In this latest golf betting blog DownThe18th review a weekend where the tips were dreadful as was the front running skills of some of the world's best golfers
Golf Betting Blog: GangHahn Style
f you were to describe the final day's action both sides of the atlantic in one word, what would it be?
Bottle-jobs
Never have we seen that many players in two completely different tournaments hop to the top, only to flop right out of it. With it being the week of Oscars madness, it would be impossible to pick your best bottler , but you'd have plenty of contenders.
It would have been tough, tough viewing for all those who backed these guys in-play, but especially those pre-tournament. If you're worried that category includes us and Golf Monthly, don't be. We both had absolutely shocking weeks from a betting perspective, with not one pick finding even a top 10...
Chronologically, we were entertained in Delhi first for what was the inaugural Hero Indian Open. The leading men in this field were S.S.P Chawrasia (33/1) and Siddikur Rahman (70/1) who went into the Sunday clear of the guys below. Both went on to shoot a +5 round, falling by the wayside in the process.
Chawrasia did dig in and fight on the back nine, although even the divine intervention from fairway trees couldn't help him win outright and he eventually lost to Anirban Lahiri (7/1) in a play-off.
We did say before the event that it's not a normal week when you see the Lahiri at 7s and actually understand it. Two wins in one month for the Indian is some achievement. Prayad Marksaeng (50/1) backers will be happy with solid returns even with his 3-putt shenanigans on the last, whilst anyone who went e/w on Joakim Lagergren at a whopping 300/1 will be revelling in delight this week.
Across the pond and our nominations for Sunday's bottlers are: Retief Goosen (250/1), Sergio Garcia (28/1), Graham DeLaet (50/1), Jim Furyk (25/1) and our very own J.B Holmes (50/1).
That's a fine list of contenders for the top gong, but it also shows how crazy that final day of the Northern Trust Open was.
Garcia only needed to par the final 2 holes to claim victory but bogeyed both, Furyk got to within one of the lead before a double and a 6 on the par 5 17th, whilst overnight leader Goosen went on a horrible run during his back nine.
As for the winner, 'Gangnam dancer' James Hahn (150/1) played the golf of his career to outclass a resurgent Paul Casey (125/1) and reformed Dustin Johnson (14/1) in a three-man playoff.
On the 10th in a tense play-off, to have the audacity to hit a flop shot over the back bunker and sink a 10-footer showed nerves, but to then hole out from 25-foot showed true class.
We've banged on about those that failed to cope with nerves, but Hahn epitomises the true meaning of a leading man.
The DownThe18th Vs Golf Monthly challenge continues and here is the scoring so far
Current Standings after 6 weeks
Head over to http://downthe18th.wordpress.com for this week’s preview and picks.
Golf Monthly European Tour £-50.00 PGA Tour £37.00 Total £-13.00
DownThe18th European Tour £14.30 PGA Tour £-22.63 Total £-9.67
DownThe18th leads by £3.33
