Early doors, Stricker for a "two-peat"

Who would have guessed ten years ago that this week's two top sports stories would be about Tiger Woods spitting and an Italian headbutting the hardest footballer I ever saw?

Ah well, both stories are more newsworthy than Darren "DA" Points (for it is he) winning on tour. Anyone that took the two billion to one on offer, well done. Now give it up and retire. Lightning does not strike twice. Mind you I did once get 200/1 about Thomas Levet after 36 holes at Loch Lomond, but I digress.

This week at Riviera, Steve Stricker is the obvious choice. He won last year in similar conditions, he's hard as nails and has already had two top ten finishes in 2011. Mickleson is in the field so you can get 14/1. Me, I'm going to wait until Saturday morning.

Betfair crazy odds tip this week is Charlie Wi. 300/1 when the local TAB say just 151. Double it up with the Rebels to beat the Tahs...you knows it...

Age shall not weary...

Still early days and punters the world over will be writing the words Dustin and Johnson on betting slips as he lines up for what your American cousins and only them call a three-peat. It's never been done before and it's Dustin. $7?Three good reasons to say No thanks in my book.

Last weeks form is intriguing. Watney has his hoof on the till, JB and Snedeker are looking like good outsiders and of course a certain P Mickleson (what's he doing here?) could just gap them. Shame G Mac's not here, but we can wait...

I'm going for someone this week who definitely has age on his side. Someone who told the press room on Sunday night that whatever he was doing was "working". For a man who has won a squintrillion dollars on tour with a great record here, that's good enough for me, especially when he had a top ten last week with almost 120 putts over the four days. Officially known as "the hardest practicer on tour" I'm off to the TAB to take the each way odds of 34/1 on SINGH, VIJAY.

Good luck all...

Waste Management?

Welcome back. The season hasn't really started yet and I for one can't claim to be licking my lips at the prospect of the Waste Management Classic when the far more important prospect of our boys in red beating them again looms large. So no bets this week.

But I will give you my "five to follow" for all of you who are just about to start a tipping comp.

Martin Kaymer is the star waiting in the wings this year. Robert Lee described his win in the Middle East as the best four rounds of golf ever played. 1 bogey in four rounds including 18 holes in the worst of the weather? Reckon he'll win a major. Maybe more than one...

I was also really impressed by two Americans in the Ryder Cup, Jeff Overton and Ricky Fowler. They'd both be good bets for a matchplay event in a few weeks time?

And of course, can't get past two other Ryder cuppers, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. Again, wonder how many they'll win?

I'll be leaving Tiger, Adam Scott, Charles Howell and Sergio for a while....

Back in the USA

Sorry. We've been away for a while. The news on Topping is good. Off to a Class 2 this week. He'll win.

Love betting on the last round of a US tour event, epecially when the top of the leaderboard is full of players who haven't won on tour. Can Fowler get it done? The $1.79 on Betfair seems a bit skinny to say the least, but assuming he, Barnes and Petrovic all get the wobbles, there's some huge prices on Betfair for players who are more used to making winners speeches.

Right now you can get 100/1 plus on O'Hair, Overton, Perry and McIlroy. 65/1 on Phil and if you're a real punter, 280/1 on T Woods and Jason Day....on a course where Barnes shot 10 under yesterday....

Fowler may well shoot five under and stroll home. But then again...

Sweet and heady

Sorry about this, but on the eve of the big man's return to pro golf, I'm backing Ryan Palmer again. Three doubles and too many bogeys meant that he didn't finish in the top 10 in the Crosby marathon but one round of 8 under was enough to show he's still in the game.

You're welcome to the 8/1 on offer about Mickleson on his return but we'll be taking the 140/1 about the Hawaii winner. And on the subject of Hawaii, we'll be saying "no thanks" to the 25/1 about Allenby. Claw or not, he can't win.

Big bet of the weekend is at Australian racing's spiritual home and the logic for our tip is this. She's never lost when we've backed her. Plus the form was franked solid when Set for Fame whooshed home last weekend. 7/1 seems a big, big price and whilst there are some talented sprinters in the field, this girl is something very special.

So a few bob on Ryan Palmer and a few more, in fact all you can afford on our official second favourite horse, Irish Lights. Go, you good thing...

Back with a bang?

So that's Hawaii out of the way, now on to the season proper. Only a week to wait and meantime, it's the annual Bing Crosby Celebrity marathon. No doubt we'll be treated to clips of Bill Murray, Kevin Costner and random football jocks goofing around various private courses set in improbable surroundings? Can hardly wait.

It's not normally a betting proposition as the celebs do tend to get in the way plus, as usual, it's a less than stellar field. So much so that even the TAB have opened at $17 the field. With Charles Howell III rated only $24. He can't win, surely.

I'm really surprised that last weeks winner Ryan Palmer is $51. He was solid down the stretch this week including a near chip in for eagle at eighteen that put poor old Allenby's fragile putting stroke in the spotlight. The rest is history. Back to back wins are rare but it's a poor field and he's in form.

Happy New Year and giddy up...