Dustin was again very impressive on sunday. Back to back weeks he has come up just short but added to his win at the WGC he looks to be becoming a very consistent performer. Personally I think he is the most likely 20 something American to go on and establish himself at the very top.

With Spieth i think too much is being expected too soon. The kid is 20 and up at the top of the board most weeks. Amazingly he has top ten finshes in a third of his events.


These have previous...
2013: John Merrick 273* Won in a playoff * (first-time TOUR winner)
2012: Bill Haas 277* Won in a playoff *
2011: Aaron Baddeley 272
2010: Steve Stricker 268
2009: Phil Mickelson 269
2008: Phil Mickelson 272
2007: Charles Howell III  268
2006: Rory Sabbatini 271
2005: Adam Scott 133
2004: Mike Weir 267
2003: Mike Weir 275
2002: Len Mattiace 269 (first-time TOUR winner)
2001: Robert Allenby 276 won in a playoff *
2000: Kirk Triplett 272 (first-time TOUR winner).


Some useless stats.....
In the last three years, no rookie has finished better than T21.

Only four players outside of Smith in the inaugural event in 1926 have won in their first trip around Riviera.
The last was Adam Scott in 2005 but that event was called due to weather after 36 holes (non-official win).
Pat Fitzsimons (1975) was the last maiden to win before Scott.

Five of the last 12 winners here have been left handed as Watson joined Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir as champions.
Since 2000, Mike Weir and Phil Mickelson are the only players to defend their titles, shown above.

Here’s the list of all of the defenders:
Macdonald Smith, 1928-29
Ben Hogan, 1947-48
Paul Harney, 1964-65
Arnold Palmer, 1966-67
Corey Pavin, 1994-95
Mike Weir, 2003-04
Phil Mickelson, 2008-09
BUBBA 2014-???

Don't forget the NAN bread

This event concludes the West Coast Swing and as THIS IS HOLLYWOOD, let’s make believe...

It’s a home game for the “new” Dustin Johnson but too short at 12’s.
He knocked off the rust at Torrey and gobbled up Pebble last week to finish T4 in his second start back from a six-month hiatus,
DJ has been feast-or-famine recently at Riviera, with four T10s (incl. three T5’s) in his last six (two other MC) including solo second last year since 2009.
The LA “homecoming” will have him surrounded with tight friends and family who helped him through his six months on the side line.
He mentioned after Pebble that he’ll be excited to be home with his lady and new baby and believe this will be a huge positive.
Johnson is a fantastic ball-striker that can overpower this layout and having his support staff on site can’t possibly hurt.


Bubba Watson No. 3 on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) has proven in the last year that his game travels and that he can win on tracks of all styles.
The defending champ won another green jacket and picked up WGC title all in nine months in 2014.
He also added a solo third at Memorial and a solo second at Cherry Hills.
His two starts of 2015 saw him collect T10 at HTOC and T2 in Phoenix.
He’s only four of eight on this track but we should buy into the “new” Bubba and expect a spirited defence this week.
Too short for me at 12’s.


After MC here in 2012 as an amateur, Jordan Spieth (also too short at 12’s) returned with his Texas Longhorn teammates to win the NCAA Championship in match play over Alabama. Spieth defeated Justin Thomas (yes, that one) 3 & 2 to help the ‘Horns win.
He returned as a pro last season and opened with one-over 72.
In typical Spiethless fashion he rallied to play the final three rounds nine-under and finish T12 including rounds of 66 and 67.
He tied for seventh last week at Pebble, including four rounds of 68 or better, and is 11th on Tour in strokes gained tee-to-green.
(every time he’s missed a cut he’s followed it the next time out with a top 15-ish finish).


Jimmy Walker at 18’s I'm in finished T21 in defence of his Pebble Beach title, ending a run of three straight top-10 finishes.
He said more than once that Riviera is his favourite track on TOUR and his recent results hardly refute that, having cracked the top 20 each of the last four years in L.A., including T4 finishes in both 2011 and 2012.
In his last six events, he’s played the weekend in all six and has posted 20 of 24 rounds par or better.
Walker’s two biggest strengths are GIR (from anywhere on the planet Hollywood) and his ability to hole putt after putt.
His last four here have racked up T4, T4, T16 and T20.
Walker’s course history is very solid and his recent play will have him longing for a top finish again this week.


