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The European Tour hosts the Dubai Desert Classic, played on the “Majlis” course at the Emirates Golf Club,

Els & Garcia

this week with some of the games biggest names on show. With it being so early in the season, it is always difficult to pick winners as some of the higher ranked players are playing their first competitions of the season.

However, one man stands out this week for his form in this competition over the years, and that is Ernie Els (10/1). I acknowledge he has been struggling for form over the past year but his form in this competition has been startling, as outlined by http://www.golf-betting-online.co.uk/tips.htm. In his last 32 rounds on this course Els has never shot over par and 25 of these rounds were under 70 (par 72). This has helped him to the following results T3 - 2 - 2 - 1 - T3 - 2 - 1 - T3…..wow!! At 10/1, he looks like good value.

For those who wish to stay with the more recent form, Sergio Garcia (10/1) is certainly not far off challenging for a tournament. He is becoming such a consistent golfer these days that I tend to favour him for most tournaments these days. At 10/1, I would be surprised if he did not give you a run for your money.

Outside the lower priced players, Robert Karlsson (18/1), who I thought would do better last week, could be a threat. My only concern for Robert is that he looked a little rusty last week and may need another few tournaments before hitting his best form. If you are not convinced by the potential challenge of Els or Gacia, then Karlsson may be worth a small bet.

I came extremely close to tipping Damien McGrane last week for a top 5 finish after the first round but changed my mind in favour of Jarmo Sandelin. It proved a costly mistake as McGrane finished 4th at huge odds. This week, he is again 80/1 and the Meath man is not getting enough credit for his consistent play. He has a very reliable short-game and although it is a long shot, if McGrane can get off to a decent start, it may be worth looking at him more closely for an each-way bet.

Difficult call this week but Im going to go with the big guns this time. Ernie Els (10/1) and Sergio Garcia (10/1) are my each way bets. I will be very disappointed if neither is in the shake up come Sunday evening. If one is even placed, it will cover the other loosing bet so I think it makes sense this week to focus on these two.

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Karlsson (12/1) after fine opening round of 68 (-4)

Adam Scott defends his title this week but the Australian has not got off to the greatest of starts after completing his first round in a one over par 73. He currently lies 7 shots off the pace held by trio Andrew Coltart, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Henrik Stenson (a week too flipping late for my bet there Henrik!!).

Going into this week, there were a few I fancied. Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia. I think the best value now lies with Robert Karlsson who is -4 and only 2 shots off the lead. At 12/1 he offers great each-way value at this early stage. The lengthy course suits Karlsson. Sergio at -2 and at odds of 16/1 looks tempting too. Im sticking with Karlsson this time though.

Elsewhere, in form and a good each way tip is Charl Schwartzel (33/1) who is -3 after round 1. Retief Goosen is great value at 22/1 and currently on -3 while Jarmo Sandelin (50/1) is at -4 and his length could make him a surprise challenger come Sunday.

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We all want to be like Tiger Woods. How cool would it be to be a winner like he is, to be able to hit shot after shot consistently like he does, to be able to hole putts under the most intense pressure like he does? It would be pretty damn awesome in my opinion! So the next question is…how?

This is where world famous sports psychologist Bob Rotella comes into the equation. I recently read his book “Your 15th Club” and am intrigued. He speaks of the subconscious self-image, where self confidence is the key rather than swing confidence. He stresses the need to focus on your good shots, store them in your memory and utilise this memory in clutch situations. This advice has certainly worked for his star pupil, 3-time major winner (so far), Padraig Harrington. Listening to Harrington the other night, he again spoke of his mental strength and how he has now convinced himself (whether it true or not) that he enjoys coming down the stretch in a major, that he enjoys the intense pressure that comes with it. Its where he wants to be on major Sunday and if he gets there, he knows he can perform.

