The Wizard tips Euro golfers

By Rob Virtue on September 17, 2008 1:00 AM |

Tagged with:

Chelsea,
Ryder Cup

The Wizard of Odds Nigel Seeley gives his top tips

A late Ryan Babel winner for Liverpool let down Place Your Bets followers aiming for a 100 per cent record last weekend.

But Chelsea showed their true colours when outclassing Manchester City 4-1 to reward backers, who could have had one of the best bets of the season at 10/11.

This weekend we turn our attention to Kentucky, and I don’t mean the fried chicken.

It’s the start of the most eagerly anticipated sporting event of the year, the Ryder Cup showdown between Europe and America at the Valhalla Club.

Last week Paddy Power made one of the betting ricks of the year by offering 33/1 that XL Airlines would go bust, and the Irish layers are making another mistake in making Nick Faldo’s European boys odds-against at 13/10 to win a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup.

The Americans go into battle without talisman Tiger Woods. Some punters think that’s a plus for captain Paul Azinger’s team but Woods’ absence will boost their opponents.

The American team features four rookies. Of these, Hunter Mahan, Boo Weekley and JB Holmes aren’t exactly household names and their lack of experience of high-pressure golf will only help Europe.

The European team is built around three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, who is rated by the bookies as an 11/2 chance to be their top points scorer.

But the man in form is Robert Karlsson, who has featured in the top 10 of three of this year’s majors and last week won the BMW Championship.

He is arguably Europe’s key performer and will no doubt feature in as many games as possible. Odds of 11/1 make him seriously appealing to be his team’s top points scorer.

With the match expected to be very tight the bookies make a European victory by 14.5-13.5 favourite, at odds as short as 7/1.

But if you are looking for a speculative bet I think Europe will win it more comfortably than predicted, by 17-11, and at odds of 25/1 it could be an interesting wager.

The Premier League clash of the season so far is at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, when Chelsea entertain Manchester United.

Both teams have been given a massive boost ahead of the clash. The Blues’ John Terry miraculously escaped a three-match ban after last week’s red card was rescinded.

United could welcome back superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for a match they have to win, even this early in the season.

Chelsea have produced some scintillating football and are odds-on to dethrone United. Back them to beat Fergie’s men.

Running total: +£132

Recommended bets
£30 – Europe to win the Ryder Cup @13/10
£10 – Robert Karlsson to be Europe’s top points scorer @ 11/1
£5 – Europe to win by 17-11 @ 25/1
£30 – Chelsea to beat Manchester United at 5/4