With Paul Casey falling at the final hurdle, puntinplay followers didn't get the full returns but did show a tidy profit for the weekend. So we are looking to go one better this week.
This week the PGA tour stays in Arizona for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. With a lot of big names attending this event including many participants from last weeks match play tournament, there should be plenty of good golf for us at home to enjoy. With all these big names attending it means there will be value lurking at the bottom of the field and I think I have found it. This weeks selection comes in the shape of Ricky Barnes. Barnes now in his seventh year on tour is yet to break his maiden tag, but there have been signs that this excellent amatuer can perform on the big stage. In only his fourth Major as a professional Barnes set the 36 hole scoring record at the 2009 U.S. Open and then went on to become the fourth player ever to reach double digits under par. However Barnes shot a 76 (+6) on his final round to finish 2nd. This can be forgotten as there wont be the same amount of pressure on Barnes and if that was tournament was anything other than a major Barnes would have coped a lot better. He also has solid form for this season with a couple of top 25 finishes, one of which was 9th in the Northern Trust (a tournament which had a similar field to this weeks).
Barnes isn't the longest off the tee or the most accurate either, but the large sweeping fairways at Scottsdale should help him there. And to prove that you have to hit bombs to wn at Scottsdale is a myth, just look who won there last year. What will be an advantage to Barnes is his great short game and his putting (both of which are above the tour average). And one final thing to take into account is the crowd at Scottsdale (home of the loudest hole in golf). You just have to look at the previous winners (Kenny Perry, J B Holmes x2 and Phil Mickelson) to see that they are all crowd favourites, if they aren't on your side you're in for a long weekend. So as an alumni of the University of Arizona Barnes should begetting a lot of support.
Selections:
Ricky Barnes e/w - 150/1 (various)
