Golf Betting Column: What The Golfinggods Say….

There has always been a school of thought with golf gambling that many golfers like particular courses or tournaments. This may be because of the course itself that requires a certain type of stock shot or ball flight, or it may reward ball striking more than putting etc. However a large proportion of this 'feel good factor' revolves around confidence gained at a tournament by past results. It is obvious to assume that if you play well around a course then you feel good about your chances. This theory was once again proved over the weekend with victory to Colin Montgomerie in the dunhill Championship and K.J Choi at Greensboro.

Both players had either won the event before (Choi) or had played well around the course used (Monty and St Andrews). Both players were able to draw on their good experiences to get the job done when many around them struggled.

A mention this week must also go out to Hale Irwin who keeps redefining the meaning of longevity. His victory at the SAS Championship was his 41st victory on the Champions Tour and his fourth since he turned sixty. His six under par final round once again how professional his approach to the game is and others can only applaud this fine champion. There is still a lot more to come you feel from him as he enters his early sixties.

This week sees the final individual World Golf Championship event being played at the Harding Park Golf course in San Francisco. The field for this tournament will be one of the strongest of the year with only Ernie Els not playing due to injury. The field will find a good test of golf at Harding Park with the course topography and structure similar to that of Cypress Point and Pebble Beach. The rough has been grown over the summer months and the fairways will reward good driving. Many of the holes also require the tee shots and approach shots to be shaped so look for a golfer this week that has a good ball striking pedigree.

Selections:

Tiger Woods: boring, boring, boring – I know! But he has won half of the World Championship events he has played in and that is a record to admire very much. He will like the challenges of this course and only a bad driving or putting display will see him not contend. There may also be a question over his fitness with his back problems at the Presidents Cup.

Kenny Perry: a player who is one of the leading ball strikers on the tour and who has shown signs of a return to top form. He will find a lot of fairways and greens and if the putter is working then he must have a real opportunity this week.

Shigeki Maruyama: a player who has had a poor season by his standards however did finish second last week to K.J Choi. A streaky players who can shoot low, he could be a live outsider this week at a very big price.

Others to mention: Jim Furyk, Paul Casey and David Howell.

The European tour this week plays host to the Abama Open de Canarias tournament, which compliments the World Golf Championship being played in the US. As this is a supporting tournament the field is not strong and consists mainly of Challenge tour players and regular tour 'journey men'.

However there are a few players that are of interest in this field this week.

Selections:

Mark Foster: the Englishman has started to find some form on the regular tour events over the past three months and he must fancy his chances this week against a weak field. A solid all round game will give him an excellent chance.

Jamie Spence: the tour veteran has been in solid, if not spectacular form for the whole of 2005. He will relish this drop in class and has the consistent game required to contend this week. His experience may prove vital this week.

Oliver Wilson: a good young player who is ready to take the next step in his career and win a title. He has an explosive game with only his putting holding him back. If he can find consistency on the greens then he must be a contender this week.

Until next week – May The Golfinggods Be With You!