Of the first six PGA winners of this calendar year only Brandt Snedeker (Grabbed that 25’s and 30’s on here tks) was ranked outside of the top 40 in OWGR and the US has won 10 of the first 13 events.
Team Sneds jumped from No. 63 to No. 31. That’s more like it from the 2012 FedEx Cup champion.
Sneds, last week’s champ at Pebble continues his excellent play on the California coast.
He made ONE bogey last week. Yes, uno.
For the second week in a row he was lighting up GIR and he’ll need that to continue unless he wants to test his fantastic short game.
With the majors and WGC events locked in for the rest of the year it wouldn’t surprise me to see him battling on Sunday for win No. 8.
Expect to see Mark Horton and Butch with him on the range and Scott Vail of course. This is going to be a HUGE YEAR for the Sneds team !

Singles ew here (and cross dbls ew with my two in India) done.


These write-ups always looks great on paper the Wednesday morning before.....

© CM iyc

3balls in INDIA......hope no wan gets tire d and nixes up yser mames to nite.

01:40	Gareth Maybin (15/8)	Andrea Pavan (2)	Carlos Del Moral (21/10)
01:40	Andrea Pavan (6/4)	Gareth Maybin (6/4)	Victor Riu (5/2)
01:50	Alessandro Tadini (7/4)	Max Orrin (7/4)	Lasse Jensen (2)
01:50	Thanyakorn Khrongpha (11/8)	Mithun Perera (2)	Shankar Das (9/4)
02:00	Jorge Campillo (7/4)	Gaganjeet Bhullar (15/8)	Mardan Mamat (9/4)
02:00	Jason Scrivener (6/4)	Jake Higginbottom (13/8)	Tom Murray (18/5)
02:10	Carlos Pigem (6/4)	Matthew Fitzpatrick (6/4)	Adam Groom (16/5)
02:10	Shiv Kapur (5/4)	Jbe Kruger (21/10)	Richard Finch (10/3)
02:20	Arjun Atwal (13/8)	Thaworn Wiratchant (2)	Jeev Mikha Singh (9/4)
02:30	Romain Wattel (7/4)	S S P Chawrasia (15/8)	Richard T Lee (27/10)
02:40	Adrian Otaegui (6/5)	John Hahn (5/4)	Khalin H Joshi (9/2)
02:50	Rahil Gangjee (6/4)	Mark Tullo (15/8)	Steve Lewton (21/10)
06:20	Marcus Fraser (11/8)	Jyoti Randhawa (7/4)	Angelo Que (14/5)
06:30	Soren Kjeldsen (7/4)	Chapchai Nirat (19/10)	Shamim Khan (9/4)
06:30	Terry Pilkadaris (6/4)	Javi Colomo (13/8)	Chris Lloyd (5/2)
06:40	Peter Lawrie (7/4)	Berry Henson (19/10)	Danny Chia (9/4)
06:40	Rashid Khan (13/8)	Prayad Marksaeng (7/4)	Damien McGrane (5/2)
06:50	Anirban Lahiri (6/4)	Miguel Angel Jimenez (9/5)	Scott Hend (11/4)
07:00	Paul Peterson (5/6)	Mukesh Kumar (11/4)	Jerome Lando Casanova (3)
07:00	Wade Ormsby (6/4)	Prom Meesawat (17/10)	Daniel Chopra (3)
07:10	Siddikur Rahman (1)	Matthew Nixon (2)	Muniyappa (5)
07:20	Anthony Wall (11/8)	Masahiro Kawamura (21/10)	Digvijay Singh (4)
07:30	Jeunghun Wang (19/20)	Sam Walker (14/5)	Jason Palmer (16/5)

