Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, PGA Tour & Turkish Airlines Open, European Tour

Hi All, 

A pretty solid start for the new improved service, seeing us ending the week in profit; with 4/1 and 9/2 bets landing in the World Golf Championship event in China, and also 3/1 and 11/1 bets landing in America. 

Had a lot of positive feedback regarding the higher variety of markets we use, and also having an in play shot midway through the tournaments, these certainly have added to the excitement and diversity of the service; and we were definably pleased with the first week, and the fact it fits perfectly into our long-term points system only adds to the potential going forwards. 

Moving on to this week, where we have concentrated on the 2 main tours, a write up for each event inclusive of some recommended bets can be found below: -

Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, PGA Tour – 10 pts Outlay 

At TPC Summerlin , 7,255 yards, par 71 – Thursday November 3rd to Sunday November 6th Now in its 25th year as a PGA TOUR venue, the 1991 collaboration of Bobby Weed and two-time major champion Fuzzy Zoeller was carved from rugged Nevada desert to join what was then a three course rotation for the Las Vegas stop. It became the sole venue in 2008 as part of a tournament restructuring. TPC Summerlin meanders through arroyos and canyons leading to a four-hole closing stretch packed with risk/reward – the drivable par-4 15th, the par-5 16th, the water-lined par-3 17th and a strong par-4 18th hole to finish with. 

PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker and U.S. Ryder Cup teammates Brooks Koepka, J.B. Holmes and Ryan Moore top a line-up that features six of the top 36 in the current world rankings. Winning Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III makes his first start since being elected to the World Golf Fall of Fame. Current Hall of Famers Ernie Els and Vijay Singh also are entered. Wesley Bryan, a three-time winner on the Web.com Tour last year, makes his second start of his PGA Tour rookie season. 

Recent trends have shown Las Vegas to be a prime locale to add another first-time winner to the list. Patton Kizzire already has a runner-up finish this season at the Safeway Open, and Derek Fathauer was third when the Tour stopped in Malaysia earlier this month. Former champions Ryan Moore and Kevin Na head a strong Las Vegas delegation that seeks to keep the trophy in town again. Also among more than a half-dozen Vegas residents are Charley Hoffman, Scott Piercy, Nick Watney and Alex Cejka. Moore and Bryson DeChambeau give the event two of just five men to win the U.S. Amateur and NCAA individual titles in the same year. The others are Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. Smylie Kaufman will try to become just the second man to claim back-to-back titles in Las Vegas, accomplished by Jim Furyk in 1998 and 1999.

Advised Bets (10pts): - 

Outright Market (5pts) – NAP - RYAN MOORE 18/1 (StanJames) 1.25 pts EW 

NB - SCOTT PIERCY 28/1 (StanJames) 0.75pt EW 

IWAC - KEVIN STREELMAN 50/1 (StanJames) 0.5pt EW 

Top 10 Market (2pts) – KEVIN STREELMAN 7/1 (BetVictor) 1 pt 

PATTON KIZZIRE 6/1 (StanJames) 1 pt 

Top 20 Market (3pts) – ALEX CEJKA 4/1 (BetVictor) 1 pt WEBB SIMPSON 4/1 (StanJames) 1 pt 
 NICK WATNEY 4/1 (BetVictor or WilliamHill) 1 pt

Turkish Airlines Open, European Tour – 10 pts Outlay

At Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort, 7,127 yards, par 71 – Thursday, November 3rd to Sunday, November 6th 

Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort is home to Turkey’s first heathland inspired golf course, designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the international golf course design practice founded by five times British Open Champion Peter Thomson. 

Located close to the Mediterranean Sea in Antalya’s Belek region, the par 71 layout measures 7,127 yards from the championship tees. The golf course, which is hosting a European Tour event for the first time, is set on undulating sand hills with free flowing holes running through a pine forest. More than one million heather plants have been added to the existing areas of indigenous heather to create Carya’s distinctive look.

 As on traditional heathland courses, a tactical approach is required, and finding the correct side of the fairway to attack the green is often more important than distance off the tee. The greens are large, undulating and fast. Many feature multiple plateaus, creating ‘greens within greens’.

Two-time winner Dubuisson will defend his crown in a new location as a field of 78 players gathers at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort from November 3rd -6 th . Portugal Masters champion Padraig Harrington, who won his first European Tour title since the 2008 US PGA Championship with that victory in the Algarve is making his first appearance at the tournament since 2013. Other notable entrants include 2016 Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett and Tyrrell Hatton, the winner of this season’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. European Ryder Cup players Andy Sullivan and Lee Westwood will also compete, alongside vice-captain, Paul Lawrie.

