PGA - The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass

Starting this one early this week hoping to get some conversation going as the site is so quiet at the moment and (as Venice's fantasy comp shows) there are pretty slim pickings in the European event this week.

Sawgrass, the "5th major" (Oh how I hate that name) starts on Thursday with the strong field that one would expect (Freddie Couples the only big WD so far).

Most interesting to me early on is the bookies odds finally seem to be reflecting more truly the world rankings and not majoring on certain favoured players. Rory is favourite as one would expect but usually in events like this, Tiger is right up there with him, reflecting the bookies need to "cover their asses" rather than true form, but this time Tiger is further down the list (though still a little too high for my liking)

Currently Rory is 10/1 with Victor Chandler, followed by Luke and Lee at 12/1 then hefty-lefty and Eldrick at 20/1. Nornally you'd expect to see Luke/Lee and Tiger/Phil swap places in those lists (despite the world rankings).

Keegan Bradley at 60/1 looks decent value to me (especially with e/w bets paying out on top 6

Hopefully Sawgrass will give us something to talk about and bring a bit of life back to the forum! (that and some improved weather so we can get out and talk about our own games too)

Hmmm - might have an Each Way flutter on Tiger at those odds.

Personally I would love to see a win for either Luke or Lee - the so-called "5th Major", would be a good warm up for the real thing.

Davie - if you think Tiger's odds are consistently off, can you not lay a bet against him? I've never placed a bet on golf, no idea what constitutes value with the bookies.

Ray I'm no expert on these things - I just chuck a couple of quid at players that look good value.

My understanding is that you can lay bets on things like betting exchanges but not on what I would call "regular" bets. I wouldn't know how to do it even if it were possible!

This week for example, I still think 20s is too short for Tiger but wouldn't know how to bet against him

Laying a bet just puts you in the shoes of the bookmaker.

You'd only lay a bet if you were fairly sure someone wouldn't win or you want to bank some of the inherent profit you have in a bet on someone else (this only really works in a '2-horse race').

I don't do either - I spread bet.

Mercurio wrote:Laying a bet just puts you in the shoes of the bookmaker.

You'd only lay a bet if you were fairly sure someone wouldn't win or you want to bank some of the inherent profit you have in a bet on someone else (this only really works in a '2-horse race').

I don't do either - I spread bet.

Hi Merc,

What exactly is a spread bet pertaining to golf wagering?

And they're off and started with a birdie for Andres Romero on the first!

Looking forward to watching this on TV from 6 o'clock tonight

Davie wrote:And they're off and started with a birdie for Andres Romero on the first!

Looking forward to watching this on TV from 6 o'clock tonight

Good start for Padraig - 2 under through 3.

Howeller is one of the studio pundits tonight - always good to hear his take on things.

Yes Mary - trouble is he's with Butch who (to me) is getting more tiresome these days

Maybe hit the "mute" button when BH is holding court!

I see that Hunter Haas (one of my picks!) has withdrawn after 3 holes - he was +4 at that point.

DA Points also withdrawn with a bad back

Mary_S wrote:Maybe hit the "mute" button when BH is holding court!

I see that Hunter Haas (one of my picks!) has withdrawn after 3 holes - he was +4 at that point.

You may have to send some of your stable out to pasture.

Will the real Ian Poulter please stand up. Don't know what it is but definitely has something going for him. He just may be one of those cockroach/rat survivors they speak about in the future world.


P.S. And another 9 footer for birdie on 17

Go Poults! And did you see his drive on 18? A little further left than I think he wanted but he really smoked it - shame the 2nd shot was a bit more conservative but a 65 on the 1st day is a helluva start

Tiger spitting and snarling his way around once again - settling down now to see how Coco, Lee and Luuuke get on in the afternoon conditions

Must admit I'm feeling a bit pleased as he's one of my fantasy picks. Hopefully he stays at the top for bonus points.

I picked Mahan too not realising he's playing with the big cat and all those distractions. Hopefully he'll be wearing darker glasses and earplugs tomorrow to avoid the Tiger's roar

Poults must be feeling very pleased with himself right now. Ok the afternoon wave still have a long way to go but if you look at the leaderboard as it stands, the top x places aren't exactly flooded with people you'd think could put 4 rounds together in such a big event. Some might say the same about Poulter himself, but having Blake Adams and Kevin Na breathing down your neck isn't quite the same as having Tiger, Phil, Stricker, Lee or Luke a shot behind.

