Sports Betting Index - Betting Tips

24.9.07

17.26

Golf

Viking Classic

Fred Funk

Opinion remains divided as to whether Funk is fit enough to win on the main tour again.He has been dogged by back problems this season but that didn't stop him winning in Mexico in February when course conditions favoured his accurate striking of the ball and his recent stats show he can still hit it straighter than most. Then we come to his course form - in the last 9 years he has played Annandale 5 times and has finished 1/6/3/1/8 - he simply loves it here!

1/2 pt ew 66/1 Betfred 1/5 6

Lost

+27.6

24.9.07

17.26

Golf

Viking Classic

Kevin Na

Whilst Na cannot boast the same current form as Wi he has had 3 top 10 finishes this season (more than most here can offer) and we think he has finally shaken off the injury that has plagued him for the last few years.His course form is superb - 3rd on his debut in 04 and leading at the cut in 05 only to shoot a poor 3rd round but bounce back with a 66 in the final round.

1/4 pt ew 80/1 Ladbrokes 1/4

Lost

+28.6

26.9.07

12.13

Golf

Viking Classic

Ryan Armour

We had more or less given up on finding anything else this week when this price caught our eye.Armour is right on the bubble at 122nd on the money list and needs a half decent finish to secure his card. Although he has not played here before his accurate game should be suited as it was in Mexico when 4th to Funk this year and top 25 finishes in his last 2 starts show he is in good nick.

1/5 pt ew 200/1 Coral 1/4 5

Lost

+29.1

26.9.07

12.13

Golf

LPGA Navistar Classic - Without Ochoa

Reilley Rankin

Ochoa is a deserved short priced favourite here as the links here should suit her game and she has won her last 3.As the course is supposed to resemble a Scottish Links we will hope Rankin can reproduce the finish which saw her take 4th at St Andrews in the British Open

1/4 pt ew 125/1 Bet365 1/4 5

Lost

+29.5

25.9.07

17.07

Golf

Uniqa Ladies Open

F Piovano

Italian Piavano won her maiden victory on this course 2 seasons ago and put up a stout defence last year when 9th. Whilst her WD last week is a worry the weather was very poor and she certainly seems to play a lot better golf when close to home and we don't see why she should be a 3 figure price this week.

1/5 pt ew 150/1 Skybet 1/4 5

Lost

+30.0

25.9.07

17.07

Golf

Vodacom Origins Final

C Basson

We cannot spot a great deal of value in the final of this series of events in South Africa but all credit to Skybet for pricing it up.
It should be a great event played on the new Nicklaus course at Francis Links and it will prove a stern test but we think young Basson should give us a run for our money.He was a very talented amatuer who turned pro this year and is finally reaping some reward with his last few finishes being 34/14/6.

1/5 pt ew 80/1 Skybet 1/4 4

Lost

+30.4

24.9.07

15.31

Golf

Viking Classic

Charlie Wi

A poor weeks betting on the golf front with not a lot to get our teeth into.Wi represents one of the few players in this weeks PGA event who can boast both course and current form.He was 2nd at the US Bank back in the summer and has been 14/18 in his last 2 starts and was 5th on his debut and only start here in 05.Given the chance we believe he is capable of winning on this tour as he has done so on numerous occasions on the Asian Tour.

1/2 pt ew 66/1 Betfred 1/5 6

Lost

+30.8

19.9.07

10.37

Golf

SAS Champ'ship

Tom Jenkins

Give us a player who has course form in his last 4 starts of 4/2/2/1 then we will back them everytime at this price.Admittedly his win came when the event was shortened to 2 rounds but it is still very impressive.He also seems to turn it on from nowhere with no great form going into the event so we are not too worried about his average form this season as he was 5th just over a month ago.

1/2 pt ew 40/1 Ladbrokes 1/4 5

Lost

+31.8

22.9.07

11.01

Golf

Turning Stone Resort Champs

Jeff Overton

We will take a small risk on a very talented young player who we are convinced will be winning sooner rather than later on the PGA tour - in fact he nearly did afew weeks ago when he was 2nd - being overtaken by a storming final round from Snedeker. His 1st round wasn't great but he showed yesterday he was coming to grips with the course and a repeat of that will keep him in the mix.

1/4 pt ew 50/1 Ladbrokes 1/4 4

Lost

+32.8

19.9.07

12.37

Golf

Taiwan Masters

SSP Chowrasia

Chowrasia could well be playing this week as defending champion but the muppet forgot to sign his scorecard when he was 5 shots clear at the cut!!Whilst he has been rather out of form this season his last 2 starts have seen a return to form with finishes of 16/14 and he would love to put the record straight after last years monumental cock-up

1/4 pt ew 66/1 Skybet 1/4 5

Lost

+33.3

19.9.07

09.41

Golf

British Masters

Stephen Gallacher

The Scot was high on our list early this week but not at the prices being offered.
He is one of those players that often flatters to deceive as he seems to hang around leaderboards but fail to finish in the top 5 - indeed the last time he did was here last May.
However he has had 3 top 10 finishes in his last 13 starts and can also boast a 5th place finish here on his debut in 2000.