Advised Bets (10pts): - 

Outright Market (5pts) – NAP - BERND WIESBERGER 12/1 (PaddyPower) 1.25 pts EW

 NB – ALEXANDER LEVY 28/1 (PaddyPower) 0.75pt EW

 IWAC – LUCAS BJERREGAARD 80/1 (PaddyPower) 0.5pt EW 

Top 10 Market (1pts) – LUCAS BJERREGAARD 15/2 (BetFred) 1 pt 

Top 20 Market (4pts) – JULIEN QUESNE 3/1 (BetVictor) 1 pt 

 LEE SLATTERY 4/1 (Bet365 or BetVictor) 1 pt 

 RAPHAEL JACQUELIN 3/1 (SkyBet, BetFred or Coral) 1 pt 

 JUSTIN WALTERS 4/1 (General) 1 pt 

*MULTIPLE* (1pt) - Ryan Moore (Shriners Hospitals for Children Open) & Bernd Wiesberger (Turkish Airlines Open) 299/1 (Coral) 0.5pts EW DOUBLE

NOTE: As per usual, please do be careful and aware of who you are betting with for the golf, amazingly a lot of the higher profile companies change week by week on what place terms they offer. This week on the PGA Tour StanJames are offering places on the top 6 at 1/4 odds, so we will be staying with them for the EW shots! For the European Tour event, PaddyPower are offering top 6 places at 1/5 odds, so that’s why I have advised staying with them for the outright market bets. 

This Week’s TOTAL Outlay: 25 pts 

Hope you have a good week, and good luck to all those following, 

Stu 

@PriestleyStuart 

sjpriestley_pga@btinternet.com

Portugal Masters European Tour 2016

Hi All, 

Another week, and another hard luck story, with half the selections placing inside the top 4 of their respective tournaments! Casey, Bland and Fleetwood in firm contention throughout the duration of both events! The door being firmly knocked on now, with places coming ten a penny, the winner has to be around the corner. We lost a small number of points due to dead heat rules, which saw us end up just 1 point down for the week, and with the return of investment still over the 40% figure for the year, we are doing pretty good, and hopefully you are all enjoying following as we come into the final few months of the service being free of charge. 

On that note; there have been a couple of different sites that have contacted me regarding taking on board my service for next year onwards, and discussions are still ongoing, but as soon as I have any concrete information about the cost and location of my service I will of course let you all know. On to this week; and I have concentrated my attentions on the Portugal Masters, at a venue I know well and enjoy; the article inclusive of selections can be found below: - 

Portugal Masters, European Tour – 25 pts Outlay 

At Victoria Club, 7,146 yards, par 71 – Thursday October 20th to Sunday October 23rd 

Designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer and first opened in 2004, the Victoria Clube de Golfe Course is a championship layout that measures 7,146 yards and plays to a par of 71. One of five courses at Vilamoura, the Victoria Clube de Golfe hosted the World Cup of Golf back in 2005, when Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge of Wales triumphed. 

With generous fairways and gentle rough, there are plenty of birdies to be had but with several lakes and hazards framing the course, there is certainly a risk-and-reward element to many holes. Great care has been taken to ensure the preservation of the surrounding wetlands and natural vegetation, including carob, olive and almond trees. 

A field packed with Ryder Cup stars, European Tour winners and home-grown heroes will descend on the Algarve for the tenth edition of the Portugal Masters. Record-breaking rookie Thomas Pieters and defending champion Andy Sullivan will bring Ryder Cup pedigree to Victoria Clube de Golfe, together with three men who formed part of Europe’s backroom team at Hazeltine National, Thomas Bjørn, Padraig Harrington and Paul Lawrie. The duo will be joined in Vilamoura by in-form Swede Alex Noren, who has won three titles this year, including last week at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, and his compatriot José Maria Olazábal. 

Having been side-lined for 18 months since last year’s Masters, a tournament he won on two occasions, Olazábal will continue his comeback from injury in the Algarve. Ricardo Gouveia, currently 93rd in the Race to Dubai and virtually guaranteed a place on the European Tour next term, will lead the home challenge.

