The Great Trifecta giveth and the Great Trifecta taketh away. You may recall the Great Trifecta from previous missives: GT is the one, true god of sports betting, a supreme being who sits in judgment on all matters pertaining to fortune, good and bad, but usually the latter.
The Great Trifecta giveth and the Great Trifecta taketh away. You may recall the Great Trifecta from previous missives: GT is the one, true god of sports betting, a supreme being who sits in judgment on all matters pertaining to fortune, good and bad, but usually the latter.
When I imagine this supreme being I envisage a John McCririck-figure stroking a cat and laughing uproariously as unsuspecting punters blow their moolah on another duffer.
Clearly, this all-seeing eye has retained a special affection for this column. The Tenner Bet has experienced His munificence and wrath of late. Germany's European Under-21 Championships win was one thing, Venus Williams to win Wimbledon quite another although, figuratively speaking, as near misses go the American's shot at the women's title hit the net cord, rolled along the tape and just bounced out.
What that means to net profits is this: the Great Trifecta giveth and the Great Trifecta taketh away. The £60 profit raked in from Germany's success has been all but cancelled out by some failed bets in the interim.
Alas, the show must go on and with the Open Championship scheduled to begin at Turnberry on Thursday I feel well placed to comment, especially since the golf course in question, the Ailsa, is an old stomping ground. The last time I played it, I vomited. No, it was not the smell of dimethyl sulfide wafting in off the Irish Sea, nor was it the salty bacon roll before tee-off. Rather, it was the 15 pints of lager the night before.
Which brings us neatly to my point. Recalling that pneumonia-inducing round brought back something Rory McIlroy said after his rain-interrupted third day at Bethpage for the US Open in June.
The Northern Irishman was on the 10th tee when the gallery began to shout his name. "They started chanting, Rory, Rory, Rory,' so I can't tee off for about five minutes," said McIlroy. "While I am waiting, I see this guy out of the right corner of my eye. He walks about five yards, throws up because he has had so much to drink, and then he runs back to the ropes and starts shouting again. Now that is a loyal supporter."
Why is this important? Tiger Woods' impressive return to winning ways at the AT&T National last weekend may have had the punters rushing, like a hungover man runs to a bunker on one of the planet's finest courses, to splash out on the world No.1. However, at 2/1 in an umpteen-horse race I know I would like to have more evidence that he's back to his absolute best.
There are others in the field, too, that represent better value, notwithstanding that fine victory at the Congressional Club. One such is McIlroy. It is only a matter of time before he lands one of the big ones and he is no stranger to leading from the front in exalted company. He has a tendency to fade in the majors but his consistency is improving and at a best-priced 22/1 is a live each-way consideration.
As is Sergio Garcia, whose power game will be suited to the course.
The Spaniard seems to save his best for the Open and he too has the chance to trouble the top of the leaderboard.
A word to the wise, though: stick to the orange juice and pray. A lot.
Selections Rory McIlroy e/w to win the Open (22/1, general); Sergio Garcia e/w to win the Open (20/1, general) Season's profit -£227.43