1/10 pt win 125/1 1/5 pt top 5 25/1 1/2 pt top 10 11/1 Sportstab

Lost

+33.8

18.9.07

21.16

Golf

Turning Stone Resort Champs

Ryan Palmer

Not sure why Palmer is such a big price in what is basically a very weak field
After all it was only a few starts ago that he was 3rd in Canada - his best finish of the season and this has often proved to be the best time of the season for him.
He was a solid 20th here last year and was runner-up in his other start in this event.

1/4 pt ew 125/1 Sunderlands 1/4 6

Lost

+34.6

18.9.07

20.01

Golf

Kazakhstan Open

Stephen Browne

The last and only time Browne played here in Kazakhstan was 2 years ago and he won.Although he has been in and out of form this season he does tend to thrive on confidence and was a very solid 8th in Spain last time out.

1/2 pt ew 50/1 Skybet 1/4 5

Lost

+35.1

18.9.07

20.01

Golf

LET Scottish Open

Clare Queen

Sometimes you come across a little snippet of information that you have to use just in case a small miracle happens.Basically Queen will be playing this week on her home course so will have plenty of course knowledge compared to her rivals as its a new venue.She is obviously a talented player as she was Girls British Open Amateur Champion and Ladies British Amateur Strokeplay Champion.

1/10 pt ew 300/1 Skybet 1/4 5

Lost

+36.1

18.9.07

11.48

Golf

Turning Stone Resort Champs

Scott Gutschewski

Well as we wanted to go in at 150/1 but had to settle for 100/1 there is no way we can turn down the opportunity of going in again at these prices.

1/5 pt win 250/1 1/5 pt top 5 50/1 1/2 pt top 10 20/1 Sportstab

Lost

+36.3

18.9.07

10.19

Golf

British Masters

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano

In 76 starts as a professional the young Spaniard has already managed 3 victories which is quite impressive. We admit that he is difficult to catch right but his last 2 starts have seen a welcome return to form, after a summer of struggling, with finishes of 6th and 16th on courses he had previously played poorly on.He has played the Belfry once before and by finishing 14th has clearly shown he can play the course.

1/2 pt ew 70/1 Stan James 1/4 5

Lost

+37.2

17.9.07

17.11

Golf

Turning Stone Resort Champs

Scott Gutschewski

The big hitter has struggled on the main tour and has had to have the odd start on the Nationwide tour where he actually had his best finish of the season a few weeks ago when 6th. This is not the strongest field of the year on the main tour and his best ever PGA finish came on this course last year when 6th.

1/4 pt ew 100/1 Victor Chandler 1/4 5

Lost

+38.2

17.9.07

16.08

Golf

British Masters

Ross Fisher

A player we will stick with from last week purely on the grounds of price really. He was 22nd on his debut with a really solid final round.We doubt very much that his win in Holland will be his last and with his top 5 ratio he really shouldn't be anywhere near this price.

1/5 pt ew 125/1 Victor Chandler 1/4 5

Lost

+38.7

17.9.07

16.03

Golf

British Masters

Oliver Wilson

We'll give the young English man another crack who now has 2 top 5 finishes in his last 2 appearances.We admit he does have some injury worries but we don't think he would be playing if things were that bad and he was a solid 12th on his debut here last season

1/4 pt ew 80/1 Ladbrokes 1/4 5

Lost

+39.1

17.9.07

14.47

Golf

British Masters

Anthony Wall

One of those plays where the value lies in the place part of the bet - much the same as Hansen last week so lets hope for the same result.Wall already has 2 top 5 finishes this season and is coming into form again with a top 10 finish at Crans last time out where he was also top of the all-round stats.He has some solid course form making all 5 cuts here including a 5th on his debut and was 4th at the cut in 2002.

1/2 pt ew 90/1 Bet365,Stan James 1/4 5

Lost

+39.6

11.9.07

09.01

Golf

Mercedes Benz Championship

Soren Hansen

Hansen wasn't on our original list of contenders this week largely due to his fairly average course form but we can forgive him a missed cut in difficult conditions at Crans last week and before that his finishes in Europe read 2/7/19/2/3 - how can he be 50/1 - there is definitely value in the place part.

1/2 pt ew 50/1 Ladbrokes 1/4 5

Won

+40.6

12.9.07

12.00

Golf

Oregon Classic

Tom Scherrer

Scherrer is really good mates with last weeks winner Langham and it was only 6 weeks ago that Scherrer won with Langham 2nd.He went off the boil a bit after his win but last week he played well and is coming to a course where he has played really well before with finishes of 2/c/9/13.

