Jim Furyk favourite?

Gritty, Gutsy, other words starting with "G", all being used by journo's all over the world to describe Jim Furyk's 11th tour win at the Wachovia (it's a bank!) last week. We're never surprised to see Jim Furyk win but we're definitely a little taken aback to see that he is favourite to back up at this week at the Byron Nelson. Favourite? With that swing?...

We've been away but we're back (back!) and shedding few tears about missing Chris Couch (who he) and his maiden win on tour. Well done Chris. Goodness knows how much dosh we would have wasted assuming you'd blow it down the stretch. Phew.

This week we're on familiar territory at the Byron Nelson, one of the tour's most regular venues. Unlike previous years this years field hasn't attracted the top five in the money list (hence Furyk being favourite) but despite stellar fields every year, this is a tournament with more than a smattering of surprise winners. From Ted Purdy's maiden win last year (1 from 172) to Robert Damron gifting the 2004 prize to Sergio in a play off, this tournament has also seen Shigeiki Maruyama's finest hour, so I guess we'll be ripping the form book up. Again.

If there is one thing you can say about winners of this tournament, they're probably hitting it straighter than average and they'd need to shoot 15 under or better to win. Stuart Appleby flew out of the gates last year with an opening 63, proving that low scores are out there and both Singh and Purdy, the eventual winner shot 65 on the final afternoon.

Whenever someone asks for straight, we always lean to Luke Donald. A proven winner on tour, he's an obvious pick and has had the benefit of a few weeks away from the tour. It's a Ryder Cup year and he'll be keen to cement his position in the team, presumably as a captains pick. Currently available at 28/1, good value and we'll be having a few dollars on.

As we will on JB. For 150 good reasons. Yes, we know he's gone off a little since his first win, but again, this is a relatively poor field and he's just so long, any course that rewards length and he has to come into consideration. Go J.B.Holmes. We need the money...