This Week's Golf

By Profit Swing

We experienced the highs and lows of golf punting last Sunday did we not! The big man Quiros won in a playoff and then 91.0 shot Ricki Fowler finished 6th, one shot off a place. Not to worry we are on the right lines and I will be leaving no stone unturned to find you the winners of both tours I can assure you that.

This is one of the great weeks of the year with my favourite tournament of the whole calendar, The Players at Sawgrass. Who hasn't played on the Playstation/Xbox or Nintendo Wii for the more active among us and secretly pretended they were leading The Players by one coming to the 17th, the dreaded Island green. No, ok just me then. I really should get out more I suppose! More of The Players later. We also have The Italian Open played in Turin and a wonderful Tournament in itself.

The Italian Open

Eduardo Molinari, one half of the great Molinari double act ducks the Players this week to attempt to win his home title but is priced too short for my liking. He was poor last week and also will have pressure and endless media requirements. If he has a bad start his adoring fans may become frustrated and he may try and push it and on this course that is not advisable.

Our headline selection is a player who just missed out on a trip to Sawgrass. It is Simon Dyson who finished top twenty last week after a break, fading on the last day. Dyson flew straight to Italy and has practiced hard, something which dare I say does not always happen. This is a shot makers course and he is quite simply the best shot maker in this field and a very straight driver of the golf ball. Dyson's problem has been his putting runs hot and cold but we should take heart from the fact he has put in the preparation this week.

Pick: 1 point EW 1/4 1,2,3,4,5 Simon Dyson 46.0 Bet365

We picked Iganacio Garrido as our second selection last week and he played reasonably well and finished in the top twenty and we will stick with him this week. He is driving the ball well and has always been a superb iron player. The problem like Dyson has been with the old flat stick. He did however putt much better last week and has changed his putting stroke recently. He tends to play well in clusters and has featured in this Tournament in the past; he could go well this week.

Pick: 1 Point EW 1/4 1,2,3,4,5 Iganacio Garrido 36.0 Bet365

Last year unknown Argentine Daniel Vancsik, a man not even a household name in his own house played the most sensational last round shooting 65 to win by 5 shots. He has done absolutely nothing since but he had done nothing before so on the basis that he must be re inspired we cannot leave him out of calculations completely.

Pick: 0.5 point EW 1/4 1,2,3,4,5 Daniel Vancsik 61.0 Bet365

Limber up for Sawgrass by watching all four days on Skysports!

The Players Championship at Sawgrass

Its here, the week that many of the golfers playing secretly wish was called off, the ultimate test of golf and mental strength. When asked what was difficult about Sawgrass Brad Faxon famously replied "Everything Dude Everything" and its difficult to argue with that apart from the dude bit.

Lets cut to the chase, why is Tiger at 9.0 and Phil at 12.0. Have the bookmakers gone all charitable on us or do they realise that the world number one and two have no chance. Well they certainly are enticing us to back them and it would be folly to say such amazing talents cannot win a golf tournament where ever it is played but let us be clear they are both driving the ball DREADFULLY SHOCKINGLY AND EMBARRASSINGLY.

That alone is behind the seemingly generous offers and why we will be looking elsewhere, I am surprised the Tiger is playing, maybe anything is better than being at home. We will marvel as usual as Phil makes amazing recovery shots but they will be for pars most of the time and most years the course here comfortably takes care of the great man. Last week in the first two rounds the pair of them together hit four fairways in regulation and it will be very hard for their swings to improve in a few days.

We will look for players who are proven round here and play from the middle of the fairway. This Tournament has a history of shocks and big priced players placing so hopefully we are on the right ones and the fact we are playing bookies that are paying the first six is another consideration. I also feel this could be another week of European glory but not from the obvious candidates.

Our first selection is Brian Davis who played so well last year to be placed. His recent second at Harbourtown where he called a foul on himself (yes that’s right premier league footballers) has meant huge popularity in the States and Davis is in the form of his life. He finally has the belief, lets hope his luck changes. His price is nearly treble what I think it should be.

Pick: 1 point EW 1/4 1,2,3,4,5,6 Brian Davis 176.0 Bet365

Our next pick is Steve Marino who impresses me more and more each week and has the perfect game for here. Long and straight and a solid putting stroke are his key assets and he has started to contend in the big weeks four the last two years, I think he is ready to make the big breakthrough and it could be this week.

Pick: 0.5 point EW 1/4 1,2,3,4,5,6 Steve Marino 111.0 Bet365

Martin Kaymer has gone off most peoples hot lists for now after a poor Masters but he is good enough to be forgiven that and makes appeal on a course where his low ball flight will not be an issue if anything it will help.

Pick: 0.5 point EW 1/4 1,2,3,4,5,6 Martin Kaymer 81.0 Paddy Power

Now officially Northern Ireland's number two Graeme Mcdowell will be desperate for a big week. Many have accused me of having it in for Gmac after my article in April's edition of the Pricform monthly magazine (download it if you haven't already) but nothing could be further from the truth and remember with six places on offer he does not have to win for a good return. Gmac has a third place to his name in this Tournament and his driving stats are as solid as ever and he may well be inspired by Rory and have a big week, he has the game to.

Pick: 0.5 point EW 1/4 1,2,3,4,5,6 Graeme Mcdowell 126.0 Bet365

All bets are 1/4 the odds six places remember to look for that whoever you are betting with (couldn’t they have done it last week)

The Players has four days of extensive coverage on Sky and always remember it is funny when anyone goes in the water apart from the above players!

Have a great and profitable week

Profit Swing