1/2 pt ew 50/1 Bet365,Stan James 1/4 5

Lost

+9.35

12.9.07

14.18

Golf

Greater Hickory Classic

Tom Purtzer

One of our few forays into the Senior tour as there is rarely any value but Purtzer might offer a bit this week.He has a 3% win rate and a 22% top 5 rate on this tour since he started and was 5ht here last season

1/2 pt ew 40/1 Generally Available 1/4 5

Lost

+10.35

12.9.07

12.00

Golf

Oregon Classic

Scott Dunlap

We will have a speculative punt on Dunlap who last week had his best result of the season.His first 3 starts here were not particularly impressive but his last 2 finishes of 14/5 suggest he has got to grips with Shadow Hills.In the last few years his best form seems to have come in Sept/Oct including his last win in 2004.

1/5 pt ew 100/1 Bet365,Stan James,Skybet 1/4 5

Lost

+11.35

12.9.07

12.00

Golf

Oregon Classic

Jonathan Moore

Moore must be on a real high having "won" the Walker Cup for the US on Sunday with a superb approach in his singles match at 18 leaving him with a 4 foot putt for eagle.He has decided to give up his amateur career and has turned pro with his first event being at "home" in Oregon

1/2 pt ew 66/1 Bet365,Stan James 1/4 5

Lost

+11.75

11.9.07

21.29

Golf

Mercedes Benz Championship

Alex Cejka

After last weeks poor 1st rd we have had second thoughts all week but the weather was really difficult and his neck was playing him up so he withdrew.Over the years this has not be an unusual feature of his results and the last time he wd at Crans the next week he was 5th here! When he was a Euro tour regular he was also 2nd and 6th here so we will risk him in our staking plan for another week.

1/2 pt ew 50/1 Generally Available 1/4 5

Lost

+12.75

11.9.07

10.39

Golf

Mercedes Benz Championship

Johan Edfors

We just have a feeling that Edfors might have turned the corner with all the changes he has made to his swing - something that always baffles us - the old swing netted him 3 wins last season! He was 11th on his last visit to Germany and improved with every round last week.

1/5 pt ew 100/1 Generally Available 1/4 5

Lost

+13.75

10.9.07

19.40

Golf

Mercedes Benz Championship

Ross Fisher

Surprised to see such a big price about a great talent who won just 2 weeks ago and this is a reduced field event.He has had an interesting sequence of results since the tour has been in mainland Europe - c/39/c/26/c/19/c/11/c/1/c and those results boil down to the fact that one week he putts well the next he doesn't.Whilst he has no course experience, when he was out of form last year he had a good result in Spain on a similar Jack Nicklaus course and his big hitting should be suited here.

1/4 pt ew 80/1 generally Available 1/4 5

Lost

+14.15

10.9.07

14.37

Golf

Mercedes Benz Championship

Nick Dougherty

A low price for us to take but we cannot get away from the fact that he plays really well on just a few courses and this weeks is no exception with a 2nd,3rd and 6th from 5 starts here.We think his US Open top 10 went a little to his head but he returned to form on his penultimate start with a 2nd place in Scandinavia.

3/4 pt ew 28/1 Betfred,Paddy Power 1/4 5

Lost

+14.65

10.9.07

14.37

Golf

Tour Championship 1st rd leader

Charles Howell III

This will be our only bet in this weeks Tour Championship as the event really doesn't suit our betting methods with such a small field and no outsiders.The two times he has played here he has started well - in 02 he was 3rd after rd 1 before finishing 2nd and in 05 was in the top 1/2 dozen all week until a poor final round.Nobody knows how the event will play as the greens are in a very poor condition so thats it for us.

1/5 pt ew 80/1 Betfred 1/4 4

Lost

+16.15

6.9.07

10.50

Golf

Utah Energy Solutions

Franklin Langham

A player initially missed by our radar but on closer inspection he is worthy of a small bet at 80.Langham likes it round here - he has a 2nd and 6th from 3 starts,he finished runner-up on this tour not that long ago and is in mean form with the putter - in 3 of the last 5 events where he has made the cut he has finished top putter for the week.

1/5 pt ew 80/1 Totesport 1/4 5

Won

+16.55

5.9.07

09.17

Golf

Utah Energy Solutions

Mark Hensby

We will take a small chance at this price that the drop in class will bring about some improved play from the Australian.He has certainly played well on the course before with a 4th place finish in 03 and shot a 63 to lead after rd 1 in 01 - its just a shame there is no place or e/w betting!!

1/4 pt win 66/1 The Greek (Olympic)

Lost 3rd!

