Johnnie Walker Classic Preview
The European Tour takes a trip down under for the Johnnie Walker Classic at The Vines resort in Perth on Thursday, where European Tour new boys Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas are joint favourites on Sporting Index's finishing position spreads (both currently at 23-26). Golf fans will praise the abundance of star names set to appear and spread bettors could be in for a thrilling ride judging by the talent on display. Buyers of any of the favourites on the leaderboard spread (60 points to winner, 40 points for runner-up, 30 points to third place and so on) may notice the absence of some big-name Australians, namely Adam Scott, Robert Allenby and local boy Nick O'Hern, which might confuse some punters' selections with the removal of home-bias among the big-guns.
Those who like to study previous events will be aware that Australian players have performed well here in the past. O'Hern actually finished in second place last time the Johnnie Walker Classic came to town, in 2006. Also on the leaderboard three years ago were a certain A Scott and R Allenby. Buyers of Anthony Kim's leaderboard spread, currently at 15, might be justified in their conclusion that the course suits the Americans, after outsider Kevin Stadler triumphed here last time with a course record equalling 268. Buyers of British hopeful Paul Casey (who finished nine shots off the lead at The Vines in 2006), currently at 10-13 on his leaderboard spread, will be confident of a profit after his recent success in Abu Dhabi but spread bettors who have tentatively opted to buy may be better served by Sporting Index's �Fresh from the Vine� hotshot market. Featuring the four favourites (Kim, Villegas, Casey and Lee Westwood), 25 points are awarded to any player finishing in the top ten with a bonus 25 points for the tournament winner. At 54-58 points, buyers will be hoping for at least three of these names to come in with one of the ten lowest scores after round four.
Looking at other past performances at this course, which hosted the Heineken Classic between 1996 and 2001, buyers of Ian Poulter's leaderboard index at 8 and sellers of his finishing position spread, set at 32-35, will be pleased with his previous finish of 6th place (tied) in 2006 for the Johnnie Walker event, but will have to weigh this up against a missed cut in 2001 and the fact that this will be his first appearance since November after corrective eye surgery. Richard Green is one of the few Australians present that the Sporting Index traders consider a strong hope for the title with a leaderboard spread of 30-33, and sellers at the price will be hoping for at least a repeat of 2006, when he finished in joint third place after 72 holes. These punters may be unaware of his finish in the 2001 Heineken Classic however, where despite playing the full four rounds he finished 18 shots off the lead.
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