The PGA Tour gets back to semblance of normality with the
RBC Heritage Championship, and not for the first time this month, the spotlight
is on Luke Donald, who disappointed on the Masters after being one of many to
fall too far behind to make a proper impact despite a strong last round.
Despite some strong opposition, with the change in style
from Augusta expected to suit, Donald has a good chance to quickly atone for
his early failures last week, with the course suiting him well based on
previous performances. Donald finished runner up to Snedeker here last year,
was third in 2010 and second in 2009, all efforts which would see him go close
once again. The course at Harbour Town Golf Links not only has a very tight and
claustrophobic fairway, but also some of the smallest greens on the PGA Tour.
With a winners list such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Davis
Love III, one would think that it lends itself to specialists and Donald is
clearly one of those with his close finishes in the last three renewals.
The best priced 7/1 available on him winning here does seem
a little on the short side but it’s understandable given the quality of his tee
to green game – the course holds no more than 11 par fours – and he looks worth having onside in the
portfolio for this weekend’s event to make up for his Augusta disappointment.
At more than double the odds, so does Bo Van Pelt (above), who was
so disappointing for the first three days of the Masters before shooting such a
brilliant last round of 68 to make a late 17th. A talented player,
he’s sometimes struggled to get the results that his ability deserves but he
showed what he was all about at Augsta last week and has other solid form to
back that up too – he came into Agusta with 16 top 10’s in the last 2 years
–and at 25/1 in places he deserves a serious amount of respect. Having come
third here in 2010 to follow top-15 finishes in both 2007 & 2009, we know
that his game handles this course and coming off the back of such an incredible
round last Sunday, he could look to make a fast start which would give him a
massive chance considering his consistency relating to the top 10 finishes.
It’s worth remembering that the front runners in the Masters all got away with
strong opening rounds and Van Pelt was by no means out of things until the
third round, when he must have felt that his time was up in any case. Of course he had a pressure free final round
but shooting 64 around Augusta is a world class effort and this could be his
time to shine.
Paddy Power are only 22’s but they’ll offer 6 places –
something you can’t turn down for such fierece events such as this - while
having him in the top 10/20 and American Markets too seems a solid play, while
a match bet 4 fold (Van Pelt to beat Els, Na, Snedeker, Simpson and Snedeker
again in his threeball) – something which we fell just short with thanks to
Bubba Watson’s win in the Masters last week –seems like a fun bet at 15/1
despite the fact that last year’s Champion Brad Snedeker is in that list.
Others to give serious consideration too include prominent Augusta
finishers Matt Kuchar – who was a sensational 3rd at Augusta, while
the big premium on ball placement this week should see other notable big
hitters (out selection Van Pelt is known for giving the ball a good smack) an advantage;
Think along the lines of Zach Johnson, who has a sixth here to his name and
hasn’t missed a cut this year.
It was only upon reading further that I discovered that Jim
Fuyrk’s win here over Brian Davis was purely due to a great show of
sportsmanship when the latter man carded a foul on himself that cost himself
the tournament, but it shows that both handle the course and Fuyrk’s confidence
especially must be sky high after the Masters compared to a downbeat attitude
he had beforehand having previously demanded the demanding test at Augsta;
"It is a big course for me. I end up trying to hit it too hard and too
high and end up getting outside my realm." Fuyrk just missed out in a playoff
to Luke Donald at the Transitions three weeks ago before his Masters’ effort
and is impossible to fault.
Webb Simpson struggled badly at Augusta last week but the
good reason for that is how inexperienced he was; Augusta is merciless against its
debutants and back on a course where he routinely places, expect him to be one
of many who’s thereabouts.
I haven’t even touched on last year’s champion and Masters
19th Brandt Snedeker, who came back from six strokes off the lead to
force a play-off which he duly won at the third extra hole. With a tour win
under his belt he seems ready to go, while Ernie Els – another course specialist
– was 12th a Redstone in preparation for this week and is another of
quite a few set for a charge in what could be a cracking tournament.
Six of the players mentioned here - Van Pelt, Snedeker, Els,
Furyk, Donald, Kuchar & Simpson – can call be backed in a dutching bet
against the field to win at 13/8 with Paddy Power; That looks like a very solid bet with the
last two winners onside, along with the World No.1, our original tip, and 2
players who should fancy their chances of taking this very strongly.
Advice
1 pt win, 1 pt each/way Luke Donald, (7/1 general, 6 places
with Stan James @ 13/2)
1 pt win, 2 pts each/way Bo Van Pelt (22/1 Stan James)
1 pt each/way Bo Van Pelt top American (16/1 Ladbrokes)
3 pts Bo Van Pelt top 10 finish (5/2 Stan James)
7 pts Bo Van Pelt top 20 finish (evs general)
1 pt Bo Van Pelt to beat Ernie Els, Kevin Na,
Brad Snedeker, Webb Simpson and also win his threeball (15.08 general)
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