Golf betting blog: near miss

Our weekly golf betting blog, brought to you by Down The 18th, reflects on eventful tournaments in America and Australia

Thorbjorn Olesen wins ISPS HANDA Perth International
Thorbjorn Olesen wins ISPS HANDA Perth International
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Our weekly golf betting blog, brought to you by Down The 18th, reflects on eventful tournaments in America and Australia

Golf betting blog:

The year 2014 is winding to a close now, with just a few more tournaments left either side of the Atlantic. Over in America, the ludicrous decision to make the ‘fall series’ part of the FedEx Cup still baffles us, but Robert Streb (80/1), like others before him, took full advantage to secure his maiden PGA Tour victory at The McGladrey Classic.

We can’t help but feel the 2014/15 season starts far too early, leaving no rest bite or even recovery time from the recent Playoffs. But it is what it is and after these 7 tournaments, there will finally be a break.

As for Streb though, what a performance. Beating Will MacKenzie (300/1) and Brendon De Jonge (60/1) in a playoff shows his nerves of steal. Just before that gorgeous 8-iron approach on the par 3 17th to affirm his win, you could still get him at 2/1, which we thought was a cracking price considering it was, by this time, just him and De Jonge left fighting.

Going into the Sunday, Streb started at a staggering 120/1, as he was 5 shots behind the lead. As for us, we didn’t have the greatest week after Brian Harman (55/1) hit a shocking 73 on Saturday to drop right out of contention, after finding himself in a tie for 3rd. But why did it frustrate us even more?

Yep, we had him in a cheeky double with Thorbjørn Olesen… The great Dane started the ISPS Handa Perth International at 45s, meaning our double was a mind-boggling 2575/1.

We were rubbing our hands together when Olesen went into the weekend 1 shot off the lead and we were confident that 250/1 shot Peter Whiteford would never hold out for his first European Tour victory and that was proved right.

We can’t be too disheartened though, as it’s a solid win for us and an exciting return to form for the supremely talented Olesen. Watch out for him.

This week sees both Tours in Asia with the CIMB Classic in Malaysia and the first of Europe’s ‘Final Series’ over in China.

Check out https://downthe18th.wordpress.com for our preview and bets!

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x