Sony Open Golf Betting Preview

Tiger Woods takes a rest this week, but the other three members of the world's top four will all be present for the Sony Open at Waialee Country Club in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Honolulu, Hawaii. It is the first full field event of the PGA Tour season, and one which dates back to 1928 when it was also played at this venue. It has travelled around in the intervening period, but not since 1964 has the event been held elsewhere.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> As with the Plantation Course at Kapalua where the Mercedes Championship was played out last week, the principal defence on the course in nature, and more specifically the wind. Ernie Els takes stop billing as far as the bookies are concerned, and we are inclined to agree with them. For the last two years this event has gone his way, and he played well in Maui last week to finish third. Els has tended to start the season strongly, most notably in 2003 when winning four of the first five events he entered, including both of those contested in Hawaii. As well as winning on his last two visits to Waialee, his only two previous visits saw results of fifth and third recorded. This is spectacular course form. The South African is equally happy swinging in the wind, or amassing reams of birdies on a non-challenging set up. This venue can easily be both from one day to the next, and we are confident that the world number three can have a strong showing. His last sixteen rounds here have been in the 60's, and this equates to a cumulative score in this period of 56 under par. 5/1 is a decent price considering all of the factors in his favour, although he would be the first three time winner at this event. Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen are the other members of the top four squad, and the only players quoted at shorter than 22/1. Goosen is available at 14's, whilst Singh is at 6/1. Singh was having a familiarly buoyant week at the Mercedes in as much as he held the lead for the first three days. However, an uncharacteristic lack of control slipped into his final round game, and the Fijian eventually fell to fifth. He has never won in Hawaii either, and neither has Retief Goosen. In the case of the latter, he did not quite have his 'A' game with him at Kapalua, and that is our main reason for leaving him alone. At 28/1 there is some appeal to be had for Jerry Kelly. The American took the title in 2002 when edging out John Cook, and also came fourth in 2003 and fifth last year. For the last four years he has not finished worst than fifteenth in his first outing of the season. The right hander has developed into one of the most consistent players on the Tour, and for the last three seasons has amassed over $2 Million and finished inside the top 30 money winners. In doing this he qualified for the Tour Championship, and that was actually his last outing. A closing 65 gave him the third place cheque and allowed him to enter the close season in fine spirits. Eight top tens in both 2003 and 2004 are further evidence of his consistent quality, and when noting his record at Waialee, showing some support looks advisable. Whilst most of the big guns were packing the leader board last week, few people noticed the eventually victorious surge of Stuart Appleby, or the rise of Jonathon Kaye who came second. Four rounds of 68, 67, 66 and 71 earned Kaye $600,000, and his game was clearly in good shape. His record at Waialee is not fantastic, with a missed cut from 2003 and 54th last year but it is worth making a note of his individual scores last term. The American went 67, 68, 68, before falling off the radar with a final round of 75. Another round in the mid 60's would have put him right in the hunt at around eleven under par, and considering the way he played last week, the 66/1 available looks like a fine price. One of the main talking points this week will be the appearance of Michelle Wie. The local girl, who is now fifteen years old, receives a sponsors exemption for the second year, and all of the men in the draw will be hoping to avoid having their drives measured against hers. Last year she produced rounds of 72 and 68 to miss the cut by a solitary stroke and the bookies have made her the rank outsider for glory. 3000/1 is the best price to be found regarding her prospects of winning this title but we cant find a price about her making the cut at time of writing. For most of the European players this remains very much within the off-season, but a few have dusted off the irons and made the trip to the mid Pacific. Ryder Cup duo and long-term match play buddies Paul Casey and Luke Donald are the two biggest names and are priced at 80/1 and 40/1 respectively. However, possibly due to the timing of the tournament, no European has won this tournament as yet, although it will be interesting to see the response that Casey gets from the crowd after some ill advised, and perhaps mis-reported anti American comments at the World Cup during November. His partner that week was Donald and they actually went on to win for England. Bet on the golf for free with VCBet (free fifty pound bet) and Blue Square (free ten pound bet)