Tournament Matchups WGC-CA and Puerto Rico Open [B]The WGC-CA Championship [/B]is held at the newly named TPC Blue Monster at the Doral Golf Spa and Resort. Basically it's still the Blue Monster. The par 72 layout will play at 7,266 yards and is a bombers track, windy, always has been, just look at the previous winners: Tiger, Phil, Ogilvy etc. There is rain in the forecast.
The field is only 68 players. There is no cut this week, which means guaranteed money. Some players do well in this format others are happy to get a check.
Having said that, the field is tight and all the matchups are easy to make and I have not found much in this event to fire on.
[B]Soren Hansen +100 [/B]vs. Thongchai Jaidee
Jaidee will be one of those players that will be happy to cash this week. Sure, he has played OK to date, but he is short off the tee and in four rounds here in '07 he could not break 70. Hansen has IMO one of the best swings in the game, he is smooth and very long. LY he was T13 and fired the best round of anyone a 64 on Sat.
[B]Sergio Garcia +100[/B] vs. Retief Goosen
Sergio loves Latin Miami and was T33 here last year. He plays well on Bermuda Grass and well during the Florida swing. The Goose has not played in the past two weeks, may be a bit rusty, but we know he has been doing TV work at Innisbrook where next week he is the defending Champion of the Transitions Championship and with a no cut, 4 day event, I see this week as a tune-up. He finished T66 here last year.
[B]Puerto Rico Open[/B]
I love these secondary PGA Tour tournaments! You have the worst players on Tour trying to make a cut.
The Trump International GC in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico hosts this event for the third time. Michael Bradley believe it or not won last year at -14 under par. An interesting fact about this tournament is that it features 18 water hazards, which is more than any other course the PGA Tour competes. Players wild off the tee or pulling their approach shots are in the drink.
[B]Chad Collins -140 [/B]vs. Shigeki Maruyama
The "Smilin Assassin" has not participated much on the PGA Tour in the past three years due to injuries, poor results and his disdain for American golf and American cuisine. He is concentrating his efforts on the Japan Tour.
Collins is another sharp rookie who has not missed a cut this year and has two Top 10's.
[B]Bryce Molder -160 [/B]vs. Shigeki Maruyama
Molder has back to back top 10's and IMO should be the favorite to win this tournament. He is THE best putter on Tour bar none.
Our strategy betting two matchups against one player is this: It is very easy to play bad golf. It is much more difficult to play top notch golf. When a player is going through swing changes, injuries, time off, rust or just plain struggling with his game, we will bet multiple matchups against him and will produce many more 2-0 results than 0-2 and at worst we project one of our guys will be on top. Conversely, if we really like a player that week, we'll bet on him in only one matchup against the weakest matchup we can find. This has been a very successful move over many years.
[B]I have also played Alex Prugh -130 over John Merrick....BUT this line has gone through the roof already and is now -180 in places and obviously do not recommend at that price, I would play it at or if it comes down to -150 or less.[/B]
