Golf w/c 17/10/25

I'll start with the two minor tour events - firstly in Australia the Queensland PGA kicks off tonight and young Phoenix Campbell is going for three in a row. In 2023 he was an Amateur and started @ 300/1, defending his title last year he had just finished 2nd and was now a professional and went off 16/1 so why is he 125/1 this week? Well to be frank he has basically done the square root of diddly squat since that win on the main tour, it happens to young pro's though he did fire 64/61 in August to win a two round event. I just think back here with his course record he has to be worth a few quid e/w @ 125/1.

Legends Tour is off on its travels this week to Cambodia and a new Faldo course so nobody has any course advantage. When I tipped up Donaldson the other week Johan Edfors was also making his tour debut and he finished a very fine 2nd. He didn't play the event that Donaldson then went on to win but tees it up in far flung Cambodia this week. For those with a good memory he has a good record in the Far East with wins in China and neighbouring Thailand. That latter one was in the Black Mountains where he owns a villa and I believe still lives there part of the time so he should feel right at home. The early 45/1 was huge, 365 actually opened 75/1 but obviously those prices are history now.

It's last chance saloon on the PGA tour with the RSM being the final event of the season - bound to be lots of stories good and bad. Therefore it's a difficult event to bet in - have had a few quid on Betfair on the likes of Power 70, Phillips 110, Hoge 160, Adam Svensson again 200 but happy to stick with just the two main bets. Camilo Villegas has plenty of "other status" qualifications so won't feel the pressure of keeping card but after a poor spell found something last week in Bermuda improving with every round to finish 9th on a course he won at in 2023. When he won back then he had finished 2nd the week before and there are countless other examples of him finding the winning formula. He also has some pretty decent course form in the bank here with a 2nd and 6th so those opening prices of 300/1 +were very appealing and he's still 400+ on Betfair. The other one is at the other end of the age spectrum - David Ford - newly turned pro but some interesting form here on Sea Island. In July 22 he won the Southern Amateur on the Plantation course here and then in Jan 23 won the Jones Cup at the Ocean/Forest courses. That win got him into this event as an amateur two years ago and there is an interesting precedent with Ludvig Aberg who won the Jones Cup in 2021 m/c here then two years later won this very event. Now Aberg is probably a more talented golfer and had a lot more experience than Ford but it's still interesting. He hasn't had a huge amount of possibilities to play but has shot some low rounds and did finish 3rd in Utah last month. Obviously waiting for FRL prices but outright did 180 win and 33 top 5.

As a PS am sat here kicking myself - didn't realise Saudi started today - backed Meronk yesterday @ 100/1 and thought - wait til tomorrow I may get a bigger FRL price then tip him in both. Sort of just breathed a sigh of relief he only just parred the last to tie the lead on -9! Rookie schoolboy error but still costly