Matchup plays (2pt unless stated):
Brad Bryant to beat Bruce Lietzke -105 @ Centrebet and SuperOdds
Discounting Lietzke's fine form on this course (2nd last year and 6th in 2002) as the Tour's 2005 Cart Policy has done no favours to those who struggle with bad backs and course form can be treated with some caution this year. Never one to practise hard in his younger days, Lietzke reached his peak long ago on this Tour and should now be opposed more times than backed. Whereas Bryant has finished in the top-16 in each of his last four starts, Lietzke has done so in only two of eight starts this year. No surprise that he has finished behind Bryant in three of their last four common events
Jerry Pate to beat Curtis Strange -114 @ Expekt [4pts]
Strange has actually finished ahead of Pate in each of their last two common events, but they have both been by margins of just one and three shots respectively, while Pate had finished ahead of Strange in their previous four common events this year by much larger margins. Taking their six common events together, Pate holds a 11-4-2 h2h advantage in terms of 18-hole scores, having yet to be outscored by Strange in the final round and only once in the first round. He is clearly the far more competitive player and having finished 25th on this course last year whereas Strange is making his debut this week, this should be another consistent performance from Pate.
Brad Bryant to beat Bruce Lietzke -105 @ Centrebet and SuperOdds
Discounting Lietzke's fine form on this course (2nd last year and 6th in 2002) as the Tour's 2005 Cart Policy has done no favours to those who struggle with bad backs and course form can be treated with some caution this year. Never one to practise hard in his younger days, Lietzke reached his peak long ago on this Tour and should now be opposed more times than backed. Whereas Bryant has finished in the top-16 in each of his last four starts, Lietzke has done so in only two of eight starts this year. No surprise that he has finished behind Bryant in three of their last four common events
Jerry Pate to beat Curtis Strange -114 @ Expekt [4pts]
Strange has actually finished ahead of Pate in each of their last two common events, but they have both been by margins of just one and three shots respectively, while Pate had finished ahead of Strange in their previous four common events this year by much larger margins. Taking their six common events together, Pate holds a 11-4-2 h2h advantage in terms of 18-hole scores, having yet to be outscored by Strange in the final round and only once in the first round. He is clearly the far more competitive player and having finished 25th on this course last year whereas Strange is making his debut this week, this should be another consistent performance from Pate.