NAP – THOMAS PIETERS 8/1 (Bet365 & BetVictor) 10 pts WIN 

IWAC – TOMMY FLEETWOOD 16/1 (PaddyPower) 2.5 pt EW

OTHER FANCIES – NICOLAS COLSAERTS 22/1 (PaddyPower) 1pt EW & ANTHONY WALL 35/1 

(PaddyPower) 1pt EW 

NOTE: As per usual, please do be careful and aware of who you are betting with for the golf, amazingly a lot of the higher profile companies change week by week on what place terms they offer. This week at the Portugal Masters PaddyPower are offering places on the top 7 at 1/5 odds, so we will be staying with them for our each-way terms.

Note: *NB – ALEXANDER LEVY 14/1 (PaddyPower) 3 pts EW WITHDRAWN

Replacement Bet: HIDEKI MATSUYAMA - CIMB Classic (PGA Tour), PaddyPower paying top 6 at 14/1 3 pts EW 

This Week’s Outlay – 25 pts

Hope you have a good week, and good luck to all those following, 

Stu 

@PriestleyStuart 

sjpriestley_pga@btinternet.com

Safeway Open - PGA Tour & British Masters European Tour 2016

Hi All, 

Those of you who were following the updates via twitter would of know that last week was nearly a tremendous week, at the half-way and three-quarter stage we had the top 15 flooded with players, but a fantastic weekend of golf from England’s Tyrell Hatton really took the tournament away from anyone; with only Fisher in 2nd and Wiesberger in 7th seeing us secure some place money. A tough week on tour to select for, with 168 pros teeing it up, so to have all 7 selections make the cut, and 5 of them to finish inside the top 20 was a pretty good effort. 

Moving on, and amazing to the start of the new season on The PGA Tour, with also The British Masters being played just on the outskirts of London; this week’s article inclusive of some advised bets can be found below: -

Safeway Open, PGA Tour – 11 pts Outlay 

At Silverado Resort & Spa, 7,203 yards, par 72 – Thursday October 13th to Sunday October 16th 

Once the estate of a Civil War general and later U.S. senator from California, the Napa Valley property was transformed into a resort in the 1960s and Robert Trent Jones Jr. signed to build two 18-hole courses. The PGA TOUR arrived shortly thereafter, launching the Kaiser International in 1968 to begin a 13-year run at the resort. Silverado later was part of the Champions Tour schedule as host of The Transamerica from 1989-2002. Hall of Famer Johnny Miller and two partners bought Silverado in 2010, with Miller quickly overseeing an overhaul of both courses. 

Tiger Woods, ending a 14-month injury layoff from competition, and Phil Mickelson serve as headliners for the opening event of the 2016-17 season, joined by three other players from among the top 25 in the world rankings. World No.12 Paul Casey is the highest ranked in the line-up. Mickelson and U.S. teammate Matt Kuchar are the only Ryder Cup competitors to sign up for the new season's opener. Jon Rahm, who earned his PGA TOUR card via sponsor exemptions after turning pro last season, makes his first start as a full TOUR member. The Spaniard tied for second at the RBC Canadian Open and third at the Quicken Loans National. Stanford senior Maverick McNealy, No. 1 in the world amateur rankings, and Cal's Collin Morikawa have accepted sponsor exemptions into the field. Aaron Wise, who won this year's NCAA title at Oregon, also was given an exemption. He turned pro in June and finished fourth on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada's Order of Merit. The field boasts 38 graduates from either the Web.com Tour or its four-event Finals, including combined money leader Wesley Bryan. 

NAP – PAUL CASEY 12/1 (PaddyPower) 

3 pts EW NB – JOHN RAHM 22/1 (PaddyPower) 

1.5 pts EW IWAC – SMYLIE KAUFMAN 66/1 (PaddyPower) 1 pt EW 

British Masters, European Tour – 11 pts Outlay 

At The Grove, 7,121 yards, par 71 – Thursday October 13th to Sunday October 16th 

The course bears the markings of the renowned golf course architect Kyle Phillips, whose previous creations include the epic Kingsbarns Golf Links, and was designed in 2003. Intricacies are a feature of this course, The Grove in Hertfordshire showcasing large undulating greens with wispy grass surrounding most of the bunkers on the course. The Grand Union canal runs alongside holes 12 and 13, with the course’s two nines reversed for the British Masters. 

It is the first time the tournament has been staged at The Grove, with the only previous.

European Tour event staged at the Hertfordshire course in 2006, the WGC – American Express Championship, which was won by Tiger Woods. 

Headlining this week’s field are six Major champions including Danny Willett, Y.E Yang, Graeme McDowell, Trevor Immelman, Paul Lawrie and José María Olazábal. It will be a first appearance for Olazábal since the 2015 Masters Tournament and the 23-time European Tour champion is sure to draw a large crowd. 

