FBR Open

Outright plays (1.5 units):

Retief Goosen to win 16/1 e.w. available generally
Goosen finished outside the top-10 for the first time this week, but given that he had previously expressed a dislike for pro-am golf at the Dunhill Links Championship, it was hardly surprising. Back to standard strokeplay events this week and Goosen is back on the shortlist. He had a very similar start to last season (4th in the Mercedes and 20th in the Sony Open) and finished 3rd in this event. He is certainly playing well enough to repeat the feat.

Kenny Perry to win 28/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler and Paddy Power
Perry displayed last week that he is playing well enough to repeat his 2nd place finish to Chris DiMarco in 2002. He was in great form for four days and just struggled with his ball-striking in the final round, yet unlike Triplett, he dug in to still finish in the top-5. Widely available at a more realistic 20/1, these odds look generous.

Rocco Mediate to win 40/1 e.w. @ Bet365, Victor Chandler, UKBetting and Totalbet
A fine 16th place finish in his first event of the year was Rocco's return from last week's event. He looked to be in good shape and it was surely no more than a warm-up for this event in which has such a good record: from 1999 to 2001, he finished 1st, 2nd and 2nd. Unless there are some injury concerns that I have missed, these are very large odds for such a course specialist.

Final update: 0-3; -4.50 units

Goosen 9th
Perry wd
Mediate mc

Not very encouraging. A first-round withdrawal, a missed cut and a flattering top-10 finish. Goosen finished only two shots from a top-5 finish, but never looked like being any higher.