Japan Open

FINAL RESULT: 1-2; +0.63pts

Katayama 7th
Izawa 2nd
Conran 7th

The first time in three weeks that the event has not been reduced to 54 holes by the weather and the first time that all three finish in the top-10. Could have hoped for a larger return from such clustering, but they were never going to catch Taniguchi - and it had been the first time that he had not been a selection!

Outright plays (1pt):

Shingo Katayama to win 16/1 e.w. @ IASbet
Still the best player on this Tour and I would have expected lower odds with all players having to learn a new course this week. Despite playing in a number of events around the world, Katayama has come back to the Japan Tour to win two titles in 2004 and finish in the top-7 in six of his last seven Japan Tour events and ten out of thirteen in 2004. Weather permitting, that consistency should at least ensure that he is in contention on Sunday.

Toshimitsu Izawa to win 25/1 e.w. @ GolfingGods
Still plugging away with Izawa even though his price has steadily fallen from 50s two weeks ago. Nothing more to add other than what has been said in the last two weeks. On both occasions he has finished in the top-10 and when fully fit, he really shouldn't finish anywhere else.

Steven Conran to win 40/1 e.w. @ IASbet
Conran didn't play in the Typhoon conditions last week, which is probably of benefit. However, his form in the month up to last week certainly does not warrant these odds. He won the Hisamitsu-KBC Augusta and then finished 7th, 24th and 3rd. He joins two other Australians in the top-15 of the Money List and this looks to be a year when the record is broken for the number of titles have been won by non-Japanese player (twelve in 1998).

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