August 4 Golf Tips
The British Open has come and gone – indeed, Claret Jug winner Darren Clarke may have even sobered up by now, bless him. With the final major of the year (the USPGA Championship) only a week away, the world’s elite have congregated at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio for the World Golf Championship (WGC) Bridgestone Invitational.
With Rory McIlroy’s scintillating (not to mention record breaking) US Open display now one for the record books and the memory bank, the USPGA Tour rolls on to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship.
To recap, similar principles to those which apply for “Sting’s racing selections” will be in place here – bets will only be recommended for a top-5 finish in the tournament of that week where the price offered is $6 or better, with odds offered by Luxbet being used in the analysis.
Results for July 14 selections
Nick Watney (British Open): MC.
Year to date selection results: 20 selections (excluding refunds), one winning collect, return of $6.00, Profit on Turnover (POT) = -70%
Score a $100 Free Bet from Luxbet!
WGC Bridgestone Invitational
Sponsored by Bridgestone since 2006 and NEC prior to that, this event dates back to 1976 as a fully fledged PGA Tour event (and as far back as 1962 in invitational form), when it was referred to as the ‘World Series of Golf’.
The South Course at Firestone has played host to each edition of the tournament, as well as the 1960, 1966 and 1975 USPGA Championships. After a triple bogey on the immensely long par-5 16th hole in 1960, Arnold Palmer referred to the course as a ‘monster’, a nickname that has stuck over the ensuing 51 years. As a par-70 layout that can stretch to over 7,400 yards (or around 6,770 metres), the nickname has a strong basis in fact. Distance is important, while greens in regulation is one of the best statistical pointers to success at this event
For the large part, this event has been Tiger country – Woods has won the event a whopping seven times (1999-2001, 2005-07, 2009), most famously in 2000 when his approach shot to the final hole, hit in near total darkness, finished a mere two feet from the hole. Winning scores have tended to be around the 10-under to 12-under par mark, and we can expect similar this week.
I'm going 'horses for courses' on this one and selecting the defending champion Hunter Mahan.
While Mahan has been a fraction out of form over the past couple of months (with zero top-25 finishes from his last five events), Firestone has proven to be a favourite of his, with a fourth placing in 2009 and a tenth placing in 2008 preceding last year's victory. Statistically he fits the bill as well, ranked eighth on the tour in percentage of greens hit in regulation.
At $7.50 to finish in the top-5 this weekend, Mahan will the player carrying my cash.
Thanks to Harry How/Getty Images North America for use of the photo
