Live on SS1 & 3: Thu 06.00 & 20.00: Angus Loughran previews this week’s Dubai Desert Classic and also the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Rory McIlroy heads the market at 9/2 with Sportingbet for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and is the clear favouite in many peoples eyes. He is yet to fully convince me, although he is a huge talent he has not won as often as he should and although if you fancy him it is hard to put you off he is very short at 9/2 for someone with his win percentage.
Lee Westwood looks a fair bet at 11/1 (Betfred) while Thomas Bjorn is the real value this week at 22/1 (Paddy Power) – after starting with a 79 in Qatar last week Bijorn shot 65 in round 2 to show the real quality of the man and he is currently playing some great golf.
Of the big outsiders Chris Wood, who is one of the early starters in round 1, looks overpriced at 100/1 with Coral. Wood has been frustrating to follow but I am not alone in believing his day will come.
Tiger Woods will be hard to beat this week at the Pebble Beach Pro Am where in 2000 he destroyed the field in the US Open to win by a record 15 shots. He played well enough in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago to suggest it will not be long before he wins again and if he has a hot week with the putter the rest will just be playing for 2nd place. At 11/2 this week with Skybet, he is a worthy market leader at a reasonable price.
Dustin Johnson should go well here at 22/1 (Totesport) while defending champion DA Points can not be ruled out at 40/1 (Blue Square).
Bud Cauley is a player I intend to keep a close eye on in 2012 and the early signs are very positive. He is William Hill’s 66/1 chance this week and looks a huge future talent who is unlikely to be on offer at these generous odds in events for much longer.
Good luck
Angus Loughran
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