Some interesting strong pairings

14:40	Brendan Steele (11/8)	Charlie Beljan (11/8)	Jim Renner (9/2)
14:50	Graham Delaet (13/8)	Justin Thomas (13/8)	Aaron Baddeley (5/2)
15:01	Kevin Chappell (6/4)	John Peterson (2)	Andres Gonzales (9/4)
15:01	Bernd Wiesberger (13/10)	Pat Perez (17/10)	Ricky Barnes (7/2)
15:11	Scott Piercy (11/8)	Scott Brown (12/5)	Stuart Appleby (5/2)
15:22	Gary Woodland (6/4)	John Senden (11/5)	K J Choi (11/5)
15:22	Jordan Spieth (5/4)	Sergio Garcia (13/8)	Fred Couples (7/2)
15:32	Charl Schwartzel (11/8)	Brendon Todd (13/8)	Geoff Ogilvy (3)
15:32	Jimmy Walker (6/4)	Hideki Matasuyama (2)	Harris English (9/4)
15:43	Nick Watney (6/4)	Scott Stallings (9/4)	Ben Martin (5/2)
15:43	J B Holmes (5/4)	Sang-Moon Bae (8/5)	Justin Leonard (9/2)
15:53	Robert Streb (6/4)	Charley Hoffman (13/8)	Davis Love (7/2)
15:53	Luke Donald (5/4)	Nick Taylor (13/5)	D A Points (11/4)
16:14	Paul Casey (6/4)	Andrew Svoboda (15/8)	Justin Hicks (12/5)
19:20	Francesco Molinari (6/4)	Shawn Stefani (15/8)	Colt Knost (11/4)
19:30	Zac Blair (6/4)	Padraig Harrington (2)	Jason Gore (12/5)
19:41	Bryce Molder (7/4)	Morgan Hoffman (2)	John Huh (11/5)
19:51	Kevin Streelman (28/17)	Angel Cabrera (2)	Camilo Villegas (9/4)
20:02	Bubba Watson (13/8)	Dustin Johnson (7/4)	Bill Haas (13/5)
20:02	Webb Simpson (13/8)	Ryan Moore (15/8)	Charles Howell (2)
20:12	Brandt Snedeker (13/8)	Jim Furyk (13/8)	Ernie Els (7/2)
20:12	Keegan Bradley (7/4)	Hunter Mahan (15/8)	Russell Henley (9/4)
20:44	Kevin Na (6/4)	George McNeill (15/8)	Scott Langley (5/2)
20:54	Marc Leishman (11/8)	Spencer Levin (2)	Carl Pettersson (13/5)

Like Holmes/Sneds/Bradley treble for a few Shekel.


Brandt Snedeker withdrew from today's pro-am for the Northern Trust Open due to "flu-like symptoms," according to PGA TOUR Media on Twitter.

While he was quick to confirm that he was going to honour his commitment to the tournament after winning at Pebble Beach, an illness might serve as a tipping point to change his mind.
Snedeker is scheduled to go off the first tee at 12:12 p.m. (20.12 Orish Time) in Thursday's opening round, but punters investing in the angle that he can now play freely are going to be tempted to lay off given today's news.
The counterargument to that philosophy is that he played very well while chasing a berth into the Masters, so with that goal achieved, his motivation to keep the pedal down may have waned.

Simpson
Ishikawa again
Stallings
Henley
Tried few in India also just to have an interest

Callit  Brenden Todd is a high as 100/1 here, i backed him once more hopeing that this will his day, 20/1 here  for a top 5 finish, i will wait to back a few more in running . good luck

Have decided to add Charlie Beljan to the outright selections. 70-1 on a player who arrives here at the top of this game, and clearly thrives at a venue where course form is a very good guide seems acceptable.

Given that he shared second after round one last year, and what should be the best tee time of the day, he looks worthy of a small tickle for first round leader at 66-1.

At risk over loading the Beljan cart, 11-8 in what is effectively a match in his 3 ball looks decent.

.4pt e.w Charlie Beljan 70-1
.25pt e.w Beljan 66-1 1st round leader
3pts Beljan 3 Ball 11-8

Beljan was 750/1 last week and 125/1 earlier this week for this event.

He has a good record here (well excellent!) but I cannot back players like him at anything other than substantial 3 figure odds.

He is a bit like the Brendan Steele price in Phoenix on the back of the Humana and previous solid course form.

Just looks too short to me and his heart trouble when he was winning a few years ago does not help either.

Went for Schwatzel, English and Peterson (also Top 20).

After that ramble, we will see Beljan sitting pretty at the Top later tonight - Unless he narrowly pips English (who I also did FRL) I hope that is the case anyway and I can try and reel you in over the weekend callit!