Defending champion Fitzpatrick will have a battle on his hands with the likes of Sweden’s Alex Noren, a two-time winner on the European Tour in 2016, US Open Championship runner-up Shane Lowry, and the most recent winner of the European Tour, countryman Tyrrell Hatton, who carded a 62 course record-equalling at St Andrews on his way to securing his maiden European Tour title. 

Tournament host Donald will be joined by compatriots and members of The 2016 Ryder Cup team Lee Westwood, Chris Wood and Andy Sullivan, as they continue their march towards the season Race to Dubai finale.

NAP – ROSS FISHER 20/1 (BetFred) 3 pts EW 

NB – TOMMY FLEETWOOD 25/1 (SkyBet) 1.5 pts 

EW IWAC – RICHARD BLAND 40/1 (BetFred) 1 pt EW 

*MULTIPLE* - Paul Casey (Safeway Open) & Ross Fisher (British Masters) 247/1 (PaddyPower) 1.5pts EW

NOTE: As per usual, please do be careful and aware of who you are betting with for the golf, amazingly a lot of the higer profile companies change week by week on what place terms they offer. This week at The Safeway Open PaddyPower are offering places on the top 7 at 1/5 odds, so we will be staying with them! For The British Masters event, both SkyBet and BetFred are 1/4 odds for the top 6 places.

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship European Tour

Hi All, 

A disappointing week from a European perspective, as the USA reclaimed the Ryder cup from us, however, this will only be a temporary loan, as Europe will win it back in Paris in 2 years’ time for sure! On the positive side, we landed a nice couple of bets to return a good sized profit for the week, with the day one correct score landing at 6/1 and also Patrick Reed being the outright USA top scorer at 7/1. For this next section of the article, I have conducted a small review of our year to date, accompanied by a table indicting some of the key information from each month, along with a handful of slips some of you guys have sent in since the service began. This week’s article inclusive of selections can also be found underneath too: -

Last Week’s Outlay 15 pts Last Week’s Return 30 pts (+15pts) Year To Date + 373.05 2 

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, European Tour – 25 pts Outlay

At St. Andrews Old Course, 7,307 yards, par 72; Kingsbarns Golf Links, 7,227 yards, par 72 & Carnoustie, 7,345, par 72 – Thursday October 6th to Sunday October 9th This week, the European Tour returns to the ‘Home of Golf’ as the 16th edition of the ‘Alfred Dunhill Links Championship’ gets underway, a favourite amongst Tour professionals and amateurs alike. Celebrating links golf at its finest, the tournament is played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links. For this event, I shall also be in attendance, and for that reason I have included a few extra selections than a normal week, to keep things interesting for me while up there in bonny Scotland, however, the normal points structure remains firmly in place. 

The Field 

The big names certainly come out to play at this unique tournament on Scotland’s east coast. 

As sports stars, entertainment icons and golf fans from across the world filter in to St. Andrews, the list of golfing stars is one to be matched. 

Current Masters champion Danny Willett headlines the event, with Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, who currently sits fourth in the Race to Dubai rankings looking to add to his European Tour trophy cabinet after an impressive debut at the 2016 Ryder Cup. 

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters has been in scintillating form, claiming four of a possible five points at Hazeltine National. It has been a remarkable two months for the 24-year-old, with 5 a fourth-placed finish at the Olympics, a runners-up spot at the D+D REAL Czech Masters and a win at the Made in Denmark. 

Former winner Branden Grace, leading Irish golfer Shane Lowry and Andrew Johnston, now affectionately known as ‘Beef’, will also be joined by previous winners of the event in Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood. 

Rubbing shoulders with the pros this week will be the likes of actors Hugh Grant and Andy Garcia, as well as cricketing legends Kevin Pietersen and Michael Vaughan. 

The Courses 

The event incorporates two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament for 168 of the world’s leading golfers and a Team Championship, in which each professional is paired with one of 168 amateurs, played over three courses. 

St Andrews - Over 650 years old, St Andrews last hosted The Open Championship in 2015 and is famous for its large undulating greens and exposed conditions, considered by many as links golf at its finest. Shaped by nature on a spit of land which juts into the estuary of the River Eden, it can be friendly on a calm day, then turn into a monster when the wind blows.

Carnoustie - Host of seven Open Championships and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship since 2001, Carnoustie is known the world over as one of the toughest and most merciless links courses. A long course that is testing for the best when the wind blows, it provides a formidable challenge for any golfer. 

