WHO CAN CONQUER THE HEATH?By Brendan James
Golf Australia Editor
Live @ The Masters
Play is underway in the 2009 Australian Masters with bookie and crowd favourite Tiger Woods already hovering near the top of the leaderboard.
With a crowd of more than 15,000 trying to follow his progress, the World No.1 carded three birdies in his first ten holes to be at three under, one stroke behind veteran Queenslander Terry Price.
Can Tiger stay in contention through to Sunday afternoon? Here is my form guide of players to watch at the Masters and some betting tips you may want to follow.
TIGER WOODS - The world's best player will only get better with each round as he becomes more familiar with the nuances of the Kingston heath layout. However, winds predicted for the weekend may bring him back to the field and give the locals a better chance. Will be interesting to seen if he is in contention come Sunday whether he can seal the deal given he has struggled when contending in four of his past five events.
Betting: $2.50. Too short to back with a few dollars.
GEOFF OGILVY - Australia's highest ranked player seemed a little out of sorts during the pro-am but he still feels his game is nearing a peak. The Melbourne sand-belt bred Ogilvy believes if he plays "the way I should play", which he showed during the final two rounds of the HSBC Champions last week, he will be in contention.
Betting: $10. Good value that will keep you interested right through to the dying stages of the tournament.
ADAM SCOTT - Has had a year to forget but looks good this week. His ball striking in practice has been sharp and there appears to be a growing confidence in the putter. The Queenslander looked quietly confident after the pro-am.
Betting: $17. At this price he's worth a dabble.
MICHAEL SIM - Australia's best player overseas during 2009 had his chances in this event last year. Has learned plenty about his game and matured a lot in just 12 months and cannot be ruled out as a chance. Capable of shooting very low numbers in trying conditions.
Betting: $17. Get on!
AARON BADDELEY - Another Aussie who has has a less than memorable 2009 abroad. You can expect, however, that Badds will lift his game on a course where he won the 2000 Australian Open in fine style. Knows this course better than his own backyard.
Betting: $20. A good chance but needs to improve tee to green to grab the Gold Jacket again.
GREG CHALMERS - The former Australian Open champion possesses all the right stuff needed to win this week. He's a great ball striker, canny strategist and his short game is A+. If he doesn't win he will be thereabouts.
Betting: $34. Jump on for a top-three finish at good odds.
OTHERS TO WATCHSteve Bowditch - Coming off a win in Queensland, all Bowditch's best performances seem to come in a bunch.
Betting: $6.50 for a top-10 finish is a good bet.
Marc Leishman - The boy from Warrnambool has established himself as one of the rising stars of the US PGA Tour and cannot be discounted.
Betting: Good odds for a top-3 finish.
Cameron Percy - The PGA Tour bound Victorian grew up a short drive from Kingston Heath and knows better than most how this course works.
Betting: Juicy odds for an each way bet.
I hope this helps you decide who to back this week and you win a quid following these tips.
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