Is that a new golf course?

Legend has it that in 1995 or thereabouts, someone asked Sandy Lyle what he thought of Tiger Woods. Sandy thought it was the name of a new golf course. Mind you, when bumping into Tony Jacklin at Orlando airport later that year, Sandy's answer to Tony's question "where are you off to" was "the toilet".

Lyle notwithstanding, could anybody now disagree that Tiger is not just the greatest golfer of all time, but possibly, just possibly the greatest sportsman ever?

Last Sunday was just ridiculous. Ask Sean O'Hair. But no more ridiculous than the US Open on one leg. Or that chip in at 16 at the Masters with the Nike logo poised over the cup.

Tiger Woods. Greatest. Sportsman. Ever. And yes, 3/1 was great value....that subject, my dear Twittering friends, is now closed.

leader of the gang

Charlie Wi repaid our faith appearing in the top five last week to cap off a great week on the punt. No golf bets this week, especially not the 3/1 about Tiger!

Off to Caulfield today for yet another day of racing dominated by leaders. The last few meetings at the track have been ridiculous with front runners slushing home at ridiculous prices. If you're studying the card, look for horse with winning form at the track and distance. Ignore the bookies prices!

To save you all the time and effort, here's the best bets today.

Sandhill Prince is the best bet of the day in race three. It will lead and win and you should get each way odds. The next best bet of the day is Stokehouse in race 8. Each way punters should have a look at Quizzical Lady in the fourth, Rich Esprit in the fifth and Riva San in the next. The good news is that Alf Matthews doesn't tip any of them...

Running hot?

I played with Nathan Green once. Well, more accurately, I caddied for a mexican pro whose name escapes me who was paired in the Jacobs Creek with the Novocastrian. I remember being blown away by Nathan Green's ordinariness (and his huge caddie who grunted at me all the way round). Green's game was reminiscent of Peter Alliss...hit it down the middle somewhere, knock it on the green, putt it close and hole out...easy. Tidy but bottom line, he's not the man you'd expect to be shooting for the lead in the USA.

But he is. He's three shots off the Furyk action and I've backed him at 330/1. Trevor Immelman, another of my picks, is in the clubhouse at 3 under and he's safely backed at 200/1. But in the week when I left Cheltenham with a bunch of twenty's it's Chris Couch we'll be watching tomorrow after taking the 1000/1 on Betfair. Couchy started with four birdies till he woke up limping home to a 70, one under par.

Wish I had Sky TV when I'm travelling. Justin TV and I are about to become good friends. Go Couchy!

Cheltenham Festival!

Was I the only punter who attended Randwick and Cheltenham in the same week? There's nothing like the Festival and once again, from the 9.30 train journey filled with eager punters through to the terrific card of racing it lived up to all expectations.

Well more, actually, thanks to an inspired selection in the last race, where my tenner on Andytown returned an unbelievable 317 pounds return after an easy win. And this coming after my old mate Tom backed a 22/1 winner earlier in the day and we both had a few bob on a 10/1 winner. As they say round here "ay ay"...

If I'd had my wits about me, I'd have backed the forecast in the first as well, but I didn't. Still, is there any better feeling in the world than getting home with your pockets bulging with bookie's cash? I've not come across it yet....

Transition sir?

A blank sheet last week, but at least the boyos scraped home in Rome. Scraped being the operative word. This week the PGA boyos go to one of Florida's toughest courses for the bizarrely named transitions champonship. There's probably a good reason for the name, but who cares...

This week is all about value for mine. The experts on PGA.com are tipping Furyk and O'Hair who are the obvious choices on form and track record and there's sniffilings around Calcavecchia and Petterson who again have previous race form round course and distance. Implausibly, there's also a tip on PGA.com for Adam Scott. He can't win.

My short list for the week reflects the fact that this is a tough players course rather than the usual American tournament layout. Perhaps that brings Brian Davis into play at huge odds? Nathan Green? James Nitties? Trevor Immelman? They're all out there at three figure odds, so all worth a look.

Nick Watney is 38/1. Seems big. On a course where a score of 4 under can win, this will be tough. But we're backing Charlie Wi again after a reasonable performance last year. It's not a great field and he's 80/1. Take your pick and good luck...

Tiger, tiger burning blue...

We're back, back (back!). Have to admit I get distracted during the 6 nations but a six hour stopover en route to the Land of My Fathers does wonders for the writers block. The tour's off to the Blue Monster in Dural and according to the experts we're going to see a win for Tiger, Phil or...Allenby? Eh? Here's a pop quiz. Which one of that trio can't putt for toffee?

Despite Tiger being Tiger and winning here over half the times he's turned up, he's just no odds for a 72 hole marathon. Not when you can get the same price for a place on the favourite in the Triumph Hurdle. And as for Allenby, I'm saying he'll be paired with Scott at the end of the tournament, possibly rushing breakfast on the final day.

I was really impressed with Lee Westwood last week. Striking it crisply, swinging back to his best, he's terrific value at 60/1. As is Justin Rose who despite form is never a 125/1 shot. But the real value, form and price is just dead obvious this week.

Vijay Singh finished tied eleventh and second in the last two years and has been in the top 10 at the CA Championship in five of his eight starts. Whilst he's been a bit Allenby like with the putter recently, he's currently ranked 10th in greens in regulation. Best of all, he's three times the price of the Fat Controller and 10 times the price of the King. Each Way? I should coco...