ROSE TO BLOSSOM AT ST ANDREWS

WHO could forget last year when 59-year-old Tom Watson turned in probably the most remarkable performance ever seen at the British Open.

Leading the tournament on Sunday afternoon with one hole to go and needing just a par to win, poor Watson bogied, setting up a four hole play-off with fellow American Stewart Cink, which  Watson lost by six  shots. 

Defending champion Cink is out of form since his Open win and is priced at around 70/1 – he can be left alone this year.

So who do we fancy to go  well?...  

The pressure is on again after talking up Graham McDowell to win the US Open at 60/1 a few weeks back. 

Obviously world No.1 Tiger Woods is slowly getting his game back to some sort of  shape after taking a six-month break from the game. Woods could be the man to beat this week, especially as St Andrews is his favorite course. 9/2 is a great price for Woods, but I will be  leaving the Tiger out of my betting equation this week.

 We have got it down  to two placers who we think have great each-way chances this week, and with bookmakers paying the first seven places it’s important punters back each-way.

First up is Englishman Justin Rose – the man on form this last few months.

Red-hot Rose has won twice in the  last month in America, winning the Memorial Tournament and the AT&T National, raking up over $3 million, and he now stands third in the Fed-Ex Cup standings. Rose is priced around 20/1 with Sean Graham and should go close this week; funnily enough, he is paired to play with Woods the first two days.

 Our other nap is the big  hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros. This guy is probably the biggest hitter of a golf ball in the world and will be taking on  the St Andrews with his power; he’s way  overpriced in my book.

If the wind does not blow too much then Quiros could be a sneaky each-way bet and is priced at around 70/1 with Grahams.

  If you fancy a flutter on  the Irish golfers this week, U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell is priced at 25/1 while former British Open champion Padraig Harrington, who is not playing well this year, is  under-priced at 22/1.

Young golfing sensation Rory McIlroy is as small as  16/1, while the back-to-form Darren Clarke could snatch a place at 66/1 – whatever you back, let’s hope you are in contention come 5pm on Sunday.

PG DELIVERS YET AGAIN

THE Punters Guide yet again delivered to its legions of followers at the weekend after SPAIN (4/1) lifted the World Cup on Sunday night – predicted by your favourite betting column a month ago.

Local punters filled their boots, while most punters who backed the David Villa/Spain double were still paid out on the wincast double, albeit at 1/4 of the stake; so if you had £20 on at 18/1 Sean Graham paid you £5 at 18s – could have been so different if he had put away that chance against the Dutch.

On the to the horse racing and we had two big races last week, the July Cup and the John Smiths, and again the PG steered its readers to the winner’s enclosure in both races after tipping up 2/1 shot STARSPANGLEDBANNER and 5/1 Saturday winner WIGMORE HALL, which worked out as a 17-1 double.

On to the racing ahead and in the next few weeks a couple of cracking races to look forward to. We start with the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot next weekend and what a hand Michael Stoute has here, with easy Derby winner Workforce and the ever improving Harbinger. We think the Stoute stable jockey Ryan Moore has picked the wrong one and HARBINGER looks the bet with French jockey Olivier Peslier landing the ride on the second favourite. 

English Oaks winner Snow Fairy will try and make it an Oaks double by winning the Irish version on Sunday, but the rain at the minute will hinder his chances and we are going with the Goldophin horse Hibaayeb who scooted up in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and gets a 5/1 pricing.

We have the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Saturday and  Ed McMahon will saddle Temple Meads, who missed an engagement at Royal Ascot and is worth following at the weekend.