Tiny Tim can land the Verizon Heritage Classic
The PGA Tour leaves Georgia after the first major of the season and makes it’s way to the truly beautiful setting of Hilton Head Island, home of the Verizon Heritage Classic. Played on the Harbour Town Golf Links course it really is one of the most picturesque venues on tour.
Past results here would indicate that we should be looking for somebody that wasn’t in the heat of the battle at Augusta last week, but can boast some solid early season form and the ability to also handle Bermuda grass greens.
For my first choice this week I’m going to suggest a decent each-way wager on the diminutive Tim Clark at a tasty 40/1. The South African missed the cut at the Masters last week by a single shot, so will have had plenty of time to prepare for this weeks tournament.
Three top ten finishes already this season show that his game is in tip-top shape and a seventh place finish in this event a few years back confirms that this course suits his game. If you still have any doubts then let me convince you with the following information.
In late January the Bob Hope Classic was played over five rounds on Bermuda grass greens, our man Tim finished second, beaten by one shot and finished first in putting stats for the week.
Just in case ‘Tiny Tim’ decides to throw in a bad week we had better have some back up and at odds of 66/1 I have no hesitation in nominating Ben Curtis as my second choice. The 2003 British Open champion had a relatively moderate year in 2009, but there have been signs recently that it’s all about to change.
Two top fifteen finishes in his last three events are proof that he’s heading in the right direction and like Tim Clark he also missed the cut at Augusta by a shot, so snap up the 66/1 on offer.
Boo Weekley won this tournament back to back in 2007 and 2008 and it would come as no surprise to me if Brian Gay follows suit after his fine win here in 2009. This proven winner also had a decent finish in the earlier mentioned Bob Hope tournament and was fifth on the putting stats that week proving his liking for these Bermuda greens.
For my final choice I feel it would be folly to ignore the improvement shown by Trevor Immelman at Augusta last week. This talented South African suffered a host of injuries last year, but they have been operated on and all seems well now with this past major winner. At odds of around the 125/1 mark he must be included in your staking plan.