The 10th hole at the Doral Resort & Spa © Doral Resort & Spa
Rory McIlroy 6/1 © Kompuder dude
This week sees the second WGC tournament of the year pitch up in West Miami at the Doral resorts Blue Monster course. The resorts name Doral comes from a combination of the original owners names. Doris and Alfred Kaskel purchased 2,500 acres of swampland back in 1959 and by 1962 the resort was open to golfers, with two 18-hole golf courses, the Blue and Red and a par 3 course.
Dick Wilson designed the Blue Monster in 1961 and in 1993 KSl Recreation Corporation purchased the resort and renamed it the Doral Golf Resort & Spa. A $30 million investment including a redesign by Raymond Floyd, takes the yardage up from its original 6,939 yards to today’s 7,266 yards on the Blue Monster, where the course now incorporates 110 bunkers and has eleven water hazards.
My tips to win:
Its hard to see past the bookies favourite Rory McIlroy 6/1, apart from his win last week, Rory has only been outside the Top 5 once in his last seven outings and is going to be hard to beat in his current form.
Its hard to ignore Tiger Woods 7/1 after his final round 62 and a charge at the Honda Classic to nearly catch Rory. It was only a matter of time before Woods got himself back into the thick of things and with the Masters just around the corner, Tiger is timing his run just right.
Tiger Woods 7/1 © Keith Allison
Lee Westwood 14/1 is the bookies third favourite and it’s easy to see why with the way Lee finished at the Honda Classic, equalling his best ever round on the PGA Tour. He has played in two PGA events this year, finishing forth in both of them. Add those to his 2nd place at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and it’s not going to be long before his picking up the winners trophy.
My each way tips are:
But for three double bogies Charl Schwartzel 22/1 would have been in the thick of it come Sunday at the Honda Classic, but the reigning Masters Champion is in great form and another player who seems to be gaining momentum as we enter the final weeks before his defence of the seasons first major.
Sergio Garcia 33/1 has teed it up twice on the PGA Tour this year, coming forth in the Northern Open and then going out in the first round at the WGC Match Play against compatriot Miguel Jimenez. Sergio seems to be enjoying his golf again and two wins at the back end of last season could be the start of a renaissance for the Spaniard.
I must admit I was surprised to see Brandt Snedeker 66/1 being offered at these odds, his only soiree outside the Top 20 this season was the week after he won the Farmers Insurance Open.
For betting odds updates during the tournament Click Here
The 8th green on Doral's Blue Monster course © Doral Resort & Spa
