Tuesday

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends...

Golf is a game like no other. No matter how many times you've played your home course, every round is different, from the moment you launch your first tee shot hopefully into the green yonder till the putt drops into the cup on 18.

You may know the layout of the holes back to front and understand the subtle borrows of every green, but despite all that, from the moment your first shot comes to rest, every round is different. A first hole birdie and your stomach is full of excited butterflies. A six or more and you're questioning your swing thoughts...

This blog is a collection of observations and lessons learnt in 40 years of playing the game, including many enjoyable years launching and publishing some of the worlds best known golf magazines. I reckon I've seen thousands of game improvement articles, heard tips and advice from the greatest players and teachers in the game and seen my handicap fluctuate from 5.7 all the way up to the high teens. 

The one thing I learned from my time in golf magazines was that every handicap golfer, no matter his skill or handicap all wanted to be a few shots better. Only 10% of the worlds golfers play off an elusive single figure handicap and most of them are either playing and practicing regularly or already possess a deadly short game. 

This blog is for the rest of us. 

A ten handicapper dreams of playing off single figures, while the 21 handicapper is working towards a handicap that no longer gives him or her two shots on the hardest hole. Whilst it might help to get 38 stableford points, no self respecting golfer wants to be that person who gets two shots on any hole. 

Veteran commentator Peter Alliss has long felt that the maximum handicap for any golfer should be 18, as in one shot per hole. I think I secretly agree. 


Two shots better?

It's a phrase from the research we did on Today's Golfer.

Very early on we learned that golfers didn't care about being a scratch player. They just wanted to be "2 shots better". It's a great phrase. So good, I decided to name my company in its honour.

Welcome.

Thursday

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...

Wednesday

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....

Sunday

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...