For my preview of this tournament click here: WGC MatchPlay Tips
- If you'd like to understand a bit more about spread betting on golf then read this article: Golf Spread Betting
- Alternatively, if you've always wandered how Betfair trading works on golf then read this: Golf Trading
Great news if you've not opened an Extrabet account yet - there's a new offer just been announced which brings a spread betting element into the deal for new customers. Now you get a £25 fixed odds bet plus a free £100 spread bet once you've placed 5 qualifying bets. Full details of this offer are here: Extrabet new £135 offer
There's a fascinating market available from Extrabet this week called Matchplay 80 Index. Essentially your player is awarded points based on how far he gets in the tournament: Win=80pts, RunnerUp=60pts, Lose in Semis=40pts, Lose in Quarters=30pts, Lose Last 16=20pts, Lose Last 32=10pts. Here's my selections for this market:
Ian Poulter buy
Matchplay 80 Index at 14 with
We're in profit here if Poulter makes it through to the third round. I made my case for Poulter in my main tips, however here my rationale repeated:
Defending champion Poulter is 100% made for Match Play and won't relinquish his title without a massive fight. His first match against Stewart Cink is likely to be the toughest before the semi-final so, assuming he gets past the Turnberry champion, I can see no reason why he won't progress to the semi finals. Won his last event in November with a classy 22-under total in Hong Kong, straddled either side of a 6th place finish and the infamous playoff defeat to Robert Karlsson in Dubai. Forget his 2011 form - he's just been warming up for this! RESULT: T33, -14 Points
Paul Casey buy
Matchplay 80 Index at 20 with
I also made my case for Casey in my main tips, however here my rationale repeated:
It may be a case of 'third time lucky' for the Englishman who is also a resident in Scottsdale. Two consecutive defeats in the final will have hurt Casey, however they'll have also made him even more determined to win in a format he loves and a course which suits his eye. His biggest challenge may come from the young Aussie Jason Day who thrives on this type of surface, however other than that I can't see anyone stopping him get to the semi finals, even Geoff Ogilvy who he's destined to meet in the quarters. RESULT: T17, -10 Points
Odds and bookmaker offers correct at 08:30GMT 22.2.11 but naturally subject to fluctuation.
