This Week's Golf

By Profit Swing

Two great Tournaments this week and we have strong selections in both. Let's start on the European Tour in the Far East.

Ballantines Championship Juju Island South Korea

22 - 25 April, Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports HD1

A tight course with breezy weather and high humidity forecast and some big stars on show. Ernie Els heads the betting with Anthony Kim but I do not fancy either of them. Els is building to the US Open and is here representing his sponsorship and course building interests me thinks whilst Kim said recently that he loves to play overseas for the partying and sightseeing! Seriously great players but we need to back people who are here fully focused to win. Els and Kim’s presence creates a big price for our main selection who is so dominant in this part of the world and who will relish the humid conditions, Thongchai Jaidee. Jaidee won this in a playoff last year and I think he can defend, he withdrew with injury in the Masters but claims to be A1 having rested and had specialist physio everyday. He is a huge price and I am sure will give us a hell of a run.

Pick: 1.5 points EW ¼ 1,2,3,4,5 Thongchai Jaidee 23.0 Bet365

Our second selection is just returning to top form after finishing eighth last week in China. He plays well in breezy, hot conditions which is good because that’s what he will get here. It is Ross Magowan who struggled at the start of this year with the weight of expectation on him. He has gone back to his old swing and guess what the results have improved he is ready to contend again and it could very well be this week.

Pick: 1 point EW ¼ 1,2,3,4,5 Ross Magowan 41.0 Bet365


The Zurich Classic of New Orleans

22- 25 April, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports HD2

A weak field by US standards gives us a major win bet this week in fact I am having my largest win bet of the season so far. On season form and course form Steve Stricker stands head and shoulders above this field. He loves tournaments without Woods and Mickelson which he has here as he says he feels like he is the man then that everybody must beat. Last year he shot three rounds in the sixties here and should have won but for a bad stretch of holes in round two. He is at the height of his powers and could well run away with this. We need to get a good bet in the bag on this one as it is almost double what I have him priced at.

Pick: 5 points Win Steve Stricker 15.0 Betfred

We will also place a small cross tour double which is a bet I place possibly twice a year but I like the upside here even on the place market. On the win side it’s a Bahamas job and we will all be off Stan James Christmas card list!

Pick: 1 point EW Double Jaidee  23.0 Ballantines  and  Stricker Zurich Classic 13.0 Stan James

It is hopefully going to be a very exciting week on the fairways, both tournaments have extensive coverage on Sky Sports all four days, let’s hope this is our week.

Profit Swing