Who shot JR?

So we sadly leave the East Coast, and the best 4 events in a row of the season, after another fascinating week, both from a financial involvement but also in a golf fan capacity, and Copperhead did not disappoint. A lot of tipsters, because of their affiliation with betting companies, do bet in play, and on Sunday the bookies will have absolutely cleaned up as JT found a way to not win yet again, and Viktor, who was a million, managed to get inspired with his irons and outlast the rest. So pleased for him, he's a clutch golfer, he does the right things at the right times, and he's finally getting that pulled fade back in his life and his iron play was stellar on Sunday. I hope everyone saw Billy's left handed swing on 5, in all my years loving this game, I've not seen many more impressive moments, and although he was never quite in contention as the big 2 pulled away, he was always finishing near the top and a solid 14/1 each way claim yielded a nice 45 point return. I've said it before, and here it is again, it's weeks like this that keep the profit/loss column ticking over, and after 4 very strong weeks for us, we go across to Houston, Texas, for the Shriners at Memorial Park with Rory and Scottie joining the ranks, as a tune up for Augusta in 2 weeks time. This event is so tricky to predict, and the roster of Poulter, Carlos Ortiz, Lanto Griffin, Jason Kokrak, Tony Finau and finally Jaeger pipping Scottie last year, shows that backing favs is a fools errand - mind you it's a fools errand anyway long term!

Memorial Park, Houston, is a beast. A par 70 measuring 7475 yards off the tips, this is a week for driving, it's open it's long and if the wind blows it can defend itself in a fight with the best players. There are plenty of trees scattered although as they are spaced out players can miss big and still get home, lots of native areas and sand, so it is a step and fetch it kind of course (apologies for the cricket terminology) and I'm going straight into the first pick and the main pick of the week, as I cannot believe the odds this lad is.

So first up, it's just obvious, that after Mexico this is the first opportunity, for stupid South African, and his stupid caddie and their no brain approach to golf, to really be in with a chance to compete. The Florida swing requires guile, control, a stellar short game and a brain, all of which ALDRICH POTGIETER lacks right now. This boy has the world at his feet if someone can get hold of him and refine his decision making, without inhibiting his swing, but he can hit the ball off the charts and this week he can go fetch his tee ball and attack this place, whilst others are hitting long irons from the fairway. His recent displays probably explain his odds, but the odds compilers at Paddy Power need a bump on the head as they have him at 125/1 8 places, he's a big price, and we go 2.5pts e/w.

Our next pick is also fantastic odds, as last years Rocket Mortgage classic winner, is just way too good to be down the list. RICKIE FOWLER showed signs, fleeting ones, that he can compete in these kind of events. There would be no more popular winner here, but based upon his swing and tempo alone, coupled with his dynamic short game, I feel if he gets his putter going (which is not a guarantee), his 100/1 odds 8 places with PP again, is very juicy, and we are 2.5pts e/w again.

If trending was a theme, if it had a profile picture, then beardy bastard STEPHAN JAEGER and his bullet like driving would be it. He beat Scottie last year at this very track, he's playing well every week, and whilst it's Mcilroy and Scheffler vs the field, his price is obscene. He's 33/1 across the board, but there are a few firms paying 10 and 12 places, and Corals are 33s and ten places for our 6pt e/w investment here.

2 picks left and this next lad will be travelling West with much relief as Florida beat him up. NICK DUNLAP, off the back of his win as an amateur last season at the Amex and then following up at the Barracuda, has been quiet at the start of the season. Only 1 top 10 so far, but his 17th in Phoenix was a step forward and this kind of layout and the heat this week will be home comforts for the man from Alabama. There is 125s all over the place for him, and we go 2pts e/w with Paddy Power again as I expect him to better his 11th place finish here last season.

So many tasty offers this week, Davis Riley, Harry Hall, Lee Hodges all fit the bill here, but the record is broken, I sound like one, and we rinse and repeat with JAKE KNAPP, who cannot be ignored when driving accuracy is not an absolute must. The best tempo in the world in his swing in my opinion, he fared well at PGA National, and the Players and he has been cashing top 25 cheques for fun all season. He was blown off course last week, getting the wrong side of the draw, but Copperhead is not his kind of layout, and he screams contender here. I'm quite odds biased with these selections, and whilst many of these players in the 30-80/1 bracket have a shout, if Jake can shake off the pressure of trying to get into Augusta, he's a live one. Hills are best priced 66/1 and 8 places and our last 3pts e/w go on him.

32 points on the line this week, I will put my nob on the block and say Rory will not be bothered about the win here and will be working on drawing the ball off the tee, Scottie is a danger because he is not playing his best and he wants that winning feeling again, but at 4/1 and 13/2, they give some great each way value, so thieve my pretties, thieve.

Go well, peace out

TEWT