Kingsbarns Golf Links - Opened in 2000 and designed by Kyle Philips, the large undulating greens of Kingsbarns presents a number of scoring opportunities for all types of players. A mixture of flat and undulating surfaces across the 18 holes, it is an exposed links course with very few water hazards, yet a number of bunkers, with those who maintain accuracy from the tee to be rewarded. There are spectacular coastal views on a number of holes, including the third, 12th, 15th and 16th.

Recommended Bets 

NAP – THOMAS PIETERS 16/1 (PaddyPower) 4.5 pts EW 

Fresh from a stellar performance at last week’s Ryder Cup, securing honor’s as Europe’s leading points scorer, Thomas arrives here to an event where he has had previous success at, showing the ability to score on all three of the courses. So with confidence high, Thomas looks set to go close to his fourth European Tour title. 

NB – BERND WIESBERGER 18/1 (PaddyPower) 3 pts EW 

Over recent years Bernd has been a regular fixture at the top end of the Dunhill Links leaderboard, finishing inside the top 14 places in each of the last three playings of the event; and with a 5th place and a 2nd place to his name in his last two events, it looks likes Bernd is coming into some great form to go close once again. 

IWAC – ALEX NOREN 22/1 (PaddyPower) 2 pts EW 

The winner of this year’s Scottish Open and runner-up of the matchplay event also played in Scotland, Alex returns to Scotland clearly with positive vibes of the country. Finishing 3rd in this event in 2012, and having won the European Masters only 4 weeks ago, there are many reasons why it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see Alex making a bold bid for his third title of the season. 

Other Fancies

TOMMY FLEETWOOD 30/1 (PaddyPower) 1pt EW

ROSS FISHER 40/1 (PaddyPower) 1pt EW 

THORBJORN OLESEN 80/1 (PaddyPower) 0.5 pt EW 

JAMES MORRISON 125/1 (PaddyPower) 0.5 pt EW NOTE: 

For this event, you will see I have recommended the exclusive use of PaddyPower, as they are offering top 7 places at 1/5 odds.

This Week’s Outlay – 25 pts 

Thank you for all the messages and positive tweets about the continued success of the service. Hopefully some exciting times ahead, so keep the retweets going and spreading the word, all very much appreciated. 

Hope you have a good week, and good luck to all those following, 

Stu @PriestleyStuart 

sjpriestley_pga@btinternet.com

Overview 

MONTH Pts Outlay Pts Returned Profit/Loss 

KEY RESULTS:

January: 

100 250.5 + 150.5 8/1 winner, 80/1 winner, 25/1 place 

February: 

100 274.85 +174.85 33/1 place, 30/1 winner, 28/1 place, 14/1 place, 25/1 place, 50/1 place, 14/1 winner, 14/1 winner, 224/1 winning EW double! 

March: 

100 152.35 +52.35 45/1 winner, 16/1 place, 8/1 place, 10/1 place, 12/1 place 

April: 

100 67 -33 9/2 winner, 3/1 winner, 25/1 place, 18/1 place, 66/1 place, 30/1 winner, 35/1 place 

May: 

100 61 -39 25/1 place, 14/1 place 

June: 

100 118.5 +18.5 11/1 place, 33/1 place, 28/1 place, 50/1 place, 7/1 winner 

July: 

100 167.75 +67.75 55/1 winner, 50/1 place, 28/1 place, 30/1 place 

August: 

100 71.25 -28.75 150/1 place, 28/1 place, 28/1 place 

September: 

100 109.85 +9.85 7/1 winner, 6/1 winner, 20/1 place, 20/1 place 

TOTALS: 900 1279.05 + 373.05 

HIGHLIGHTS: Winners = 14 Double = 1 EW Places = 26 Year to Date Profit/Loss: +373.05 Total Points Outlay: 900 Total Points Return: 1273.05 Return of Investment (ROI): 41.45 %

BMW Championship PGA Tour & KLM Open, European Tour

Hi All, 

If you followed the note regarding PaddyPower paying out on the top 7 in last week's European Tour event, then you would have got some returns from Matt Fitzpatrick finishing in 7th place, so it’s always nice when this happens, but I have not included this in our figures, as I know not everyone will have been backing through PaddyPower. Also, there was a top 15 from Matsuyama in America too, but not quite good enough to deal with Rory’s weekend. We will keep knocking at the door, and the winners will soon come. On to this week, and the write up below inclusive of selections: 

