North-East Trends Fan

SEASON 2013-14 P/L: -30.00pts ROI: +00.00%
(SEASON 2013 FINAL P/L: +85.23pts ROI: +20.79%)


So close last week as Gary Woodland (@ 55) only lost out in the CIMB classic in a Play-Off to Ryan Moore.

Off to China this week for the WGC HSBC Champions and a quality looking field.

Good luck all

Selections (all prices from Betfair):
Sergio GARCIA 4pts @ 26
Graham DeLAET 2pts @ 50
Nick WATNEY 2pts @ 60
Rickie FOWLER 2pts @ 50

SEASON 2013-14 P/L: -20.00pts ROI: +00.00%
(SEASON 2013 FINAL P/L: +85.23pts ROI: +20.79%)


Selections (all prices from Betfair):

Bubba WATSON 3.25pts @ 40
Gary WOODLAND 3pts @ 55
Billy HORSCHEL 2pts @ 46
Marc LEISHMAN 1pt @ 100
D.A. POINTS 0.75pts @ 200

SEASON 2013-14 P/L: -10.00pts ROI: +00.00%
(SEASON 2013 FINAL P/L: +85.23pts ROI: +20.79%)


Off to Las Vegas this week for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and what is always a low-scoring shoot-out at TPC Summerlin.

This event has produced ten first-time winners in the last twenty years, although the current venue has only been the permanent host track since 2008.

I'm hoping for a better showing than last week in California when Russell Knox (T29) was my highest placed finisher in the Frys.com Open, won by Jimmy Walker.

I feel the long-hitting Canadian Graham DeLaet could go very close to posting his first win on Tour this week but he is a bit short in the betting at 29 on Betfair so I'm going with the following seven players:


Selections (all prices from Betfair):

David HEARN 2.5pts @ 85
* The Canadian posted a 5th place finish here in 2011 and T30 last season
* 15th in Strokes Gained Putting in 2013 and 20th in Birdie Average
* Ability to break out and post his maiden Tour victory this season (has won on the Web.com Tour)

Robert GARRIGUS 2.5pts @ 48
* Huge hitter who finished in the Top 22 here in both of the last two seasons
* 29th in Birdie Average in 2013
* T12 in the opening event of the season last week and has won on Tour

Ryan PALMER 1pt @ 100
* Long hitter and 6th in Birdie Average in 2013
* T8 here in 2010
* Multiple winner om Tour

Jason BOHN 1pt @ 160
* T8 here last season and produced a solid showing last week in the season opener
* 21st in Birdie Average on Tour in 2013
* Twice a winner on Tour

Scott STALLINGS 1pt @ 250
* Another huge hitter and a decent putter on his day
* Won on Tour in 2012 and posted four more Top 10s last season

Martin FLORES 1pt @ 140
* Long hitter who finished T18 here in 2010
* The ability to post a first victory on Tour this year

Martin LAIRD 1pt @ 85
* Won this at this venue in 2009 and T2 the following year
* Already a three-time winner on PGA Tour

SEASON 2013-14 P/L: +00.00pts ROI: +00.00%
(SEASON 2013 FINAL P/L: +85.23pts ROI: +20.79%)


The new PGA Tour season tees off this week and in a change to the standard timings, the season begins this time around with the Fall Series and the Frys.com Championship from CordeValle Golf Club in California.

This is the fourth year in a row the San Martin course has played host to this event and my research has shown a focus on accurate drivers, solid putters and an ability to get up and down from the sand traps round the greens should lead us to the most likely types to succeed.

Best of luck to all for a profitable season.