Plenty making a meal of the 10th as well. I will settle for English going wire to wire. No problem!!

It is a great hole alright, a proper short par 4. Maybe slightly later in the round would be ideal though?? Say 16, some carnage on Sundays!

English decided to lay up....then go in the bunker!!

http://www.therivieracountryclub.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp


“I am”... I said to A FEW OTHERS who failed to make my better BIGGER bets as.....


L.A.’s fine, and the sun shines most of the time.......
but Charl Schwartzel hasn't won in the U.S. since his breakthrough at the 2011 Masters, although he feels comfortable at Riviera.
T3 in his first time in 2013 (missed 3 birdies on 16th (6ft), 17th (5ft after missed eagle attempt) & on 18th) and fifth last year.
Having grown up playing on Kikuyu grass, he has broken par in each of his eight rounds, including five rounds of 68 or better, he’s 21-under with seven of eight rounds better than 70.
He’s played three times in 2015 and was solo second at the South African Open and T9 at Abu Dhabi but MC last time out. No bet.


And the feeling is ‘laid back’.......
for the Japanese phenom Hideki Matsuyama who has been hit or miss in 2015 with two T3 finishes to go along with a T78 finish at Sony
and a MC his last time out at Farmers.
He may bounce back at Riviera (just birdied the 10th !) where he finished T-23 last year in his debut after four straight rounds of par or better.
He’s second on Tour in ball-striking and this kid has opened 2015 with T3, T78, T2 and MC.
A wee nibble as he still has class.


Palm trees grow and rents are low, but'cha know I keep thinkin’ about makin’ my way back........
as is Spain’s Sergio Garcia, making his first of three consecutive starts here in the U.S. since the Tour Championship,
but he is a familiar face at Riviera.
Garcia, 7th in OWGR has played in this event eight times prior,
recording six top-25 finishes including sixth in 2007and T-4 in 2012, T-13 in 2013 in his two most recent appearances.
Just turned 35 and still in search of that Major. Had a little nibble before he birdied the easy 10th also.

       
We'll I'm New York City born and raised, but nowadays, I'm lost between two shores.......
as Butch says. Oops, wrong ‘Harman’, meant Brian of course who is four from his last four starts.
Harmon (5 over as we go to press) carded six of eight rounds here under par including all four of 69 or better to finish T3 in 2014.
He spiked here that last year after two previous MC’s so could find something again in LA (but I doubt it so no bet).


“I am” I said, to no one there.......
but Charlie Beljan ! WHO? The Chocolate Waffle who was solo third last week after MC-T66-MC to begin 2015.
He lost in a playoff here to Merrick in 2013 and was T12 last year after he closed with 73.
That’s his only round of eight lifetime over par here.
The Beljan Waffle (just touched 250 for my euro on here) has finished P2 and T12 in his last two at Riviera.
“I don’t like to eat“ he said so don’t expect him in the Green Room Restaurant beside that iconic (easy so far) 10th Hole.


L.A.'s fine but it ain’t home, New York's home but it ain’t mine no more.......
for Keegan Bradley who plays “my favourite event/course of the year”.
Slow out of the gates in 2015, but his track record at Riviera suggests he may contend this weekend.
Bradley begun 2015 T48, T17 and T41 so current form isn’t where he’s hot
but has T20 finishes here in each of the last four years including a three-man playoff loss in 2012.
T16 in 2013 and T20 last year carding bookend rounds of 68 and has been over par in only one of his last 12 trips around Riviera.
€5 at 46 as he hasn’t won since 2013 !!!


“I am” I said, to no one there.......
but Vaughn Taylor, who last week hit the top 10.
He’s played four times this season on two tours and his worst finish is T20. And no one heard at all, not even the chair, yet he’s a lively outsider.


“I am” I cried, “I am” said I.......
and William McGirt was the 54-hole leader here last year at 12-under through three rounds but fired 73 on Sunday
as he watched the Watson freight train roll him over.
MC’s in all his previous trips around Riviera but was T30 in Phoenix and closed 66-68 last week at Pebble.



Here’s something more powerful than these above.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wYpVy9W29M

^ Charl +2 thru 14.

Added Bradley to my lineup.

Nice finish from Charl to save the round. 71 is a good score.