AT&T National and Open de France Preview

This week sees the European Tour head to France for the Open de France, while the PGA Tour hosts the AT&T National in the Aronimink Golf Club. With some top names taking a week off in preparation for the Open Championship, both fields are spread with some good value to be found.

AT&T National

Nick Watney

Nick Watney showed well last week with two opening rounds of 65 which eventually earned him a tied thirteenth finish. He has been in good form lately, recording seven Top 10 finishes so far this season. Add these stats to the fact he tied seventh here last year and it’s hard to overlook the American. Watney is best priced for the win at 14/1 (Stan James).

Bo Van Pelt

Last weekend I tipped Bo Van Pelt and he put in a decent performance to tie thirteenth. This week I am keeping the faith. His season has been going well with a third place at Crowne Plaza in May, a thirteenth at the Memorial and a fourteenth at the US Open. Last year he tied for eleventh here and I expect him to improve on that performance this weekend. Van Pelt is best priced at 25/1 (Stan James) and also 5/2 (Sky Bet) for a Top 10 finish.

Tips

1pt EW Nick Watney

0.5 EW Bo Van Pelt

1pt Bo Van Pelt Top 10

Open de France

Gregory Bourdy

Gregory Bourdy will be on home soil this week and will be hoping to continue his good form on this year’s European Tour. He produced an excellent display earlier this month with a second place finish at the Welsh Open and followed it up with a solid -11 at the Italian Open which earned him a tie for eleventh. The Frenchman showed he is more than capable when he pushed Graeme McDowell last year at the US Open and with the home support behind him, don't be surprised if he is gracing the later groupings on Sunday evening. Bourdy is best price for the win at 33/1 (Sky Bet) and is also a sensible 7/2 (Coral) for a Top 10.

Tips

0.5 EW Gregory Bourdy

1pt Gregory Bourdy Top 10

2011 Golf Stats

Staked = 134pts

Returned = 137.5pts

Profit/Loss = +3.5pts

• This article was published at www.fightingtips.co.uk.
• Follow all Golf Tips on Twitter @CianMcCrohan.

Travelers Championship Preview

Being the event sandwiched between the Open Championship and the US Open, the Travelers Championship is set to miss out on hosting some of golf’s big names. Despite this however, eleven of this weeks field, including last years champion Bubba Watson, have their eyes on becoming two time winners and for me, these will be the men to watch.

Zach Johnson

At Colonial two weeks back, Zach Johnson seemed to return to form with a 4^th place finish. He followed it up with another good performance at the US Open, where a final day 76 saw him fall down the leader board where he eventually tied 30^th. Along with his recent return to form, this course should suit the Americans game and I’ll be surprised if he’s outside the Top 10 on Sunday night. He is good value at 25/1 (Bwin) for the win and I would certainly get on him for a Top 10 at 12/5 (Tote Sport).

Bo Van Pelt

Bo Van Pelt is another man who could be topping the leader board come day four, after an impressive 14^th place finish at the US Open last week. Add this to his tied 8^th finish in The Masters and a 3^rd place finish two weeks ago at Colonial and Van Pelt brings excellent seasonal form into this weekend. He is good value at 30/1 (Victor Chandler) and like Johnson, is certainly worth a Top 10 Shot as well.

Hunter Mahan

Hunter Mahan leaps off the page for this weekend. While his recent form leaves a lot to be desired, his form at this event is top class. He won here in 2007 and has had several Top 5 finishes in recent years. Easily the most consistent course player on the bill this week, there is no secret as to why the bookies have made him favourite. History says back him each way and for a Top 10 and so do I. He is best priced for the win at 14/1 (Sky Bet) and 17/10 (Tote Sport) for a Top 10.

My Tips

1pt EW Zach Johnson

1pt Zach Johnson Top 10

.5pt EW Bo Van Pelt

1pt Hunter Mahan Top 10

Golf Stats 2011

Staked = 129pts

Returned = 137.5pts

Profit/Loss = +9.5pts

• This article was published at www.fightingtips.co.uk.
• For all Golf Tip Updates follow on Twitter @CianMcCrohan.

US Open Preview

Golf’s second major tees off at Congressional Country Club, Bethesda on Thursday and despite the absence of Tiger Woods, an extremely strong field is due to assemble.

Northern Ireland native Graeme McDowell will be determined to defend his title but the following three, in my opinion, are the ones to watch.

Steve Stricker

Steve Stricker is a player that has been in superb form this season, claiming the Memorial Tournament just two weeks back. He won twice in 2010 and is currently ranked fourth in the world behind three Europeans. I expect to see him involved in the business end of proceedings at Congressional. His form on the 2011 PGA Tour has been impressive. In 10 events, he has made all 10 cuts, has had 4 Top 10 finishes, one of which was his win in the Memorial. Of the American contingent, I can’t see beyond Stricker. He is great value at 25/1 (Victor Chandler) for the win, particularly with some bookmakers paying out six places. I also see good value in a Top 10 at 5/2 (Sky Bet).

Adam Scott

Adam Scott has been in decent form recently and narrowly missed out on winning the Masters earlier in the year. This week he employs the services of Tiger Woods' right hand man Steve Williams and the New Zealanders experience just might propel Scott's chances. He is worth an each way punt at 60/1 (Paddy Power) and look out for a Top 20, best at 15/8 (Sky Bet).

My Tips

1pt EW Steve Stricker

0.50 EW Adam Scott

1pt Steve Stricker Top 10

1pt Adam Scott Top 20

Golf Stats 2011

Staked = 124pts

Returned = 137.5pts

Profit/Loss = +14.5pts

• This article was published by www.fightingtips.co.uk.
• Follow all Golf Tips on Twitter @CianMcCrohan.

St. Jude Classic Preview

This week the St. Jude Classic provides some of the worlds top players an opportunity to prepare for the US Open in seven days. While Lee Westwood leads the betting these are the two men that I expect to provide profit to punters come Sunday night.  

David Toms

David Toms is a man marching towards the US Open in fantastic form. Three weeks back, he impressed when he agonisingly missed out on claiming Players Championship losing in a play off to K.J Choi. Just a week later he bounced back to card an emotional win at Colonial. Since then, Toms has taken a well earned break but on Thursday, he will return for the St. Jude Classic, somewhere he has impressed massively over the last decade. The American won here in 2003 and in 2004, was 2^nd in 2005, 3^rd in 2007 and 2^nd in 2009. He may be second favourite to Lee Westwood with the bookmakers but for me, given his recent form and his amazing course consistency, Toms is the man to beat this week. He is best priced at 11/1 (Victor Chandler) and is a steady 11/8 (Victor Chandler) to finish in the Top 10, something he has achieved in five of his last eight attempts.

 

Heath Slocum

Heath Slocum has been in very inconsistent form this season and doesn’t seem to jump off the page when finding potential challengers but because of these factors the bookmakers have offered some big and tempting odds. He is 100/1 (Stan James) for a win but I see great value in a Top 20 at 7/2 (Paddy Power). Though he hasn’t given much reason for optimism on recent performances, he does hold some course form with a 4^th in 2005, 12^th in 2007 and 10^th in 2009.

My Tips

1pt EW David Toms

2pt David Toms Top 10

1pt Heath Slocum Top 20

Golf Stats 2011

Staked = 120pts

Returned = 137.5

Profit/Loss = +17.5pts

• This article was publish at www.fightingtips.co.uk.
• Follow all Golf tips on Twitter @CianMcCrohan.