Time will tell for the afternoon starters though - Poults may have a different set of worries in 3 or 4 hours time

Casey's just been taken off the course in a buggy - arm hanging loose, doesn't look too promising.

Why do I keep picking people who can't putt????

LadyPutt wrote:Why do I keep picking people who can't putt????

Never mind LP. I'm sure the only way is up for you. I typically pick players who grab someone else's clubs on the first tee. Have a feeling I have peaked too soon in the comp.

Luke just eagled 16 and Lee birdied it - both to -3 now and creeping up the leaderboard

Coco dumped one in the water on the same hole by the sound of it

LadyPutt wrote:Why do I keep picking people who can't putt????

Are you referring to my A Category picks of Luke and Lee. Actually Luke had other swing problems to add to his putting woes yesterday. And Lee... well where would he be if he was one of the game's top putters?

Update: Davie has informed us that L&L are now making my above comments look ridiculous.

venice1 wrote:

Update: Davie has informed us that L&L are now making my above comments look ridiculous.

Sorry Venice!

Luke just put it inside 10ft now on 17

Across the Atlantic, where has Olly Wilson been hiding his A Game? Didn't know he had back-to-back mid 60's still remaining in his bones regardless of the course.

Lee bogeyed 17 and Luke missed the birdie putt (though shot tracker upgraded it to closer to 12 ft then 10)

That's why he was one of my reserves (I'm getting a headache!)

Nice recovery for Justin Rose's under-the-radar minus 5 through eight, all birdies.

Looks like Poults is on the rack a little at the moment - two doubles in 4 holes and only a par on the one par5 he's played at the moment. Getting back to level for the day would be a good round and still keep him in it but he's got his work cut out now. Wouldn't put it past him though

Oooooh - Tiger has changed a shoe. Is that the prelude to a WD?

Another bogey for Poults. Diggers will be unbearable at this rate

Davie wrote:Oooooh - Tiger has changed a shoe. Is that the prelude to a WD?

Judging by how he's played since, I might pack an extra shoe in my bag tomorrow Davie!!!

Tiger on the prowl?

I did have a bet this week first in a long time, I had £5 each way on Kucher and Watney, both in good positions, but Tiger looked awesome and would not rule him out of being in a strong position on the final day

Poults paired with Rickie Fowler, and Luke and Lee out together - should be some good viewing this evening.

That's a couple of nice groups there Mary. Thought Poulter bounced back pretty well yesterday and is still in with a good shout. So are Luke and Lee

I thought Butch Harmon had sorted out his dodgy eye?

Never mind the eye what about the dodgy suit?

I'd think the golf was more interesting than anything about Mr Harmon

Could be another late one tonight with Kevin Na in the last group.

David Livingstone was being very quick to write Na off. His antics are not great to watch, but he is a winner on tour. Just think he was being a little disrespectful.

TBH I did feel a bit sorry for the guy yesterday. He does seem to be rather embarrassed and frustrated by his pre-shot antics himself.

66 on the final day for Luke. Once again showing why he is #1 or #2 in the world. I think he needs a solo 4th today to reclaim the #1 spot - which at the moment looks just a little beyond him but all credit to him for coming good on the final day again

Well done Kooch but I wonder what would have happened if there were a couple of the top players challenging yesterday. Yes Luke played well but was coming from too far back, but if he had been a couple of shots closer at the start yesterday, I wonder if Kooch would have closed it out.

Kooch started badly, for him, but his playing partner after a great start had a car crash. Yes nerves came into play, but young Kevin Na has a few demons to sort out before he can play again. Ricky also started poorly and was falling away, Brian Davies also average and only Martin Laird looked like a contender, but in the end with Ricky, Na, Davies et al, all doing little Kooch just had to play his sensible game and it paid off for him.

Laird has won a couple of PGA events and has been fairly solid this last 12-months, whilst Davies has never won a PGA event but earns a great living over there. Kuchar has only won 3 events in a decade until yesterday, so you wonder if he has the head to close an event out when under pressure. I firmly believe that if there was a top rated challenger on the front page yesterday, Kooch would have failed.

A bit of praise for a couple of former open winners though, well done Zach Johnsone and Ben Curtis for making a fist of it, and wonder if Zach was affected by Na on Saturday?

Bet you I will have a smile as big as his when I collect my winnings from the bookies £5 each way at 45/1 YES!!!