Golf Betting Column: What The Golfinggods Say….

Golf is a game to be played by the strongest of men who have the mental ability to withstand all forms of mental torture and anguish. Those who play this great game need to be a little bit crazy or sadomasochist in their tendencies because this game will catch up to you and keep you awake at night. I mean did you see what the game did to Greg Owen on Sunday? Here is a guy who has done all the hard work only to take three putts from three feet and then bogey the last hole to loose by one. This will wreck his brain for many weeks to come and doubt will be in his mind every time he tries to win a tournament. It was wretched to see but once again shows no one is bigger than the game and it can bight you at anytime.

Apologise to any European Tour lovers this week because I feel it is important to concentrate solely on the US Tour and the Players Championship at the TPC in Sawgrass. Although this is not a Major tournament it is in every sense of the word, except the word!

Perhaps played over the finest 'modern' design golf course, the TPC at Sawgrass is the jewel in Pete Dye's array of golf course triumphs. The course has everything to test the modern golfers game – length, severe rough, quick greens and the best finishing holes in golf. No lead is big enough when approaching the seventeenth hole and this par three will destroy many chances this week. However just passing through the seventeenth test is not enough because this course tests all the elements of a golfers repertory from the very first hole. If you drive it in the rough then expect to chip out sideways. If you miss a green expect a tough chip onto fast undulating greens and add to that the white-hot pressure this tournament creates and you have the best tournament outside of the majors, by a long way.

Selections:

Jim Furyk: you need to hit the fairway at Sawgrass and Jim hits more than most. He is currently second in driving accuracy and has performed well this year without being in contention. He is currently 11th in scoring average and has the game to 'map' his way around this course. I feel his game is coming together nicely and could be a very good each way bet.

Scott Verplank: another straight hitter who also possesses one of the better putting strokes in the game. His form is solid and I expect this course to play to his strengths. He will be a large price but I feel an each bet or place only bet is required on this player.

Vijay Singh: the big Fijian is hitting the ball as well as ever but cannot hole a putt. The TPC at Sawgrass is his home course and he knows it better than anyone. Singh has come close to winning this tournament on many occasions and I feel his time to win again is close. For such a great player you will get attractive odds and these need to be grabbed early.

Additional Bet: as this is a 'major' tournament from a betting perspective expect the Bookmakers to have a number of 'speciality' bets. These bet products will include Top Nationality bets and I think Tim Clark is worth backing for Top Rest of World (ROW).

His game based around fairways and greens and the TPC will be to his liking. A good bet to beat some of his more famous countrymen.

Others to mention: Chad Campbell, Lee Westwood and Chris DiMarco.

Until next week – May The Golfinggods Be With You!