Bridgestone Invitational

[Stanley]

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1pt)

Stewart Cink to win 35/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Cink really should have won this event last year: he had chances inside 20-feet in each of the first three holes of the playoff last year, before Tiger won on the 4th hole. But given that he had also been the wire-to-wire champion in 2004, that performance last year was clearly no flash in the pan and he is expected to play just as well around Firestone this year. On each of those occasions, he came into the event in good form and that is also the case this year: he was impressive when finishing 6th in the British Open two weeks ago and had finished in the top-5 in three of his previous seven PGA Tour starts. I would have expected no more than 28/1 given this record.

David Toms to win 40/1 e.w. available generally
Ignore Toms' missed cut at Carnoustie, he had finished in the top-50 in the British Open just once since 2000. Instead, concentrate on his form on the PGA Tour - 3rd, 5th and 6th in his last three starts - and his form in this event - 6th, 9th and 8th in the last three years - and it is easy to see why he will be well-backed this week.

Kenny Perry to win 80/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Backing Perry this week in the hope that he can hit the front early on as he is one of the best front-runners on this Tour. Of the last six occasions that has held at least a share of the lead heading into the final round, he has won five times. The sole occasion that he was unsuccessful was in this event (2005) when he was tied with Tiger for the lead. But there is more than just a 'Tiger intimidation' factor here: because of bad weather, he had to return to the course early on the Sunday for a 10-foot birdie putt on the last green (which he missed) and then had to wait six hours before teeing off with Tiger in the last round. He was winning the duel and had a two-shot lead at the turn, but, presumably, fatigue as well as pressure caught up with him and he faltered down the stretch. He may be 47 next week, but he has turned his game back to the levels that it was in 2005 (top-15 finishes in each of his last five starts) so he may win yet again in Ohio.

[joepa66]

Love David Toms...considered Cink, but that "Tiger Thing" creeped into my brain as it has many a golfer!

BOL to ya Stanley!

[Stanley]

Matchup bets:

Stake 4pts David Toms to beat K.J. Choi -110 @ The Greek
Choi has made great strides of late but his previous course form here is terrible. In the last four years both players have made appearances and it currently stands at 4-0 in Toms favour. And while Choi's recent form is excellent so is Toms who has made the top 10 in each of his last PGA starts and while he missed the cut at Carnoustie this can be forgiven as he has never performed well at The Open.

Stake 3pts Vijay Singh to beat Ernie Els -110 @ Paddy Power
While Els has performed reasonably well this year after his comeback from injury he still trails Vijay by 6-3 on h2h's. Both players have similar records on this course but Vijay still has slightly the better h2h record. With both players in good recent form and with a similar course form it is surprising to see Vijay at this price given his h2h record against Els this season and his average FP on the PGA tour which is on average 10 places lower than Els's.

[Stanley]

Further Matchup bets:

Stake 3pts Stewart Cink to beat Adam Scott -120 @ The Greek & Pinnacle
Cink has the better recent form with an impressive 6th place in The Open last time out and has the better course form with a victory back in 2004 and a second place finish last year. Scott's form is pretty decent but his course form is poor trailing 3-1 in h2h's against Cink. This season Scott has yet to finish ahead of Cink in any tournament with Cink winning 8 out of 9 starts and one tie. Given the similarities in current form and the marked contrasts in course from it would be surprising to see that change now.

Stake 3pts David Toms to beat Padraig Harrington +100 @ WSEX
Harrington is not the type of player that you want to oppose regularly in match ups due to his consistency but this is an decent opportunity at a very tempting price. Although Harrington leads Toms in the h2h's this season and won The Open last time out there is every chance of a comedown this week after all those celebrations. And he returns to a course where he has had precious little success. Against an in form Toms on a course that Toms loves this price appeals.

Stake 3pts Zach Johnson to beat Scott Verplank -110 @ WSEX
After practically writing off Verplank's game a few weeks back he has promptly rediscovered his iron play of old, his GIR stats have improved dramatically and the Verplank of old is back again. But this is a long course for someone who is short off the tee like Verplank and he has never really showed up well here. Johnson has had a great season although it looked to be tapering off lately. But his performance last time out at The Open was impressive and he has a decent record in this event. With a healthy 7-2 h2h record over Verplank this season Johnson should be shorter than this.