Monday, April 4, 2011
Sports World |
| Mickelson Clear Favourite in US Masters Betting after Houston Open Win Posted: 04 Apr 2011 08:11 AM PDT Defending US Masters champion, Phil Mickelson, played four superb rounds of golf last week to take the Shell Houston Open, winning by three strokes from 'rookie' Chris Kirk and Scott Verplank. It was the left hander's first win since taking the Masters last year and pushed him up the world rankings to number three and for the first time in his career, he sits above his long time nemesis, Tiger Woods. He has now been installed as the 6/1 favourite in the 2011 US Masters betting which starts in Augusta on Thursday. It is fair to say that Mickelson struggled for the most last year after taking his third Masters, but his second place earlier this season in the Farmers Insurance Open and his top ten finish in the AT&T at Pebble Beach suggested that he was beginning to find his way back to top form. This latest win, his 36th of his illustrious career would appear to have confirmed that and has put him in great shape ahead of Augusta. However there are many pundits asking if the 'leftie' has peaked too early, as he has yet to win back to back tournaments since turning professional. There is no doubt that if he continues in the same vein as he played in Houston he will be the man to beat, but inconsistency has become very much the Mickelson trend these last couple of years and it may be wise to think about one or two other contenders who are showing signs of good form. One of those would be Padraig Harrington from Ireland who has already won three 'Majors' and finished in a tie for 8th place in Houston last week. Although he missed the cut last year, the Irishman has had three top ten finishes at Augusta in the recent past and could be a very serious threat this week. He is certainly a better chance than the Bookmakers are suggesting who have him around the 33/1 mark to win his first 'Green Jacket'. World number one Martin Kaymer will be another player who will have chances this week. The German, who won the PGA Championship in 2010 and is the current world number one, has already shown winning form this year, taking the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, he was also second in the WGC World Match-play and who has not missed the cut in any tournament since the Scottish Open last June. He is available for a best price of 20/1 in the betting. World number two, Lee Westwood who finished runner up in 2010 showed some good form last week in Houston, but a slackish third round ruled out the chance of a top ten finish. He certainly is driving the ball well, he is in a confident frame of mind and it is difficult not to believe that a win is 'just around the corner'. It is impossible to rule out Tiger Woods of course, but he continues to show his vulnerability and would need to improve greatly from his performance in the Arnold Palmer invitational a fortnight ago where he finished in a tie for 24th place. No-one plays Augusta better than Woods but he is without a tournament win since the 2009 Australian Masters which does inspire too much belief in that he will turn things around this week. That said the 14 time 'Major' winner has not finished outside of the top six at Augusta for the last six years and has won the tournament four times in the past. He is the second favourite in the market with odds of around the 10/1 mark. Other players who could surprise the golfing world this week, would be Steve Stricker, who played very well for a long time last week in Houston, Open Champion, Louis Oosthuizen, who also looked in good form in Houston, Matt Kuchar, who has had six top ten finishes from eight tournaments played this year and Hunter Mahan who has also shown consistently good form this year and who achieved top ten finishes in each of the last two Masters.  |
| Posted: 04 Apr 2011 03:21 AM PDT With most forecasters suggesting no more than an occasional shower for the Merseyside area in the week leading up to the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9, clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch has instructed ground staff to begin watering to maintain 'good' ground for the big race, writes Elliot Slater. Tulloch has asked his team to water the entire Grand National track, but at present there are no plans to also try and maintain the ground on the Mildmay course for both hurdles and chase. The decision to water will be met with mixed reactions by trainers whose horses need one type of ground or another. Those whose horses need to get their toe in and can only produce their best form on a soft surface will be pleased that some action is being take to take the sting out of the ground, whilst on the other side of the coin those whose horses have been waiting all winter for decent ground will be disappointed that the clerk of the course is meddling with natural conditions. As the Grand National 2011 start time approaches, one or two horses may drop out because of this. This is always the dilemma for anyone in charge of a racecourse and responsible for producing a racing surface that gives a fair chance to as many runners as possible in the race. If the forecasters have got it wrong (not unheard of!) and the heavens open, Tulloch will come in for a great deal of stick. On balance, (and in view of the fact that injuries are far more likely on a faster surface and animal rights groups would be the first to protest at the race even being run), the decision seems sensible, at this stage in proceedings. If the going is genuinely 'good' and there will of course be a lush covering of grass, there should be few complaints from most trainers, owners, or jockeys.  |
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