DONALD TO START WHERE HE LEFT OFF AT 18/1 Buick Invitational


Th Jan 26 – 20.00 BST (SS2)
Fr Jan 27 – 20.00 BST (SS2)

Sa Jan 28 – 20.00 BST (SS2)
Su Jan 29 – 20.00 BST (SS2)


It might be folly to oppose Tiger this week in one of his favourite tournaments (form figures of 3-1-2-4-5-1-10-1), but we have to take his preparation on trust as he hasn’t played competitive golf for over a month, and there must be plenty of each way value elsewhere. The main dangers according to our betting appear to be Phil Mickelson (9/1), but he’ll have to drive a lot better than he did last week, while Sergio Garcia’s (14/1) putting woes continue to make him a risky proposition.

Instead, the 18/1 on Luke Donald looks an each-way steal (19/1 EWO). His record here is impressive – 7th, 2nd and 2nd – and he’ll start this campaign with a great deal of confidence after shooting a final round 64 to win last month’s Target World Challenge.


Also of interest this week, is last week’s runner-up, Jesper Parnevik, at a particularly generous bet365 price of 66/1. That was a welcome return to form for the Swede, after a poor 2005 by his standards, and he’s comfortable playing this course judged on his third here to Woods in 2004, and a runner-up spot in 1997. The final pick goes to Arron Oberholser, now that the Tour has reached his home state of California.
He has finishes of 4th and 6th in two of three visits to Torrey Pines, and at next month’s event at Pebble Beach. In fact, he has a top-10 strike rate of 40% on the PGA Tour in California, which makes our 66/1 look very attractive (40/1 in a place!).


Of course, Tiger won’t have to be 100% to win this week, and I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him at 13/5 in our ‘Enhanced Win Only’ market, or wait until the event goes in-running, when he’ll probably drift to a bigger price on our ‘In-Play Console’ at some stage.


Buick Invitational Three Off the Tee … Luke Donald 18/1, Arron Oberholser 66/1, Jesper Parnevik 66/1. Each-way ¼ odds 1.2.3.4.5


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