Weekend Flutter

[timofte]

whyohwhy said:

Historically the Yanks dont do well in the British open (some notable exceptions apart) generally the style of golf doesnt suit them, they cant handle 'bump and runs' shots, preferring instead to float the ball in, have it land soflty and spin to a stop. That will be nigh impossible with the course this weekend (no rain, hard greens etc etc).

I'd write Mickelson off now, he couldnt hit a fairway to save his life in the last major, so that will be a major handicap here.

Good shout on Appleby and Tim Clark (by hummer) though.

I think records will show, in recent times anyway, that the yanks have performed quiet well winning the open 9 out of the last 11 years. The Europeans haven't been too hot either with Paul Lawrie the last Open winner from Europe in 1999.

Apparantely the couse is suited to the long hitters like Woods who can drive over the bunkers and stay out of trouble. I'm not sure how his head is after his fathers death but if he can repeat the feat of 6 years ago when he played the 72 holes in St Andrews without hitting a single bunker then I think he is definitely in with a shout.

I wouldn't necessarily right Mickelson off just yet. He has the credentials to compete in major championships and is a great scrambler when he does get into trouble.

whyohwhy said:

Harrington aint doing a whole pile.

I think Harrington has a great chance here. Since finishing fifth in the US Open last month (where I believe with bit of luck and better cource management he should have won that competition) Harrington has had two second place finishes one in the US and one in Europe and has earned enough points to virtually guarantee his place in this years Ryder Cup. At 20 to 1 and with pp offering 6 places I think I'll put a few quid on him each-way and am hopefull that he can pull off a big win. It would be the first Major win by an Irishman since Fred Daly in 1949 at where else but Hoylake where this championship is on.

Clarke has been in good form alright but as you have said his head isn't right not for the full tournament anyway. Would be good to see him have a good week nonetheless.

As humbug suggests Thomas Bjorn looks like good value at 40 to 1 as I'm pretty sure he has a good record at the Open finishing high up on a couple of occasions. A few quid on him too each-way.

DT

[whyohwhy]

timofte said:

whyohwhy said:

Historically the Yanks dont do well in the British open (some notable exceptions apart) generally the style of golf doesnt suit them, they cant handle 'bump and runs' shots, preferring instead to float the ball in, have it land soflty and spin to a stop. That will be nigh impossible with the course this weekend (no rain, hard greens etc etc).

I'd write Mickelson off now, he couldnt hit a fairway to save his life in the last major, so that will be a major handicap here.

Good shout on Appleby and Tim Clark (by hummer) though.

I think records will show, in recent times anyway, that the yanks have performed quiet well winning the open 9 out of the last 11 years. The Europeans haven't been too hot either with Paul Lawrie the last Open winner from Europe in 1999.

Apparantely the couse is suited to the long hitters like Woods who can drive over the bunkers and stay out of trouble. I'm not sure how his head is after his fathers death but if he can repeat the feat of 6 years ago when he played the 72 holes in St Andrews without hitting a single bunker then I think he is definitely in with a shout.

I wouldn't necessarily right Mickelson off just yet. He has the credentials to compete in major championships and is a great scrambler when he does get into trouble.

whyohwhy said:

Harrington aint doing a whole pile.

I think Harrington has a great chance here. Since finishing fifth in the US Open last month (where I believe with bit of luck and better cource management he should have won that competition) Harrington has had two second place finishes one in the US and one in Europe and has earned enough points to virtually guarantee his place in this years Ryder Cup. At 20 to 1 and with pp offering 6 places I think I'll put a few quid on him each-way and am hopefull that he can pull off a big win. It would be the first Major win by an Irishman since Fred Daly in 1949 at where else but Hoylake where this championship is on.

Clarke has been in good form alright but as you have said his head isn't right not for the full tournament anyway. Would be good to see him have a good week nonetheless.

As humbug suggests Thomas Bjorn looks like good value at 40 to 1 as I'm pretty sure he has a good record at the Open finishing high up on a couple of occasions. A few quid on him too each-way.

DT

My arguments absolutely blown out the window there!!

Fair play.

I based my mickelson rant on the fact he hit about 3 fairways in the US open final round, that will kill him on links golf.

Had forgotten about Harri's US antics

[bandage]

As much as Irish people want Harrington to win a major I think we can forget about him. He seems like a grand, affable chap too but he just doesn’t have the mental strength to go and win a major. I know that US Open course was a brute but he dropped shots on each of the last 3 holes. Then I saw an interview with him in The Tribune where he was saying he was playing so well on the final day (the only player under par for the round after 15 holes and tied for the overall lead) and was so comfortable and at ease with his game that when he didn’t get up and down from just off the 16th green it completely knocked him for six. He said it was almost from shock that he went on to bogey 17 and 18 too rather than admitting he bottled it. He dropped a shot on the last in the British Open a few years back too that would have gotten him into a play-off and he’s had well over 20 second place finishes at this stage. A good ambassador but quite clearly a nearly man – each way is probably a good bet so.

[therock67]

Or if there is a place only market on betfair get on him there.

[whyohwhy]

whyohwhy said:

Garcia is in the prediction thread at 40-1 too

Woohoo, made a few yo-yos on Garcia, mainly thanks to PP having places for the first 6. He made me sweat it though, with a typically poor final round.

