Golf betting: Form of the field

JIM FURYK   Furyk rates a very worthy favourite in a field that lacks anyone really of his class, and on a course that should be right up his street, given the emphasis on iron play and putting. Ignore his missed cut at The Open, as he's never looked happy at St Andrews.   MATT KUCHAR   Another fourth in Canada added more dollars to Kuchar's bulging bank balance, and kept up his impeccable run. He will win soon, and everything is in place for it to happen this week, but 20/1 is just too short considering he's been backed so many times at bigger odds.   NICK WATNEY   Watney is another overdue winner. He has 12 top 30s in this consistent season, and finished seventh on each of his last two starts, including The Open. He looks bound to be there or thereabouts, though his extreme driving distance may offer less advantage than usual around this par 70.   JB HOLMES   Similar comments apply to those about Watney. With eight top 20s this season, including three top fives and 14th in The Open last time out, Holmes' numbers warrant the utmost respect. He is overlooked on the assumption that this old course will offer little for his power game, but I should clarify that such assumptions involve guesswork, given the lack of previous form.   SERGIO GARCIA   Garcia fans might be hopeful once more after top 25s in both the US Open and Open Championship. However, while those two performances were indeed more encouraging, they came on tough major layouts to which his long game has always been suited. In contrast, this low-scoring affair looks completely unsuitable for such a weak putter.   RICKY BARNES   Mid-division in Canada was no disaster for this Ryder Cup hopeful, following on from a good Open performance and a decent run of results generally. Barnes is another first-time winner-in-waiting.   MATT JONES

Jones looks just about due a maiden victory after several good results. The young Australian has six top 25s from his last ten events and ranks third for birdie average amongst this field. He could have positive vibes given a good record in West Virginia on the Nationwide Tour.   TREVOR IMMELMAN   This increasingly resurgent former Masters champion is another who made the short-list, following three straight top-25s.   BRANDT SNEDEKER   Snedeker could be worth keeping an eye on as a former Sedgefield winner, who often thrives when a classy short-game is required. He was disappointing in Canada, though.   CHARLIE WI   Few can boast better very recent form than Wi, who has four straight top 25s to his name, twice finishing fourth.   KENNY PERRY   While Perry has had little to shout about this season, failing to register a top ten in a large field, recent form is not bad. Prior to The Open, he had made five top 25s from seven.   STEVE MARINO   Marino ticks a few boxes here, in terms of a previous place at Sedgefield and decent birdie stats. His two recent failures in Scotland can easily be ignored.   JOHN MERRICK   Merrick grabbed a place for us last time in Reno, and remains on my shortlist after 11 straight cuts, including some excellent recent greens in regulation stats.   KEVIN NA   Yet another overdue first-time winner, in a week that could well produce a maiden champion. Four sub 70 rounds for 13th place in Canada show this excellent iron player is in fair form.   TIM PETROVIC   Petrovic is first reserve should any of the picks withdraw. 100/1 seems big about a man with four top 25s, twice inside the top six, from his six events prior to a predictable missed cut at The Open. He's also made the frame before at Sedgefield.   2010 STATS: -57pts   LONG-TERM ALREADY ADVISED   5pts MARTIN KAYMER TO WIN THE RACE TO DUBAI @ 9/1

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