I have played with so many golfers of poor mental strength on the golf course, it is incredible. Remember, Rotella wants you to prepare for every shot the same way. In essence, he wants you to put the same emphasis on a putt to finish 1st as a putt not to finish last (re-re-read this last sentence!). And that for me is the key to this book, Rotella encourages you to strive to do as best you can on any given day. This is why Woods and Harrington are two of the highest ranked golfers in the world, because even when they are playing badly, they somehow manage to get the ball around in a respectable score. They never stop trying and as soon as they hit a bad shot, they forget about it…the most important shot now in their minds is the next one. And so, the whole preparation process begins once more.

Now compare this to your own game. How often do you rush shots because you loose concentration. Rotella does not say you should play slower, he simply says you need to have a short routine and you need to stick to it. How many times do you get annoyed and throw in the towel on a round, just because you aren’t going to shoot “lights out”. Well, if you are like a lot of people I know, you do it quite often. In short, Rotella will tell you that this is not the attitude of a champion and as such you will not be able to perform consistently like champions do if you adopt such an approach.

While Rotella’s “Your 15th Club” does not teach you anything about the fundamentals of the golf swing, I would encourage you to read the book if you want to improve as a golfer. However, reading the book alone is not enough because you need to absorb the information, think about what Rotella is saying and put into practice the advice he offers.

One of my favourite golf quotes which backs up Rotella’s claims is that from the great Bobby Jones who said “Golf is played on a five inch course - the distance between your ears”. Point taken!

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Unfortunately, Charl Schwartzel was a non-starter at the Championship so none of you would have been able to back him. Henrik Stenson has made a terrible start but will hopefully find form over the next few days and make it into the places. He has drifted from 8/1 however to 80/1.

Of the other mentions. Garcia, McIlroy, Wilson and Harrington all fared well and remain in contention. Harrington though has drifted to 20/1…testimony to my early article outlining that he generally starts slowly and can be got at better odds going into the second day of events.

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Defending Champ Martin Kaymer

World Number Two and Race to Dubai leader Sergio Garcia joins current Major Champions Padraig Harrington and Trevor Immelman as the headline acts in a high profile production for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the first leg of The European Tour’s exciting  three-week ‘Gulf Swing’.

With a ‘supporting’ cast containing 2007 champion Paul Casey, defending champion Martin Kaymer, eight time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie, World Number 12 Henrik Stenson and his Ryder Cup team-mates Miguel Angel Jiménez and Oliver Wilson, as well as rising stars  Ross Fisher and Rory McIlroy, the 2009 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship has genuine ‘blockbuster’ potential.

Henrik Stenson

With such a strong field at such an early part of the season, it is always difficult to pick a winner. It is worth noting though that Henrik Stenson (8/1) has yet to finish outside the top ten in his three previous starts at this track. He stays in the gulf now also so is well acclimatised to the conditions. Furthermore his form at the tail end of 2008 was excellent and if he maintains that he should contend strongly. He can also be backed at 11/8 to be the top ranked Scandanvian, which I think is a good bet.

Obviously, Sergio Garcia (8/1) and Padraig Harrington (13/1) can always be trusted to give you a run for your money. In terms of outsiders, Rory McIlroy (20/1) has had a strong start to The Race to Dubai and if he can bring his “A game”, he can challenge. Elsewhere, Ross Fisher (33/1) and Owen Wilson (50/1) look intriguing value.

However, my outside tip this week is Charl Schwartzel (40/1), who I also tipped last week and was placed. Charl is a long hitter which will stand him in good stead around here, is in good form and has finished in the top 10 twice in his last three appearances here. He certianly represents good value and is worth an each-way bet.

Therefore, Henrik Stenson (8/1) to reign supreme with Charl Schwartzel (40/1) occupying a top 5 finish.

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In 2003, amateur Michelle Wei became the youngest player to make a cut in an LPGA event at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, shooting a 66 in the 3rd round. This tied the amateur record for a women’s major championship, and placed her in the final group alongside Annika Sorenstam and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc. At 13 years of age, the world was her oyster and golf domination awaited the 6″1 athletic Hawaiian….or so you would have thought!

In 2004, she was invited to play on the men’s tour and only missed the cut by a single stroke at the Sony Open. She also finished 4th in the Kraft Nabisco Championship on the LPGA Tour, suggesting that it was only a matter of time before her first victory. If she had played the season as a professional, she would have earned $250,000.