Selections (all prices from Betfair):

Bryce MOLDER 3pts @ 48
* Won this event here in 2011
* Accurate driver who is 10th in Strokes Gained Putting in 2013
* 39th in Par 4 performance this year, another stat where previous winners of this have ranked highly in the year of their victories

Russell KNOX 2pts @ 70
* Buoyed by recently regaining his PGA Tour card in the final event of the Web.com season
* T9 here last season
* Has won on the Web.com Tour (the under Tour to the main PGA Tour)

Brian DAVIS 1.5pts @ 80
* The sort of course where this short hitter is more likely to go well
* 13th in Driving Accuracy this year
* T29 here last season

Tim CLARK 1.5pts @ 80
* Class act who could look a huge price come Sunday if recovering from his injury blighted 2013
* 5th in Driving Accuracy this year

Brian GAY 1pt @ 140
* Multiple winner on tour and a streaky type who can win out of nowhere
* Good putter who also ranks 21st in Sand Saves this year
* T29 here last season

Ben CRANE 1pt @ 140
* Good putter and multiple tour winner

(SEASON P/L: +95.23pts ROI: +23.81%)

A welcome winner last week as Zach Johnson (3pts @ 48) took the BMW Championship following a superb final round of six-under-par. His victory came despite Jim Furyk having earlier shot a staggering 59 in round one.

It's the final event of both the Fed Ex Cup and the entire 2013 PGA Tour season this week as East Lake Golf Club in Georgia hosts The Tour Championship. (The PGA Tour schedule format is then getting a new look with the opening tournaments of the following season taking place in the autumn).

East Lake is a tough, traditional course which will still demand accuracy off the tee despite the widening of several fairways for this years' event:

Selections:

Zach JOHNSON 5pts @ 23
It's rare that I tip a winner to follow up and strike again the following week but I'm backing Zach Johnson to do just that at East Lake and win the Fed Ex Cup.
Often going on a consistent run once he finds his top form, he is an accurate driver of the ball and somebody who knows what is required to win the biggest, most high pressure events

Luke DONALD 5pts @ 22
Never out of the Top 3 here in the last three years.
Buoyed by a strong finish last week to take T4 in the BMW Championship, he has the solid, accurate game to go well here

Selections:

Luke DONALD 3pts @ 50
Zach JOHNSON 3pts @ 48
Bubba WATSON 2pts @ 85
Billy HORSCHEL 1pt @ 210
Bryce MOLDER 0.5pts @ 440
Brian GAY 0.5pts @ 690

Selections:

Jason DAY 5.5pts @ 32
Hunter MAHAN 3pts @ 60
Nick WATNEY 1.5pts @ 140

Selections:

Jason DAY 4pts @ 36
Keegan BRADLEY 4pts @ 40
Charl SCHWARTZEL 2pts @ 60

(SEASON P/L: -2.07pts ROI: -0.57%)

A forgettable few weeks continues but getting closer with a 2nd last week in the PGA Championship (Jim Furyk @ 70).

Off to North Carolina for the Wyndham Championship this week, a traditionally low scoring event but still demanding accuracy off the tee due to some fairly punishing rough.

Selections:

Chad CAMPBELL 2pts @ 95
Multiple tour winner craving a good performance as currently sitting on the bubble of qualifying for his Tour card for next year.
Ball striker who finished T4 here last year

KJ CHOI 2pts @ 130
Accurate driver of the ball who is also in the Top 30 for Strokes Gained Putting this year

John HUH 1pt @ 140
Another accurate driver who already has a Tour win to his name. T19 here last year

Justin LEONARD 1pt @ 200
Top 20s in this the last three seasons and the fact he is putting well this year gives him a chance in an event that is generally a shootout

Mark WILSON 1.5pts @ 100
4th in Driving Accuracy on PGA Tour this year and another multiple winner

Ben CRANE 1pt @ 220
Big price for a streaky type who could go low at any point. Proven winner

John ROLLINS 1pt @ 130
Not the most reliable but good driver of the ball and T3 here in 2010

Sean O'HAIR 0.5pts @ 730
Simply a huge price for a classy golfer

(SEASON P/L: +17.93pts ROI: 5.97%)

Selections:

Phil MICKELSON 10pts @ 16/1 (Coral)
Zach JOHNSON 3.5pts @ 50
Steve STRICKER 3.5pts @ 50
Jim FURYK 2pts @ 70
John MERRICK 1pt @ 330