[therock67]

Couple of horses:

kirklees 2.40 and solva 4.25 at goodwood

[whyohwhy]

admin said:

Couple of horses:

kirklees 2.40 and solva 4.25 at goodwood

kirklees came third, sweet, got him at 12-1.

cheers rock & exalt

[therock67]

I had him at 12-1 also. I got Solva at 12-1 as well.

[whyohwhy]

Got Solva at 11's

[cully]

did solva come in?

[therock67]

Nope sorry. Presume you didn't have the first one?

[gilly]

Any tips for the Galway Races? I am having a disaster of a week so far.

[whyohwhy]

gilly said:

Any tips for the Galway Races? I am having a disaster of a week so far.

So hard to call races in Galway espicially with the big fields, heard nothing good myself.

Just been keeping an eye on Dermot Weld's runners myself (not on day one though )

[gilly]

Yeah I know. I went with Ansar today for the plate because i just wanted a win at that stage but as you said you can never call it and im beginning to think im jinxed!

[whyohwhy]

gilly said:

Yeah I know. I went with Ansar today for the plate because i just wanted a win at that stage but as you said you can never call it and im beginning to think im jinxed!

Harsh on Ansar, he went off at 4's, what did you get him at? Win only I assume?

Didnt put anything on him, but had an e/w on Dermot Welds Mutakarrim (6th)

theRocks Kirklees earlier was a nice little e/wer

[whyohwhy]

Tajneed in the last today at Galway is a Weld runner as well, but at evens now! next best at 5/2

[bandage]

Anyone got any thoughts on the football betting with the lower leagues in England starting tomorrow? I was taken by Wolves at 18/1 - each way is 1/4 the odds for top 3 - I was wondering whether Big Mick can weave his championship magic and get them into the top 3 at 9/2. Don't really have a clue about the lower leagues. Chelsea are odds on and Barca are champions league favourites at 7/2. Celtic weren't even on the page.

[thepiedpiper]

chester at 20/1 seem a good bet. i think mark wright has a very good record. backing them purely on that

[therock67]

I've backed Southampton at 9/1 on Ladbrokes. I think with Burley in charge and Skacel and a couple of other decent players they have a bit of class about them.

[bandage]

Didn't get a chance to do any bets on this before the kick off but believe me when I say I was going to back Hartson to be top scorer in the Championship. Then he bangs in 2 on his debut. Was also going to do Forest to win League 1 - Colin Calderwood is now managing them and apparently did good things at Northampton before? Southampton do seem a good bet at 9/1 with Burley in charge. Like the look of Palace at 12/1 too - they won today.

[bandage]

Think I’m getting sucked in by the gambling bug. I really know how Dan Baker felt now. Have lost €290 since this day last week and there I was down in Paddy Power’s at lunchtime staring at the screen that showed Celtic at 1/8 to beat St Mirren at home tomorrow. Was working out in my mind whether I could afford to throw €400 on it seeing as I don’t get paid til the 20th. Then I thought ‘what the fook are you doing you fool?’ and walked out. One of you needs to have a chat with me.

[steamboatsam]

the fact that you stood up to this evil gambling god (we'll call him Gamblor) and didn't succumb to temptation means you're still quite a way from being a dan baker. i will make an extra effort to keep an eye on you though to make sure you don't slip further down that greasy slope. perhaps it would help if i looked after your finances for the time being - i could give you pocket money every week for day to day expenses and maybe a little extra for an ice cream on sundays

[whyohwhy]

USPGA starts on Thursday, hard to see past Woods (2-1 with PP), interestingly enough he's paired with Mickelson(10-1) for first 2 rounds, should be nice to watch considering their sheer dislike for each other.

Els 14
Furyk 16
Singh 20
Garcia 25
Scott & Donald 28
Goosen 33
Harri 40

McGinley has pulled out

Any other US players doing well lately, humbug?

[humbug]

whyohwhy said:

USPGA starts on Thursday, hard to see past Woods (2-1 with PP), interestingly enough he's paired with Mickelson(10-1) for first 2 rounds, should be nice to watch considering their sheer dislike for each other.

Els 14
Furyk 16
Singh 20
Garcia 25
Scott & Donald 28
Goosen 33
Harri 40

McGinley has pulled out

Any other US players doing well lately, humbug?

I like Furyk there at 16s. DiMarco and Immelman are another two to keep an eye on.

[timofte]

humbug said:

whyohwhy said:

USPGA starts on Thursday, hard to see past Woods (2-1 with PP), interestingly enough he's paired with Mickelson(10-1) for first 2 rounds, should be nice to watch considering their sheer dislike for each other.

Els 14
Furyk 16
Singh 20
Garcia 25
Scott & Donald 28
Goosen 33
Harri 40

McGinley has pulled out

Any other US players doing well lately, humbug?

I like Furyk there at 16s. DiMarco and Immelman are another two to keep an eye on.

Hard to see past tiger again for this one. Looking on the web Bjorn at 125 to 1 might be worth a few quid each way. With Tigers price so low any of the contenders, Mickelson, Els, Singh and co may be worth a punt each way also with pp paying out on 5 places.