The first event of the 'Fall Series' is about as wide open as a golf event gets with several bookmakers going 20/1 the field.
The Course: Atunyote GC at Turning Stone, Verona, NY (par-72, 7,482 yards)
A newish Tom Fazio-designed layout (opened in 2004), set in gently rolling hills and parkland. There's water everywhere with the largest expanse covering three holes, including the dramatic 598-yard closing hole, which is easily the longest of the four par-5's at 624 yards (the others being the 5th, 8th and 12th). The generous fairways will suit the big hitters, although the large greens will place an emphasis on putting.
Ross' Top Tip: Michael Sim @ 40/1 bet365
Defending champion Dustin Johnson aside, there are plenty of non-winners (or players who have forgotten how to win) at the head of the betting, so I'll happily swerve them and plump for the Aussie, who can't stop winning (albeit on the Nationwide Tour). After winning his third event this season (in just 12 starts!), he gained a 'battlefield promotion' to the main Tour, becoming just the ninth player in history to do so, and clearly has a big future. His all-round game - he hits it very long and straight and is deadly accurate with the putter - should allow him to prosper, and quotes of 40/1 in this sort of company could soon become a thing of the past.
Next Best: Mathew Goggin @ 50/1 Victor Chandler
Next up is another Aussie who you may remember threatened to win our Open at some point back in July (finished ffith). Since then, he's played well enough on the PGA Tour to make the playoffs - eliminated after a tie for 46th at the Deutsche Bank Championship - and will be well up for this week, having finished fifth here in 2007 and third last year. Not difficult to see him climbing another two places this week.
Outsider: Marc Leishman @ 50/1 Ladbrokes
Not quite in the 'outsider' bracket but I daren''t leave him out of the staking plan. Granted, he was a disappointing last week, but prior to that he was one of the form horses of the playoffs with a second placed finish to Tiger at Cog Hill being the highlight. Absolutely bombs it off the tee, yet still hits a surprisingly high rate of fairways (60%), so I'm prepared to give him another chance at what is a decent price.
Ross' 72-Hole Match Bet: Michael Sim to beat Charles Howell III @ 10/11 Blue Square
Recommended Bets:
Michael Sim 2pts each-way @ 40/1 bet365
Mathew Goggin 1pt each-way @ 50/1 Victor Chandler
Marc Leishman 1pt each-way @ 50/1 Ladbrokes