World Match Play 
/ Paul Krishnamurty / 22 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Class act, super record. Geoff Ogilvy has a good chance of winning this week but at the very least should beat Padraig Harrington
"Alternatively with 18 wins from 21 matches in this event, nobody in this field has better matchplay credentials than Ogilvy. The Aussie is a live candidate for a third title, and rates the opening day banker."
This is one of the most exciting tournaments of the golf calendar and one worth a fair few quid too. But who represents the best bets from the opening rounds, asks Paul Krishnamurty.
Starting Time: 15.55
2pts Ross Fisher @ [2.0] (vs Allenby)
Both Fisher and Allenby have plenty of matchplay prowess, but their previous efforts at this Ritz-Carlton venue are incomparable. Allenby had a good record in this event when it was held at La Costa, but since the move to Arizona he's only won one match out of five. That came in last year's opening round, and was followed by a 6 & 5 thrashing at the hands of Luke Donald. In contrast Fisher reached the semis on his tournament debut here two years ago, and is the reigning champion of the other World Matchplay championship, last held in Spain 16 months ago.
Starting Time: 14.55
3pts Ben Crane (vs Scott) @ [2.1]
A hot putter is essential to thrive in this tournament, which explains Adam Scott's disappointing record. Since the event moved to Arizona, he's won just two out of six. Increasingly it seems that the man once labelled as the 'next Tiger Woods' only produces his best on receptive, rain-soaked greens, which he won't get this week in the Arizona desert. Ben Crane, who won his first two matches on last year's tournament debut and is in good form after consecutive top-20s, rates cracking value as the outsider.
Starting Time: 16.45
1pt Jonathan Byrd (vs McIlroy) @ [2.9]
The opening day always produces a few shocks, so given Rory McIlroy's unreliablility he could be worth taking on at tasty odds. Rory could do anything this week. He has a nice draw, and showed a liking for this format in 2009 before coming up against an on-fire Geoff Ogilvy. However, anyone who saw him fall away from contention at the Dubai Desert Classic will baulk at taking just [1.53] over 18 holes, especially knowing that one poor day on the greens would probably spell curtains for this week's challenge. In Jonathan Byrd, he faces an opponent with the same number of wins in the last five months as McIlroy's career total, and who won two matches on his sole previous effort in the World Matchplay.
Starting Time: 17.25
2pts Mark Wilson (vs D Johnson) @ [2.4]
Dustin Johnson has been extremely disappointing over the last fortnight, and having lost in the first round in both previous attempts here, must be opposed at odds-on. A repeat of his recent waywardness off the tee - Dustin has hit less than 55% of fairways in his last three events - would present a few easy holes to this in-form opponent. Though few expect Wilson to keep his superb run going, it is hard to argue with the credentials of a player with two wins already this season, including one on his last visit to Arizona.
Starting Time: 18.55
4pts Geoff Ogilvy (vs Harrington) @ [1.7]
Similarly, without drastic improvement off the tee, Padraig Harrington will face an extremely tough task against thrice finalist Geoff Ogilvy. Harrington has ranked in the top-50 for driving accuracy only once since last August, and lost in the first round on both attempts at the Ritz-Carlton. Alternatively with 18 wins from 21 matches in this event, nobody in this field has better matchplay credentials than Ogilvy. The Aussie is a live candidate for a third title, and rates the opening day banker.
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