Aussies can enjoy their Open waltz; SPREADWISE.Byline: By Jeremy Chapman THIS year's Open has an Aussie Rules feel about it and the downunder contingent will take inspiration from the fact that three of the eight Birkdale Opens have gone to the Waltzing Matildas. That's why a buy of Sporting's Australian performance is the call. The asking price is 50 but there are some good names batting for you, including my chief outright fancy Geoff Ogilvy Geoff Charles Ogilvy (born June 11 1977) is an Australian professional golfer who now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the United States. Ogilvy was born in Adelaide, South Australia. . Backing him up there's Adam Scott
Adam Derek Scott (born July 16, 1980) is a professional golfer and one of a crop of young Australians plying their trade on the major golf tours. , Robert Allenby Robert Allenby (born 12 July 1971) is an Australian professional golfer. Allenby was born in Melbourne. He turned professional in 1992 and was soon successful, topping the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit in his first season and again in 1994. , Stuart Appleby Stuart Appleby (born May 1 1971) is an Australian golfer. He was born in Cohuna, Victoria. Career summary Appleby is from Cohuna in rural northern Victoria. Appleby practiced by hitting balls from paddock to paddock. (who has already been in an Open play-off, in 2002), Aaron Baddeley Aaron John Baddeley (born 17 March 1981) is an American-Australian professional golfer. He was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA and now plays on the U.S.-based PGA Tour, has joint U.S. and Australian citizenship and was raised in Australia from the age of two. , Richard Green Richard Green may refer to:
Pampling was born in Redcliffe in Queensland. He turned professional in 1994. He began tournament golf career on the PGA Tour of Australasia, where he won the 1999 Canon Challenge and also spent time on and Nick O'Hern Nicholas Simon O'Hern (born 18 October 1971) is an Australian professional golfer. O'Hern was born in Perth, Western Australia. He is left handed and took up golf at the age of nine. . These are eight good blokes and true, and there are also possibilities about Craig Parry, who led the 1999 Open at Carnoustie up to the 12th hole of the final day, when he ran up a seven yet holed out of a bunker at the last to miss out on the play-off by only one stroke. Of course, with 20 Aussie runners, there are bound to be some no-names who fall by the wayside and the penalty for missing the cut is five. Allow, therefore a minus factor of at least 30 when you decide on your stake. The scoring system takes some working out but there's 50 for a winner, 25 for a second-to-tenth finisher, 20 for 10.5-20th position, 15 for 20.5 to 30, ten for 30.5 to 40 and five for 40.5 to 50. Expect strong performances from Doral winner Ogilvy, Allenby (in great form and 19th at Birkdale last time), Green, fourth last year and third at Loch Lomond at the weekend, and ultra-steady Pampling. Scott is the loose cannon, capable of extreme brilliance or crass stupidity. If he's on song, everyone will have a job getting past him. Finishing-position sellers double their profits with IG and Sporting up to a pounds 10,000 maximum if their man wins, which will result in plenty of interest in front-runners Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els, the two men with the best Open CVs. But Justin Leonard knows how to win an Open, which Garcia has yet to prove, and as he is a recent winner in the States as well, a sell at IG's 37 could go all the way. For a bit of cheap excitement, why not try selling golden oldie Tom Watson, the 1983 Birkdale champion. He's still mustard on the Champions Tour and has beaten his mark of 62 on his three latest Open appearances, 18th in 2003, 41st in 2005 and 48th in 2006. At 58, he's not getting any better, of course, but the competitive spirit and that wonderful swing remain top of the range. Recommendations Buy Australian performance 1pt at 50 Sporting Sell J Leonard finishing position 1pt at 37 IG Sell T Watson finishing position 0.5pt at 62 IG CAPTION(S): Adam Scott is part of a strong Australian contingent |
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