-3.45

3.9.07

16.42

Golf

NW Arkansas Championship

Stacey Lewis

We were hoping that one of the books would go a decent price early on and we doubt this will be beaten.The youngster who finished an impressive 5th in the Nabisco earlier this year and warmed up nicely last week.She has got a sponsors invite as she is from Arkansas Uni and this weeks course is one she has played lots of time and given the fact that all the top players are away at the Solheim Cup then we must have a go.

1/2 pt ew 100/1 Stan James 1/4 5

Won but depends where you placed your bet as to whether you won or not!!

Will wait til IBAS rules

3.9.07

20.57

Golf

Omega European Masters

Ariel Canete

Argentinians have a really good record here at Crans and Canete did well last year when finishing 7th.He also played very well at Joburg this year at altitude when winning so he can clearly play at in the thinner air.Whilst his recent results have not been particularly stunning he has actually been in contention at some time or other in most of his latest starts.

1/5 pt ew 150/1 Bet365 1/4 5, 1/2 pt top 10 14/1 Stan James

Lost

-2.95

3.9.07

18.33

Golf

Omega European Masters

Oliver Wilson

Wilson will be keen to emulate his fellow Walker Cupper Ross Fisher who won the other week and this week could be a great chance. He was a shade disappointing last week but that did come after a months holiday.He has had plenty of runner up slots in his life including 2 this year but he has been looking more like a winner.In his 2 appearances here he has been 3rd and 5th heading into the final round only to fail so he can certainly play the course.

1/4 pt ew 80/1 Bet365,Paddy Power 1/4 5

5th

-2.05

5.9.07

10.52

Golf

Telia Challenge

Joakim Rask

We will take a risk with Rask who seems to have been around for years but not a lot recently at this level - but he has been playing the local telia Tour with some great success of late - his last 7 strokeplay finishes have been 10/1/30/10/6/4/1 so he clearly maintains the ability to play.He is a past winner on this tour and on his one appearance on this course managed a 13th place finish in 05

1/5 pt ew 80/1 Bet365 1/4 5

Lost

-6.8

4.9.07

18.26

Golf

BMW Championship + BMW top US no Woods

Heath Slocum

Slocum has played solidy all year and in particular in his last 5 starts when he has not finished outside the top 23.He has made all 5 cuts at Cog Hill and has often been in contention and the last 2 years have seen him finish 12th and 7th.This combination of good current and course form do not make him a 100/1 shot in our eyes.

1/4 pt ew 100/1 Gen Available 1/4 5 + 1/2 pt ew 25/1 Skybet 1/4 4

Lost

-6.4

4.9.07

18.26

Golf

BMW Championship + BMW top US no Woods

Jerry Kelly

Kelly has played very well for a lot of the season although another victory has eluded him.His form at Cog Hill has been exceptional with his last 7 cuts made and a 3 year run which went 5/1/3 - he just seems overpriced to us and we think he will be inspired by Strickers' recent win

1/4 pt ew 100/1 Coral, William Hill 1/4 5 + 1/2 pt ew 25/1 Skybet 1/4 4

Lost

-4.9

4.9.07

12.35

Golf

BMW Championship + BMW top US no Woods

Sean O'Hair

Young O'Hair has been coming into form again culminating in 9th last week - he needs to eradicate the 1 bad round he seems to put in each week.He has played solidy here before and Illinois was the scene of his victory on tour.We think this week there is a lot of value in the top US market without Woods and will be backing all our selections in that market.

1/4 pt ew 100/1 Skybet 1/4 5 + 1/2 pt ew 33/1 Skybet 1/4 4

Lost

-3.4

4.9.07

20.57

Golf

Omega European Masters

Alex Cejka

Cejka flies back to Europe for a rare foray away from the USA.The last time he tried that seriously was 3 years ago when he played in 3 events managing a 3rd and 5th place in Germany sandwiched with a bizarre 81 and 1st round wd here at Crans.We will take a risk that he was ill or something as in the past he has played really well here with a 3rd,5th and 6th to his name.Interestingly in the PGA tour his best finishes have been at altitude.

1/2 pt ew 50/1 Betdirect 1/4 5

Lost

-1.9

3.9.07

16.58

Golf

Omega European Masters

Andrew McLardy

We tipped the South African a few weeks ago but he sadly let us down however we are prepared to give him another go.He was 7th here last season and was also 2nd in Joburg earlier this year at altitude.He has a habit of playing tricky tracks like this well and with his family joining him for the first time we are hoping he is inspired.

1/4 pt ew 100/1 Betfred 1/5 6

Lost

-0.9

3.9.07

11.33

Golf

Deutsche Bank

Adam Scott

We will take a small risk on Scott heading into the final round - he is not that far behind and there are some "dodgy" players above him + with Woods paired with Mickelson they could cancel each other out.Given his record here of a 1st and 2nd place in the past with low final rounds then he is worth a small interest.

1/5 pt ew 100/1 Bet365
Betfred 1/5 3

Lost

-0.4