Target Challenge Golf (California) Betting Preview

It is a measure of the lure of Tiger Woods that such a strong field has assembled for this weeks Target World Challenge in California, an event sponsored by the world number one himself. In the midst of what many see as a rest period, several players have travelled thousands of miles to be a part of proceedings at Sherwood Country Club.Some were in South Africa, and others in Hong Kong but the effort has still been made to be here. Such excessive travelling immediately makes us wary of supporting these players, especially if their form was not all that good in any case. As such, we have scrubbed Luke Donald, Chris DiMarco, Tim Clark and Thomas Bjorn from our list of potential champions.One exception we are willing to make however is for Colin Montgomerie, who has had the marginally shorter journey to the West Coast of America, from Hong Kong. Monty was victorious there, at the UBS Hong Kong Open, merely continuing on from the form that took him to his eighth European Order of Merit last season. The victory also took him into the worlds top ten, an ambition he set himself to reach by the end of 2006, but has met well ahead of schedule.He performed well at the Target Challenge 12 months ago, memorably outplaying Woods himself on day three, before labouring to a 71 on Sunday to finish three shots back. The 42-year-old is revelling in his status as being the elder statesman these days, and loves putting one up the youngsters by beating them.A relaxed tournament such as this will suit Monty?s newly composed outlook down to the ground.16/1 is the kind of price we would expect to see Monty at for a Major these days, so with just 16 entrants in this field, the value looks too good to miss out on. Of course it is true that the Scot has never won a title in America, but everything is working for him right now, and we feel that this could be the week for him to break this duck, and so instil great confidence for the ensuing season.Woods is the heavy favourite at 13/8, and the defending champion clearly has plenty in his favour. However, this price is not what we are looking for in a golf betting verdict and so we are leaving it alone. This mark may interest big players of the market, but in a "silly season" event we would question whether the commitment will be quite as it should and so urge caution.Padraig Harrington has a fine record at the event, coming 1st, 3rd and 2nd in the last three years respectively, but the Irishman has had a difficult year, and we would be surprised to see him on the winners podium from 12/1.Our other selection this week, is going to be the rank outsider of the field, John Daly. 50/1 is simply too big a price for a man of his precocious talents, and his form has not been too bad either. Two events since the end of the regular season have kept him in touch, and second place at the Wendys Tour Challenge and fifth at the Franklin Templeton Shootout are far from disastrous efforts.The big man will largely remember 2005 for two play-off defeats to the world number one and two. Vijay Singh got the better of him at the Shell Houston Open in April, whilst Tiger Woods beat him in unfortunate circumstances at the WGC- American Express Championship as recently as October. On the latter occasion, Dalys putting stroke uncharacteristically let him down when a three footer slipped by on the first extra hole.12th place last term at the Target Challenge put him towards the bottom of the field of 16, but a final round of 65 was the best of the day and proof that the set up is suitable to the 39 year olds game. Power may be his legacy, but his touch is the equal of all but very few on the Tour. 50/1 is a fine price against a small field for the two time Major winner and should be taken each way, which pays out at 1/4 odds for a top three finish.