Since then however, despite some excellent performances in the majors, she has flattered to deceive and has encountered various stumbling blocks, being accused of illegally dropping a golf ball in one tournament, controversially withdrawing from another and being disqulified from the State Farm Classic in 2008. She has had 9 caddies since her father stopped carrying her bag in 2004 and to date, she remains win-less.

In September 2008 however, she entered an LPGA Section Qualifying Tournament, where she finished 4th and advanced to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. Wei again performed well here, finishing in a tie for 7th and making her eligible to play on the LPGA Tour in 2009.

2009 could therefore be her year. The hype and expectation that comes with being a young prodigy seemed to have taken its toll but she now appears more focused than ever before. If she can remain focused on her golf and understand the commitment and sacrifices that need to be made in order to become a success on tour, she can undoubtedly fulfill her potential. I expect to see her win her first tournament this year on the LPGA Tour and to would go a step further to suggest that she has the talent, temperment, physique and the will to challenge for the number one spot in ladies golf.

If you would like to have your say, please leave a comment below, or alternatively you can email me at wegetgolf@gmail.com

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The demise of The "Wild Thing"

If anyone ever deserved his nickname, it is John Daly. The Wild Thing has filled the headlines since his rookie year on the PGA Tour in 1991. Daly was given a place in the USPGA Championship that year after Nick Price withdrew at the last moment. With Price’s caddie on the bag but without the luxury of a practice round, Daly stunned everybody with his incredible length off the tee to triumph by three strokes. He was the first golfer in 15 years to win a major in his rookie year. Daly didn’t stop there however. He added a second major championship in 1995 at St. Andrews, winning the Open Championship by 4 shots from Costantino Rocca.

Unfortunately though, these highlights seem to pale into comparison to his off the course (and even on-the-course) incidents. He has been divorced four times and has had at least three stints in rehab in his personal battle against alcoholism and has admittedly lost fortunes through gambling. During the 1998 Great Vancouver Open, Daly was visibly shaking as he tried to play, causing the television announcers to audibly wince at the sight. Between then and now, his career has been littered with incidents involving camera men, tour officials and ultimately, disqualifications. In March 2008, Daly’s swing coach Butch Harmon quit, saying that “the most important thing in [Daly's] life is getting drunk”.

The final insult came a few weeks ago when Daly confirmed he has been suspended from the US PGA Tour for at least 6 months following a drunken incident outside a Hooters restaurant. As a result, we in Europe will be seeing a lot more of him. However, what can we expect? Will we see him strutting the fairways alongside adoring fans after nailing another 350 yard drive? Unfortunately, the evidence would suggest otherwise.

John Daly is a man crying out for attention and it pains me to say he has become more of a circus act at this stage. The time has come to forget about the “Wild Thing”. He doesnt need professional golf right now and it doesnt need him. He needs help and he needs it away from the public eye. Otherwise, the talent and entertainer that is John Daly will surely be lost forever and that would be the biggest tragedy!

 John Daly Tees Off a Beer Can at Pro-Am

If you would like to have your say, please leave a comment or else contact me at wegetgolf@gmail.com

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This week, the Race to Dubai continues on the European Tour with the Joburg Open. The event was founded in 2007 and is played at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since it’s inauguration, the tournament has been co-sanctioned by the  European Tour and It is one of three tournaments in South Africa on the European Tour’s international schedule, alongside the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open.

In 2008, the event was contested over both the West and East courses for the first two rounds, enabling a large field of over 200 competitors, with the final two rounds being played over the East course following a cut to the top 65 and ties. Both courses are par 71 with the West measuring 7,119 yards and the East at 7,589 yards.