BMW Championship, PGA Tour – 10 pts 

Outlay at Crooked Stick, 7,516 yards, par 72 – Thursday, September 8th to Sunday, September 11th Pete Dye’s first prominent golf course was built in 1965, transforming a cornfield outside Indianapolis that Dye had purchased with the help of 60 “interested, avid and maybe crazy golfers.” As with other notable Dye courses, no two consecutive holes face in the same direction and players must be able to generate drives both left-to-right and right-to-left. Crooked Stick first ascended to the national stage as host of the 1982 U.S. Junior Amateur, later bringing the 1991 PGA Championship where John Daly burst onto the scene. The Last Week’s Outlay 20 pts Last Week’s Return 20 pts (- 20pts) Year To Date + 398.05 course also has staged the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open, 2005 Solheim Cup and its first edition of the BMW Championship four years ago, when Rory McIlroy prevailed. 

World No. 1 Jason Day, who first scaled the top after last year’s BMW win, and The Barclays champion Patrick Reed head up a 69-man field for the next-to-last FedEx Cup playoffs event. Open champion Henrik Stenson, who has been battling knee problems in recent weeks, is the only projected qualifier not to sign up. The Swede entered the Deutsche Bank Championship at No. 19 in FedEx Cup points. The top 30 after the BMW Championship advance to the TOUR Championship. Rookies Emiliano Grillo and Smylie Kaufman remain alive in the FedEx Cup postseason, though Kaufman needs to climb four spots to reach the finale. 

NAP – RORY MCILROY 11/2 (Ladbrokes, BetVictor & PaddyPower) 5 pts WIN 

Fresh from his impressive win at last week’s Deutsche Bank Championship, Rory will arrive here as confident as he will have been for a long time. Putting has been the major negative to Rory McIlroy this season, yet last week he was ranked 1st in all putting stats. I feel we are in for a super strong finish to the year from Rory. 

NB – BUBBA WATSON 50/1 (Bet365, SkyBet & WilliamHill) 1.5 pts EW 

Not the greatest of years from Bubba, with his only win coming right at the beginning of the year, but with the length of the Crooked Stick course, and the odds offer I am willing to take a chance on Bubba. With Davis Love III set to make his captains picks for the Ryder Cup this month, it is almost certain that Bubba Watson will be doing everything in his powers to get noticed and to be on that team. Still ranking inside the top 5 on tour for driving distance, this is a course that should see Bubba back contending.

IWAC – BROOKS KEOPKA 55/1 (Bet365) 1 pt EW 

With 2 runners-up finishes, a third place and a further seven top 10 finishes to his name this season; all that is missing from the form book is that elusive win! There are good current signs for all to see recently too, with Brooks finishing inside the top 10 in two of his last four PGA Tour starts, including a 4th place at the USPGA. Statistically, Brooks Keopka has the all round game, being right up there in off the tee, approaches to the green and putting statistics on tour. 

KLM Open, European Tour – 10 pts Outlay

The Dutch Golf Club, 6,983 yards, par 71 – Thursday, September 8th to Sunday, September 11th 

Exciting times this week for The Dutch, as it hosts its first European Tour event having only opened its doors in 2011. A member of the prestigious network of European Tour Destinations, The Dutch’s signature Championship course was designed by Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup-winning Captain Colin Montgomerie, in conjunction with European Golf Design. 

Groundbreaking construction techniques were used to create a dramatic and undulating landscape, featuring rolling fairways framed by imposing, gorse-clad mounds. Inland-links in style, The Dutch also boasts smooth, lightning-quick greens. Complemented by an awe-inspiring clubhouse, it is sure to be a popular venue with the players this week. 

Pieters is joined in the field by his Ryder Cup team-mate for the showpiece in Hazeltine, Chris Wood, as the Englishman makes his ninth appearance the Netherlands’ national open hoping to improve on his best finish of a share of 11th place back in 2010. Byeong-hun An, meanwhile, makes his first appearance in a regular European Tour event since last May, when he defended the BMW PGA Championship title he won back in 2015, only to be dethroned by the aforementioned Wood. 

Home favourite Joost Luiten returns to the tournament he won so gloriously in 2013 when he became only the second home winner after Maarten Lafeber in 2003 since the event became part of the European Tour International Schedule in 1972. Luiten will be making his first regular European Tour appearance since July’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, having played The Open Championship, USPGA Championship, and the Olympics in between. 

NAP – PABLO LARRAZABAL 40/1 (BetVictor & StanJames) 2.5 pts EW 

A final round of 65, saw Pablo secure a 7th place finish in last week’s event in Switzerland. He arrives at an event here that he has a very good record at; I link this to the fact that he finishes he seasons strong. 

