Tipster: Stanley

Kraft Nabisco Championship

Outright plays (1.5pts):

Cristie Kerr to win 40/1 e.w. @ Bet365
Kerr has continued her form of late 2003 into this season with a second place finish to Annika last week. It confirms her as the leading American player on the Tour at the moment and while she does not win too many events - her last victory was in 2002 - she ahs finished no worse than 7th in five of her last seven events. With finishes of 11th and 3rd in the last two years here, she could still be a very profitable place winner.

Rachel Teske to win 50/1 e.w. @ Ladbrokes
Similar story with Teske. She has finished no worse than 8th in seven of her last nine starts and that consistency will produce place wins if nothing else. At these odds, a top-5 finish would still produce a healthy profit. Her course form is not great, but she did finish 2nd in 2001 and has closed out events successfully on the LPGA Tour - she won back-to-back titles in June last year. This price is simply too large even with Annika Sorenstam in the field.

Rosie Jones to win 66/1 e.w. @ Stan James (w/o Sorenstam market)
Different angle with this play and with a market without the favourite. Jones is one of the most consistent players on the LPGA Tour - just one finish outside the top-15 in her last 13 starts of 2003, including one win, plus a further top-15 finish last week - but she made an important announcement via a press interview that was published on Sunday. Namely, that se was gay. She admitted during the Safeway International that she was nervous about "going public" with her sexual preference and although she had been open with close friends about her sexuality for the last 25 years, this must be a great weight lifted off her shoulders. She will now proudly be sponsored by a company that caters explicitly to lesbian travellers. On the back of this "coming out", I'd expect a strong performance from her this week, particularly as she has a very good record around this course.

Final update: 1-2; -0.37pts

Kerr 5th
Teske 35th
Jones 7th

Small loss after Kerr had to settle for a share of 5th place and Jones finished just outside of the places. Very close to a good week, but having backed Grace Park for the last two weeks, it was a little ironic that it was this week that she won.