April 21 Golf Selections
The Masters provided an enthralling final day. The Texas Open provided a punishing test as the winds whipped up, with Kevin Na coming unstuck at the ninth hole of his opening round, eventually signing for a 16 on the hole. The USPGA Tour now heads to South Carolina for the only time this year and specifically to the Harbour Town Golf Links for The Heritage.
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 Centrebet being used in the analysis.
Results for April 7 selections
Matt Kuchar (US Masters): T-27
Year to date selection results:14 selections, one refund, no winning collects.
The Heritage
Although Jim Furyk is the defending champion, the 2010 instalment of this event is best remembered for Brian Davis calling a penalty on himself for brushing a loose impediment greenside in a playoff with the eventual winner. Davis won the respect of many for his sportsmanlike conduct. However, he remains without a PGA Tour victory of his own.
The par-71 layout at Harbour Town Golf Links is renowned for its relatively small greens (not quite as small as those of Pebble Beach, but still well below average), but the statistics also indicate that scrambling for pars is easier here than at many other stops on the Tour. Scoring is generally pretty good (13-under was required to make last year’s playoff), with a focus on accurate iron play and deft chipping and putting – not unlike the recipe for success at Augusta. With that in mind, I am going to jump on the Australian bandwagon for the first time this year and select Jason Day.
Day’s star is certainly on the rise – his tie for second at Augusta was his third top-10 finish of the year and catapulted him inside the top-25 in the official world golf rankings. The 2011 season statistics to date have him at 12th in putting average and 19th in scrambling, so he fits he key criteria for this course well. Day played in this event last year and finished a respectable T-22 – it is very safe to say that his 2011 form is far superior to 2010, and thus an improved showing this year is likely. At $7.25 with Centrebet to finish in the top five, he will be carrying my cash.
Thanks to Andrew Redington/Getty Images North America for use of the photo