Argentinian Ariel Canete won the inaugural staging of the event with a winning total of 266, while South African Richard Sterne won the event in a play-off in 2008 with a combined total of 271 (-19). Retief Goosen is favourite, best priced at 7/1 with Richard Sterne (8/1) and Charl Schwartzel (12/1). For more odds just click here - http://www.oddschecker.com/golf/joburg-open/win-market

To keep up to date with the latest scores from what should be a close tournament or to learn more about the Joburg Open 2009, just visit the following link http://www.joburgopen.com/

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Due to his superb ball-striking ability and strong performance in last years majors and tour events, I fancy Sergio Garcia to perform very well this year. I will therefore have each-ways bets on him in each of the separate majors. Alternatively you could back him to win one of the four majors collectively. The best price on this is currently 7/2 which unfortunately isn’t great value in my view but if he doesn’t win the Masters, then the odds  of him winning one of the remaining three could become quite favourable.

Padraig Harrington is always a strong each-way contender in the majors and represents good value again in this years tournaments. He generally makes slow-average starts however, so it may be wise to wait until the second day to back him and avail of better odds. Other notables at decent odds to look out for this year in the majors are Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim and Boo Weekly.

The real standout bet this year though is on none other than the true master….Tiger Woods. He returns after his long lay-off with some doubting whether he can be the same again. He can and he will, because his insatiable hunger and desire to succeed is so great. He is priced at 8/13 in Ladbrokes to win a major which although odds-on, still represents fantastic value. I will certainly be taking advantage of these odds and would be truly amazed if I am not collecting winnings before the season is out. I suggest you  think about doing the same.

All odds to win a major in 2009 can be checked here - http://www.oddschecker.com/golf/season-special-bets/major-specials/to-win-a-major-in-2009

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And so it has arrived, my first betting post with tips to aid you before you place your bets. Having looked through various odds and websites I have come up with what I think are some very interesting tips (remember that this is simply my opinion and no liability will be accepted for lost best) for the year ahead so without further delay, here they are:

• Adam Scott has won on the PGA Tour in the past 6 years (although admittedly, his 2005 win in The Nissan Open was in a 36 hole shortened event). Therefore at 5/4, he stands out as great value to continue this winning streak on the PGA Tour in 2009 . Other worthwhile bets here have to be Boo Weekly at 2/1 and J.B.Holmes at 4/1. If you are really feeling like a punt, you might consider placing a treble on all of these to win in 2009 on the USPGA Tour. Click the following link for further odds http://bettingzone.oddschecker.com/golf/season-special-bets/pga-tour-money-list/to-win-a-pga-tour-event
• The Royal Trophy, which pits Europe against Asia in similar style to the Ryder Cup takes place from 9-11th January and Europe at 8/11 would appear to represent good value considering Europe have won the previous two stagings of the event.
• Rory McIlroy came oh so close last year and has had a fine start to the Race to Dubai this season. If he can sharpen up his putting, I believe he can win a European event in 2009 at odds of 10/11. He has to improve his putting in my opinion however before this will happen. I would be very surprised if Graeme MacDowell at 10/11 and Robert Karlsson at 4/7 especially, do not emerge as winners on Tour this year. Again, you could combine these tips to make up your own doubles or trebles - Click the following link for more odds http://bettingzone.oddschecker.com/golf/season-special-bets/race-to-dubai/to-win-a-european-tour-event
• The Joburg Open takes place from 8-11th January and popular outside bets being touted are Mark Murless and Tyrone Mordt. Mark Murless is the local lad and has yet to finish outside the top 5 in his two previous starts at this event so at 80/1 is surely worth a gamble. This is also Tyrone Mordts home track so he will know the course well. After a decent top 10 finish at the Dunhill event in December, he is also carrying a bit of form. Odds of 125/1 are staggering. I would be a little more conservative however and back him at 15/1 for a top 10 finish, if you are looking for a punt. Charl Schwartzel at 12/1 is a player I like and certainly worth serious consideration. http://www.oddschecker.com/golf/joburg-open/win-market

Well thats it for now. Tomorrow I will be posting my tips for the first US tournament of the year, The Mercedes-Benz Championship as well as my “top top tip for 2009″ so be sure to check the site. I will also post a quick intro and overview of the professional tournaments taking place this week including previous winners, full odds etc.

If you have any bets that you think are screaming good value or disagree with any of my tips, please leave a comment. Nothing like a good debate. If you would like to contact me, please email wegetgolf@gmail.com

Happy punting!

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