[Tony2005]

Tomorrow sees the start of THE US OPEN Golf Championships this year being played at Torry Pines in California.

Hailed as the most difficult major to win the last three years has given us winners priced at 150/1-200/1 and 100/1 so that goes to prove that anyone can win this and a lot depends on if its your week or not...

This years venue is one the players play every year on the USPGA tour as it hosts The Buick Invertational so maybe the longer priced players will not be as effective here as in previous years...

This is a long course over 7600 yards so long and straight hitters have the advantage, the short games will be well tested as the greens will firm up over the last two days making it very hard to stop the ball on approach shots so the further away you are the more difficult it will be to get your ball close...Putting will become vertually impossible and im sure a few players will be made to look rather silly at some time or another. Great viewing for us golf fans..

Anyway on to the players i think can give us a run for our money and will be in the mix come Sunday evening...


TIGER WOODS..(7/2..WH/PP/BF) Not the most original tip and although hes has to be the greatest golfer ever... not a player i back normally but at the price ofered i think we would all be stupid not to get on....Tiger has won SIX times on this course including the last 4 Buicks and of course he has already won here this year by 8 SHOTS from a very strong field.
If he plays anywhere near that form this could be all over with 2 rounds to play.


PAT PEREZ..(150/1 LAD)..I know what your thinking....WHO the hell is he...well not one of the bigger names on the tour but he has an advantage over most of the field here at Torry Pines..This is the course he played as a junior and was brought up here winning the 1993 Junior world championship here beating none other then Tiger Woods and his caddie has also won amateur competitions on this course so i think he could be a big price for an E/W finish.


PADRIIG HARRINGTON..(25/1 LAD) A player who always seems to be there ao there abouts come Sunday in the majors. He is a player who never gives up and thats the sort we want in this tough event. Has never played the course before so that might be a slight disadvantage but im prepared to take the chance on a good showing ny the British Open Winner.


EARNIE ELS..(50/1 PP/BF) Not been in great form for the past 18 months but at these odds must be backed E/W. A player who knows how to win majors and if he starts well i think could suprise here and take the title.


JB HOLMES..(150/1 GENERAL) A player who is on the way up the golfing ranks and although can sometimes be a little erratic can be backed E/W here. A big hitter and with a fairly decent short game has all the attributes to play well this year.


(ABBV)..LAD..ladbrokes../ BF.. betfred../ PP..paddy power..WH../ william hills.


Well guys those are my fancies and hopefully you will post yours and im sure together we can get a few players in the money this year.[/