Course specialists better value than Woods

The Greenbrier Classic in West virginia is the next stop on the PGA Tour circuit and Tiger Woods, winner of two of the last three PGA Tour events in which he has competed, will start as the hot title favourite at around the 7-2 mark.

There is little doubt that Woods is back to his best and it is only a matter of time before the 14-time major champion leapfrogs Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood to become the world`s top-ranked golfer once again.

Some punters may argue that Woods represents decent value at 7-2. After all, he has won three of the 11 PGA Tour events in which he has participated this year for a strike rate of 27 per cent, which is the betting equivalent of 11-4.

But Woods is a newcomer to The Old White TPC course on which the Greenbrier Classic will take place for the third year in a row and, therefore, he is passed over at short odds.

At around 16-1, US Open champion Webb Simpson is the general Greenbrier Classic second favourite and one for the punting portfolio. He spent some of last year`s edition at the top of the leaderboard before finishing tied for ninth, two shots behind Scott Stallings, Bob Estes and Bill Haas.

Simpson missed the Greenbrier Classic cut in 2010 - only two men shot worse two-round scores - but substantial changes were made to The Old White TPC layout between the 2010 and 2011 tournaments, rendering the 2011 results more relevant when analysing who to back to take out the 2012 renewal.

Freshened up by a well earned week off, Simpson has the kind of PGA Tour statistics that suggest he will be a Greenbrier Classic chance. The Old White TPC course suits tee-to-green specialists who are much better than the norm with the flat stick. The 26-year-old North Carolina native ranks 12th in greens in regulation and first in birdie average.

Brendon de Jonge has the best course form of anyone in the field. The Zimbabwean shot 17 under par to finish third in the 2010 Greenbrier Classic and, 12 months later after The Old White TPC layout had been toughened up considerably, fired nine under par to share fourth with four other men.

De Jonge is a consistent performer - he has made the cut 17 times in his 20 PGA Tour appearances this year and arrives in West virginia off the back of ties for eighth and 11th - whose first victory surely is not that far away. At around 33-1, the 31-year-old African is a value proposition.

Jimmy Walker is another proven commodity on The Old White TPC course. Joint fourth both in the Greenbrier Classic of 2010 and the Greenbrier Classic of 2011, he is around 50-1 to make the Greenbrier Classic of 2012 his maiden win.

Walker has not been in contention for a PGA Tour title since this February when he finished the Northern Trust Open in a tie for fourth but he averages 67 on The Old White TPC layout. Also, he is one of best putters in the field.

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03/07/2012     © Frixo 2024