The Punter 
/ Steven Rawlings / 15 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Bubba Watson – One of the Punter’s picks at Riviera
“Bubba’s improving all the time for my money and a second win looks inevitable in 2011; let’s get it out of the way nice and quickly.”
Our man picks out a moustache sporting New Delhi hat-trick seeker and in the States, he surprisingly swerves his favourite player....
I was sorry to see the end of the Gulf Swing, where sane viewing times and upheld course form resulted in an enjoyable and profitably four week stretch. It's all rather different this week though, as the Race to Dubai takes a pretty drastic dip in quality with the tri-sanctioned Avantha Masters in India. Asian and Indian Tour members will do battle with European Tour stalwarts at the DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi and although it looks a tricky puzzle to solve I've drawn on happy memories of last year's renewal, when I dug out winner Andrew Dodt at the juicy odds of [80.0]. Let's see if I can repeat the feat!
There were a number of Asian Tour players that caught the eye and Mike's main man Gaganjeet Bhullar was top of the list but I felt I just couldn't back him at less than [40.0], especially considering I took [460.0] about him in Hong Kong just three months ago! Towards the head of the market Thongchai Jaidee looks a fair price if, and it's a fairly big if, you can forgive last week's missed cut.
Given the quality of the field and the fact that the event will be played out throughout the earlier hours, especially over the first two days, I've not gone mad by any means and all of my picks are for modest stakes at big prices.
My first selection is Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng. He missed the cut here last year but he's got a bit of course form from years ago and most importantly, he's found something with his putter just lately.
Rickard Karlberg looks like a star of the future and an entertaining one at that. His website's well worth a gander and his frequent updates show that he's probably a bit of a character. He'll be sporting a new moustache this week and that's all because he spoke more Swedish than his caddy on the back nine of last Sunday's final round in Dubai! Of course backing someone because they've lost a facial hair wager with their bag-rat is not particularly scientific nor is it the reason I'm backing Rick. He impressed me greatly when he finished in a tie for third alongside Graeme McDowell at the prestigious Singapore Masters and he's already played in New Delhi twice, and won twice! He finished third on last year's Asian Tour money-list and that was largely due to victories at the Sail Open in April and the Hero Honda Indian Open as recently as December.
I've also backed Marcel Siem, who was a pick last year when he led after day one and a couple of Thai favourites of mine in promising youngster Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Chapchai Nirat.
Selections:
Prayad Marksaeng @ [70.0]
Rickard Karlberg @ [80.0]
Kiradech Aphibarnrat @ [90.0]
Marcel Siem @ [110.0]
Chapchai Nirat @ [200.0]
The US event is where the quality lies this week and the Northern Trust Open has yet again attracted a strong field. Strong enough for me to swerve my ole mate Phil Mickelson, which will certainly surprise fellow columnist Paul Krishnamurty.
As Paul points out, I'm a huge Lefty fan and whilst I take issue with the title of his piece, as I'd gladly take [10.0], or [9.8] if we're being picky, about the Augusta specialist in the US Masters each year, for once I'm in agreement re Phil the Thrill.
Yes he has great course form here but he also has a fine record at both Pebble Beach and Phoenix.... When he pitched up in Phoenix a fortnight ago it was off the back of very decent effort at the Farmers Insurance Open - where he finished 2nd at the generous sp of above [20.0]. I took [19.0] but he was friendless after I'd backed him. I took [9.2] in Phoenix, where he lost the plot after halfway and after much deliberation, against weaker opposition, I took [10.5] last week.
He may have topped the GIR (Greens in Regulation) stats last week but, unusually for him, he scrambled poorly and he's been woeful with the putter for the last two weeks. Add to that the fact that I fancy he'll get an afternoon tee time on Thursday to suit the TV boys and I can't see any value at around [9.0]. I'm hoping for that afternoon start on day one now and if it materialises I'm confident I can comfortably beat his current price in-running because I'll still want him onside to some degree.
And I'm also in agreement with Paul re a couple of his picks. I very nearly backed Anthony Kim but felt he was just a fraction short but the same can't be said about Bubba Watson. He looks to have the ideal game for Riviera and I was so impressed with him at Torrey Pines when he held off Lefty. Two missed cuts sandwich two top-20 finishes here but I expect an improvement this week - Bubba's improving all the time for my money and a second win looks inevitable in 2011; let's get it out of the way nice and quickly.
It's already falling in India and rain's also forecasted here and in the past that's when the less obvious results have occurred at Riviera, so all my other picks are at triple-figure odds.
Louis Oosthuizen's putting was so bad in Qatar the other week that I thought I'd be swerving him for some time but with the forecast rain, finding fairways will be at a premium and at [100.0] his accurate game could prosper and he's just about worth risking.
Y E Yang was a pick last time out in Phoenix, where he made the top-ten, and also in this event last year, when he finished 15th and Mark Wilson looked overpriced given he's going for a third win in five starts and that his game really should fit the venue.
Zach Johnson doesn't have the greatest of records here but was too big at [160.0] and finally, the damp weather will probably be against Fred Couples, but ole Boom Boom's record here is magnificent and I couldn't leave him out.
Selections:
Bubba Watson @ [46.0]
Louis Oosthuizen @ [100.0]
Y E Yang @ [110.0]
Mark Wilson @ [110.0]
Zach Johnson @ [160.0]
Fred Couples @an average of [250.0]
I'll kick off the Live Golf Blog on Thursday afternoon.
Our man picks out a moustache sporting New Delhi hat-trick seeker and in the States, he surprisingly swerves his favourite player.......
Quiros pulls of the most unlikely of wins in Dubai and Bill Murray points D A to victory at the AT & T........
Alvaro puts the Punter through the mill but it was all worth it in the end........
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