FINAL RESULT: 2-1; +5.75pts

Haas 7th
Watson 4th
Pooley 4th

Three high finishes, but it was a lost opportunity, particularly for Pooley, to win this event. Roberts surprisingly struggled on the final day, but Pooley just couldn't hit his approach shots close enough to give himself chances for birdies. At least he didn't birdie the last hole and knock Watson out of his top-4 payout places.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 2pts)

Jay Haas to win 15/2 @ Bet365
Haas described himself as having a kind of "awakening" when he missed the cut at the Chrysler Classic last October. From that point on, he said, he knew that his home was this Tour and he should devote himself fully to it. He proceeded to win the following week and has now finished 5th, 1st, 2nd and 3rd since then. His previous five Champions Tour finishes had been mc, 18th, 22nd, 23rd and 9th. In this new dedication to this Tour, Haas will more than one in every eight tournaments even with Roberts and Irwin in the field.

Tom Watson to win 16/1 e.w. @ William Hill
Watson is another who looked like he may have lost the desire to compete as hard on this Tour following the death of Bruce Edwards in 2004, but 2005 was as good a season on this Tour that Watson has had. He won twice, lost out on two more titles in playoffs and finished in the top-5 in eight of thirteen starts. He also finished in the top-5 last week, having held the first round lead, so with a 3rd place finish on this course last year, he looks set to be very competitive yet again this week. And if the Trade Winds do blow, it should enhance his chances of earning that first Tour title in Hawaii.

Don Pooley to win 33/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
A good price, especially with five places, for a player who, like the other selections, finished in the top-5 last week. In fact, he shared the first round lead with Watson and Roberts and moved into a three-shot lead with one round to play. But it is difficult to defend a lead with such low-scoring and after being one-over-par after three holes of the first round and out of the lead, the pressure was really on. So it was an impressive performance not only to rebound, but to shoot 30 on the back nine and force Roberts to hole a 30-foot putt on the last to deny Pooley a playoff. So, returning to a course on which he finished 5th last year, he should take a lot of momentum and positives into this week. That does make this price rather generous.