Plenty of value in opposing Stricker Slam

Some punters will not look past Steve Stricker when betting on the John Deere Classic and that is understandable given that he has won the tournament in each of the last three years and wants to complete the Stricker Slam in 2012.

Only five times in history has a golfer won the same event four times in a row. Tom Morris Junior did it first, winning the Open Championship in 1868, 1869, 1870 and 1872. Walter Hagen matched Morris with PGA Championship victories in 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927. Gene Sarazen took out the Miami Open in 1926, 1928, 1929 and 1930. Recently, Tiger Woods has achieved the feat twice, dominating from the Bay Hall Invitational from 2000 to 2003 inclusive and the Buick Invitational from 2005 to 2008 inclusive. Stricker is bidding to join this most exclusive of golf clubs.

Stricker, who has averaged 65.33 strokes per round at TPC Deere Run in his three John Deere Classic-winning years, is a fine golfer who has won 20 professional tournaments, spent more than 200 weeks in the world`s top 10 and made the cut in each of the last 10 major championships. But he is plenty short enough at around 7-1 to his fourth John Deere Classic.

At the pre-tournament odds, four golfers make more betting appeal than Stricker. The first of those is Jonathan Byrd, who is freely available at 20-1 to make the John Deere Classic his first win of 2012 and his sixth career title.

Byrd won the 2007 John Deere Classic and arrives in Illinois having made the cut on each of his last seven stars, a run that includes five top-25 finishes. The five-time PGA Tour winner shot many birdies in last week`s Greenbrier Classic and looks set for a good week on a course that he likes.

Sean O`Hair, easy to punt at around 40-1, is another man to watch. Winner of the 2005 John Deere Classic, he returns to the event after three years away. The Texan is one of the PGA Tour`s best birdie manufacturers and he travels to TPC Deere Run off the back of two eye-catching performances, including a tie for seventh in the Greenbrier Classic.

John Senden is another former John Deere Classic winner, with the Australian`s time in the sun coming in 2006. And that was no in flash in the pan as he proved by sharing 12th place two years ago. The 41-year-old from Brisbane is famous for his ball-striking ability and that is a skill that is a requirement at TPC Deere Run. At around 40-1 and refreshed having not played since finished tied for 10th in the US Open, Senden stands out among the betting frontrunners.

The final golfer for the John Deere Classic shortlist is Tim Clark, who punters can bet at around 33-1. The South African has done everything except win the event, running second, 18th and seventh in 2007, 2008 and 2010 respectively. Back in form after having surgery on his right elbow this time last year, the Penguin can swim with the big fish.

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11/07/2012     © Frixo 2024