Sunday

Betting without the stripey one

Magnolia Lane, Augusta Georgia. Scene of a thousand cliches. Amen Corner. Ugly fast food restaurants line the streeets. Members badges are rarer than the rarest of hen's teeth. Drinks cups are green, the water's dyed blue. Winner gets to choose the menu (Tiger must be running short on ideas by now). Bigger than Easter, it's the Masters and any right minded golfnut is setting the alarm clock and ready to go for four days of unmissable TV.

Tiger will win, obviously, but from a punting point of view, we're really keen on the "betting without the big five" market from Betfair and have made a very late New Year's resolution to pick some fresh faces for this year.

There's no way that Adam Scott, Sergio, Weir and Immelman/Sabbatini (always get them mixed up) can win, even if they're two or three ahead with a few to go. Less bottle between them than your average new fangled dairy. There's a whole bunch of faceless Yanks who won't win, Howell III, Campbell and Henry to name three. Loads more losers I can;t be bothered to type...just look at the last few Ryder Cup teams for clues.

I reckon we're looking at an overseas winner this year, but unless Vijay finds his old putter, think it might be a first time major winner.

Henrik Stenson is quietly becoming one of the worlds best. Holing the winnning putt in the ryder cup was good, but as WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPION he must have something. He still doesn't have the profile he deserves, (a bit like the mighty Kevin Morgan who was again the best XV in the 6 nations)but that just means better prices for us. Must be a chance.

Ditto for Geoff Ogilvy. Way overpriced when compared to his Burberry wearing choking fellow countryman. We'll hope for 80/1 or more.

And whilst real outsiders aren't really the go at the Masters, Kenny Ferrie at 1000/1 now is worth a penny of any currency and of course the Howler at 250/1 tooo good to miss...by the way, smudge the ticket and you can be on David Howell and Charles Howell III...your local Corals won't know...

We'll probably put a few quid on Fred...for old times sake...

Bring it on...

Wednesday

Have you heard the one about...


...the golf tipster who started his year with tipping the Bob Hope Classic?. No Tiger, No Vijay, No Michelle Wie. Let's have a look at the Honours board for the last few years. Perhaps we'll have a few of the hard earned on Andrew Magee or David Bergianio Jr? (who he?). Dammit, even Jesper Parnevik did well here last year when Chad Campbell lumbered to victory.

It's the Bob Hope, it's a New Year, so let's start with comedy names. The whole thing's a lottery. All you can be sure of is that Bill Murray will be hilarious. Ooh my sides...

In the name of comedy if nothing else, have a few quid on one of golf's great new names. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Mr Boo Weekley. He's not a rookie but has been on the Nationwide Tour. And it's really funny that his name sounds like Lara Bingle's favourite men's magazine. (Imagine if his wife was called Soo?) Honestly, we don't know much else about the Boomeister. The best the PGA website can give is that he's 6 foot and right handed. Go Boo!

Picking a real winner here is tough as ever. There's no real form, the fat Controller is predictably clear favourite having won here a few times and even Betfair are chalking up people like John Senden at 30/1 based on a top 6 finish in 2005. Even Jesper's only 40/1...

So we'll obviously have a dab on Fred at the 100/1 on offer and despite NY resolutions will take the 95/1 on JB. Our long shot money goes on the man who is leading greens in regulation and has the experieince and patience to get the job done, Kirk Triplett. Look out for that bucket hat being raised come Sunday arvo. You can get 140/1 at time of writing. Small change only, we're saying. Welcome back!