NB – ANTHONY WALL 90/1 (BetFred) 1.5 pts EW 

A man in form really; Anthony won the recent match play event on the European tour, then followed that up with three rounds in the 60s at last week’s European Masters to secure another top 20 finish. At odds of 90/1 still available, I think this represents a good each way bet. 

IWAC – EDDIE PEPPERELL 125/1 (SkyBet & Ladbrokes) 1 pt EW 

Spent a bit of time thinking about this selection, and at odds of 125/1 available, I think it is an opportunity I am willing to take. I have noticed a bit of trend in Eddie when playing in this part of the world over recent years. He has top 5 finishes to his name around this time of year (Denmark, Switzerland, and Sweden) in every season since he earned his card, including here at the KLM Open. 

NOTE: For the European Tour event, PaddyPower is offering top 7 places at 1/5 odds. All odds include in the above article are simply the highest odds available at the time of writing sourced via OddsChecker.com. This Week’s Outlay – 20 pts Thanks again to everyone for passing on your positive comments to my articles. Hope you have a nice week, and good luck to all those following, 

Stu 

@PriestleyStuart

sjpriestley_pga@btinternet.com

Deutsche Bank Championship & Omega European Masters

Hi All,

Well… We nearly did it. Our NB selection Bradley Dredge held the lead heading into the final days play in Denmark, and despite a final round of 4 under par, this was only good enough for a solo 2^nd place finish. I was obviously a little disappointed with this, as it panned out exactly as I had imagined, but to me, unfortunately, it was clear to see the defensive nature Bradley approached the final 9 holes, in what was an effort to secure his playing rights, the polar opposite to eventual winner Thomas Pieters, who rightfully put everything on the line in an effort to get picked for the Ryder Cup.

We will keep knocking at the door, and the winners will come. On to this week, and the write up below inclusive of selections:

Deutsche Bank Championship, PGA Tour – 10 pts Outlay

at TPC Boston, 7,297 yards, par 71 – Friday September 2nd to Monday September 5th

In the New England countryside about midway between Boston and Rhode Island, the original 2002 Arnold Palmer Design creation stood just five years before Gil Hanse and consultant Brad Faxon were brought in for a thorough remodel. Fairways and greens were re-graded as Hanse/Faxon introduced “chocolate-drop” mounds and grass bunkers to give the course more of a regional feel. The Deutsche Bank Championship has been part of the Labour Day calendar since 2003, offering a traditional Monday finish to take advantage of the holiday.

While there figures to be a change at the top of the FedEx Cup table following The Barclays, Day has appeared close to regaining the form that made him dominant in the spring. 

Runner-up at the PGA Championship, the Aussie was lurking in the top 10 at the midpoint at Bethpage Black. Stenson, whose Claret Jug and Olympic silver medal made him perhaps the summer’s most consistent golfer, will warrant watching if he tees it up at TPC Boston. His WD at Bethpage Black came after an opening 74. Rory McIlroy, now down to No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking, hasn’t had a top-10 finish on U.S. soil since the Memorial Tournament in May. The FedEx Cup trimming down now moves to the top 70 in points for the BMW Championship.

NAP – HIDEKI MATSUYAMA 40/1 (Bet365, SkyBet & WilliamHill) 2.5 pts EW

Has some of the most impressive set of long game statistics I have ever seen assembled come this late stage of the golf season, and these must pay off sooner rather than later should he managed to get a few more putts to drop. Sitting in 4^th place on tour for strokes gained off the tee and also in 2^nd place for strokes gained with approaches to the green mean that Hideki Matsuyama, despite poor putting, is in 4^th place also for birdie average. A quite deadly combination of statistics there that should him going close again, with a top 5 finish in the year’s final major and also a 3^rd place at the recent Wyndham.

NB – JIM FURYK 45/1 (Bet365, BetFred & BoyleSports) 1.5 pts EW

With a delayed beginning to the season due to a long layoff with a wrist injury, Jim hasn’t wasted any time in getting back to the type of player he was before the injury. The type of golf being played at the moment by Jim Furyk has to be up there with some of the best being played currently, two top 10 finishes in his last three events, including the incredible round of 58 at the Travelers are a clear indication of just how well Jim is playing. Having missed the begging of the season, Jim is almost forced to have to perform well this week, should he wish to extend his season any further, as he is ranked outside the required top 70 for next week. With a 4^th place finish here at TPC Boston last year, Jim obviously has the required skill set to be competitive here again.

