Niall Lyons has two bets for the AT&T-sponsored event in California this week.
Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and the Monterey golf courses once again host the Pro-Am event on the West coast. This isn't to everyone's taste and to be honest it's not too desirable for me as a punting event either, but we'll have a few small bets. The format means many pros will have take an age to get around 18 holes and many just don't have the patience for it. The great and the good of the Hollywood and Sport will take to the fairways over the four days and we'll see more of this lot on the telly than the pros over the first few days. Wind will play a part throughout the event and an ability to play in those conditions is always a huge advantage.
Dustin Johnson heads the betting market at a general 8/1 and with his impressive record around here many will see him as a decent betting proposition this week. Not for me though. He hasn't convinced me lately that he's firing on all cylinders and I'm reluctant to take single figures in such a volatile event. Justin Rose at 14/1 is probably the most likely of the favs to go onto win for me but once again the price is uninspiring.
We'll kick on with a few bets. Many will know the hopes I've got for TONY FINAU and he very nearly got the job done for us a few weeks ago at Torrey Pines. He has a lot of positives for this event despite not having played here. He played well a few years ago at Whistling Straits in the PGA, notched a top 20 at last years Open Championship, and with good performances at the Memorial and Torrey Pines he clearly has the ability to go well on the major courses. Pebble Beach is another of those major venues and with his low ball flight I think this could be a tournament where he plays well in years to come. He has a power game akin to Dustin Johnson who has tasted a lot of success here down the years so with his current form (I'm not worried about the MC at Phoenix, desert golf isn't his forte) I believe he is worth investing in.
SHANE LOWRY is on a run of 9 made cuts on the trot and his consistent form should continue here at Pebble Beach. 21st and 41st here the last two years is a modest enough return but certainly shows he has the attitude and ability to make it over four days here. Lowry is a people person and his personality certainly lends itself to this event. His top 20 in Phoenix last week was impressive as it's not the type of golf that perfectly suits his game. After a poor end to last year this is certainly a return to form for Lowry and he who hits odds on in last years US Open Championship can be expected to go well on another major venue. The wind poses no problem for the Offaly native and if there's going to be another event he lands in the States in the next short while this is more likely than any other for sure.
Once again, like the Maybank, I'm treading carefully with this event and don't wish to get more involved than what we already are.
