Our betting blog from DownThe18th reflects on a busy weekend in Kent, Las Vegas and Hong Kong
Golf Betting Blog:
200/1, 150/1 and 33/1 - no these aren't your weekend footy accumulators, they were the starting prices of this week's winners in the world of golf.
We'll start close to home at the London Golf Club where pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson (11/2) was defeated by fellow Scandinavian Mikko Ilonen (33/1) - the man who propped up the market when odds were first released. And understandably so when you realise the Fin had lost all seven of his match play singles prior to this event. But that's golf.
Alongside the World Match Play was the Hong Kong Open, a place where Miguel Angel Jimenez has made his second home in recent times - four wins no less. It's a tournament that requires immense dedication for the European viewer - we weren't setting out alarms for 3am that is for sure.
A par was enough for the big-hitting Scott Hend (150/1) as he beat Angelo Que (100/1) on the first hole of their play-off. The British pairing of Kevin Phelan (300/1) and Mark Foster (80/1) grabbed full places showing once again the terrific value on offer in golf.
Our French, two-pronged attack of Bourdy (25/1) and Jacquelin (40/1) failed to push on during the weekend.
It was a similar story over in America as the PGA Tour moved to Vegas. So it was only fitting someone at 200/1, Ben Martin, made a few lucky punters very happy with his maiden win. Kevin Streelman (100/1) and the man from Inverness Russell Knox (75/1) pushed a very nervy Martin right to the wire.
The much more fancied trio of Simpson (22/1), Koepka (25/1) and Walker (20/1) grabbed a share of 4th place.
Now to make you all feel a bit sour inside - if you were to have placed a mere £1 on the Scott Hend/Ben Martin double, you would have won a cool £30,000. Not impressed? Well, the treble of Hend, Martin and Ilonen would have returned just over £1million.
You might feel a bit sad from time to time placing the odd 10 pence on 'silly' golf bets but we'll keep on doing it. Hoping, praying...
This week, the European Tour moves to Australia for its last event before the Final Series while the PGA Tour stops off in Georgia for the McGladrey Classic.
Russell Knox (40/1) and Steven Bowditch (50/1) head our betting travails for the week - find or previews and betting advice at http://downthe18th.wordpress.com/
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