IWAC – BROOKS KEOPKA 45/1 (SkyBet, BetFred & StanJames) 1 pt EW

With 2 runners-up finishes, a third place and a further seven top 10 finishes to his name this season; all that is missing from the form book is that elusive win! There are good current signs for all to see recently too, with Brooks finishing inside the top 10 in two of his last three PGA Tour starts, including a 4^th place at the USPGA. Statistically, Brooks Keopka has the all round game, being right up there in off the tee, approaches to the green and putting statistics on tour.

Omega European Masters, European Tour – 10 pts Outlay

at Crans Sur Sierre Golf Club, 6,848 yards, par 70 – Thursday September 1st to Sunday September 4th

At almost 5,000ft above sea level, the stunning surroundings of the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland provide some of the most majestic views for golfers and fans alike on the European Tour. The Omega European Masters will be staged for the 70th time at the stunning Alpine venue, and will remain host until 2022 after the existing deal with title sponsors Omega was extended by five years. Famous in the winter months for its ski fields, Crans-sur Sierre closes under several feet of snow, however, summer provides perfect playing conditions for some of the world’s best golfers, and when you add the snow-capped Swiss Alps as your backdrop, it makes for one incredible tournament.

After the memorable pictures of Himmerland Hill in Denmark last week, look out for the picturesque par three 13th hole, which also provides an amphitheater, not to mention a spectacular backdrop, for fans to watch the action unfold.

Headlined by Masters Champion and the man defending this week, Willett; the 28-year-old currently leads the Race to Dubai and is ranked 11th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Having secured two European Tour titles already in 2016, he will bid to become the first player since the late, great Seve Ballesteros in 1978, to retain the trophy and will be bidding for an Omega double after winning the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title in February.

The Englishman will be joined in Crans Montana by his compatriots Lee Westwood, who won the Omega European Masters in 1999, Chris Wood, the 2016 BMW PGA Championship winner, and Matt Fitzpatrick, who has registered another European Tour victory at the Nordea Masters since that runner-up finish here in 2015. 

Meanwhile, American Bryson DeChambeau will compete in the event for the first time. The 2015 US Amateur Champion has made an impressive start to his career, finishing a highly creditable fourth place at the RBC Heritage just weeks after turning professional. The 22-year-old shone again in June at the US Open Championship at Oakmont, where he finished tied 15th on a very demanding layout.

NAP – MATTHEW FITZPATRICK 20/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes & BetFred) 2.5 pts EW

Last year’s runner up, Matt arrives back here to a course he openly loves. His 16 under par total last year included rounds of 69, 65, 64 and a 66, showing great low scoring consistency around the Crans Sur Sierre course. With two top 10 finishes to his name already this month, I’d be surprised not to see Matt in contention once again. Also, with Matthew Fitzpatrick set to be a rookie at the upcoming Ryder Cup, he will keen to show his game is in good shape ready for the off.

NB – BERND WIESBERGER 30/1 (BetFred) 1.5 pts EW

With a number of solid finishes to his name at this event behind him, Bernd arrives here off the back of a good showing at the recent event at the Olympics. Being an Austrian himself, and this event being from Switzerland, the impact of the before mentioned altitude differences will not be as big of an adjustment as it will be for most this week, in terms of club selection and the extra distances the ball will travel.

IWAC – TOMMY FLEETWOOD 66/1 (Coral, BetFred & BoyleSports) 1 pt EW

Somewhat of a horse’s for courses selection here, which sometimes do pay dividends! However, there are signs of recent form too, to aid the chances. When doing the homework behind this week, at the odds available Tommy Fleetwood was the one name that leaped out to me. Three times inside the top 20 including 5^th and a 9^th place finishes at this event around the same course all within the last 4 years, show a clear liking towards the conditions and set up of this Crans Sur Sierre course. A top 20 finish also, at this year’s recent Czech Masters could point towards another more than respectable performance this week.

NOTE: As per usual, please do be careful and aware of who you are betting with for the golf, amazingly a lot of the higer profile companies change week by week on what place terms they offer. This week at The Deuche Bank Campionship StanJames are still offering 1/4 odds for places in the top 6. For the European Tour event, PaddyPower are offering top 7 places at 1/5 odds. All odds include in the above artivle are simply the highest odds available at the time of writing sourced via OddsChecker.com.

This Week’s Outlay – 20 pts

Thanks again to everyone for passing on your positive comments over my articles. Hope you have a nice week, and good luck to all those following,

Stu

@PriestleyStuart

sjpriestley_pga@btinternet.com