27-06-2007, 23:28
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demented c-u-n-
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Join Date: May 2005
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Re: Buick Open: 28th June
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With Tiger Woods on paternity leave and Vijay Singh resting his ankle, this year's Buick Open is deprived of its two biggest draw cards.
But their absence is good news for the rest of the field as Woods (2002 & 2006) and Singh (2004 & 2005) had won four of the last five runnings.
With Jim Furyk taking the title in 2003, the market leaders have a fantastic record in this event - even though with typical winning scores of 20-under and lower it would make sense to think that this is a putting contest in which anyone could prevail.
Furyk does make it to the start line so it's no surprise to see him as the clear favourite.
It's not just by default though. Furyk arrives here on the back of a runners-up finish in the US Open, was also second at Colonial two starts before that and his form figures here reading back from 2006 are 2-6-6-1-10-2-16-9-15.
But 11/2?
It certainly seems short enough - especially when you consider his 2-7 play-off record. Tying the best four-round total isn't enough for Furyk it seems - hence all those second places on his CV.
With birdies so important on this shortish, friendly par 72, a decent starting point for picking the winner this week is to examine the US Tour's Par Breaker stats.
This percentage measure of birdies and eagles is topped by Phil Mickelson (not playing) while 2nd to 4th (Adam Scott, Singh and Bubba Watson) are also absent.
But two players who were on my radar for this event just happen to be sat in the top 25 and that gets them into the staking plan.
First up is Ryan Moore - the first player since Woods in 1996 to go from college to the PGA Tour in the same season.
That claim to fame is wearing a bit thin now and Moore would desperately like to reduce it to a footnote by claiming a first US Tour win.
Since that big breakthrough in 2005 he's had three runners-up finishes - the most recent at Memorial earlier this month.
A missed cut at the US Open straight afterwards didn't seem to do him much harm as he bounced back with an opening 66 in last week's Travellers Championship.
His effort fizzled out but he's definitely on the right track again after being plagued by a hand injury.
Speaking in Connecticut last week, Moore revealed: "I've been able to swing fairly normal the last few months. It's felt better and better and better."
And despite that MC at Oakmont, he explained: "I hit the ball on Friday better there than I hit it the entire year.
"I hit inside 10, 12 feet eight times that day. At the US Open, it was a difficult golf course and I still shot 73. So I still have a lot of confidence in my swing and how things are feeling right now, it's the best it's felt all year."
Moore missed the cut here on his first visit in 2006 but, like many newbies on Tour, will be much more comfortable coming back after finding out what's what.
He certainly has positive memories of this part of the States as he won the first of his two US Public Links Championships in Michigan and also captured the prestigious Western Amateur here.
Talent will out eventually and this could be the week when Moore gets that first win.
Bo Van Pelt finished like a train in last week's Travellers, carding 67-64 on the weekend to end up in sixth place.
Prior to that a closing 65 gave him a top 25 at Memorial so if he can just hit the accelerator a little earlier he'd be right in the mix.
Like Moore, he can't bring much course form to the table if you consider the bare figures of MC-MC-53.
But last year he shot 11-under in one day after weather delays meant he ended up playing 33 holes on Friday.
That put him just two off the lead at halfway but, perhaps worn out by his efforts, he faded on the weekend.
He too is looking for a first US Tour win but in his current form he must have a decent chance.
Helped by a hole-in-one he was ranked first for eagles last week and second for birdies and was simply sensational on the greens. Just 47 putts on the weekend put him top of both putting categories for the tournament and that has to bode well for this week's birdie-fest.
Take Van Pelt at 45/1.
Our third pick at a massive 125/1 is Will MacKenzie.
Known as one of the Tour's characters, he has plenty of game too and has had a solid season so far following his breakthrough win in Reno last year.
MacKenzie had a quiet May but hit back in June with a tied 11th at Memorial and a tied eighth at the St Jude.
"I felt fantastic at Memorial and Memphis, but just couldn't quite get it done," he revealed this week and despite a sluggish performance in the Travelers Championship he's worth backing to shine again here.
MacKenzie is 27th in Par Breakers this year and says of this week's layout: "I do like this course a lot. This course is fantastic. It's easy to walk. It's a fun traditional golf course."
He hasn't had much success here yet (MC last year, 50th in 2005) but it's clearly one he feels he can thrive on and those positive comments are worth noting.
The final vote goes to Kevin Na.
When Tiger and Singh have been absent this year, it's the twentysomethings who have seized the opportunity to cash in.
Hunter Mahan stepped up last week and Na (and headline tip Moore of course) knows he has a great chance here.
The 23-year-old was ninth in the Travelers last time and also seventh at Colonial two starts before when he opened with a 63.
Although he missed the cut here on his only start in 2004, he's a more mature player now and his 16th place in Par Breakers and 7th spot in Putts Per Round suggests he has the game for this course.
Take the 80/1 at Boylesports who have six payout places.
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MOORE CAN DRIVE OFF WITH BUICK CROWN: Golf Betting News - Golf Betting News, Previews and Tips, Tiger Woods
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Buick Open: 28th June
