Football and Golf

Time for another winner after a couple of barren days. For those of you who don't know how Asian handicaps work, you get your stake split into two handicaps and then both are 'draw no bet' bets. ie, If tonight you had £20 on Real Mallorca+0.25 at Evens, you have £10 at Evens on Mallorca with 0 handicap, and £10 at Evens on Mallorca +0.5 goals. So if Mallorca win the game outright, you win on both halves of the bet and win £20. If Mallorca lose the game, you will lose on both sides and lose £20. However if the game is drawn, you will get your stake returned on the 0 handicap half and win on the +0.5 half, hence winning £10. Its a good way to back an underdog who you don't think will lose, ut may only get a draw.

5.50 Charles Howell to win 3-ball v Sluman and Wetterich 6/5 (LOST by one shot +13.03 - Howell parred the first 16 holes, and when he birdied the 17th he went level with Wetterich. However, there was no hare and tortoise story as Wetterich birdied 18 to shoot -2. Sluman shot +3)
After an over par first round last week Chucky Threesticks ended up 8th, 5 shots off the lead and improved with every round. He has a good record at Waialae and was runner-up last year. Sluman won here in 1999 but is now a much older player and Wetterich shouldnt upset the apple cart.

9pm Real Mallorca +0.25 Asian Handicap v Real Madrid 20/19 (WON 2-1 +14.08 - Congratulations if you were brave enough to back them outright as Mallorca gave Real something to think about in the Bernabeu next week)
Real Mallorca take this competition seriously, witnessed by their 4-0 defeat of Osasuna in the last round. Madrid however treat it like the Carling Cup and in the last round snook through after a 2-1 win in the home leg saw them through 3-2. And they have left a whole host of stars in Madrid tonight - Cannavaro, Metzelder, Heinze, Soldado, Robben, Baptista, Casillas, Diarra and Van Nistelrooy - with only 5 of the weekend's XI in the 16. So I can fully see Mallorca getting something here. A win may be just too much, but the draw is possible and so the Asian handicap seems a good place to play

10.10 Stricker to win 3-ball v Wilson/Funk 20/21 (LOST by 2 shots +13.08 - Stricker was facing an early exit after reaching the turn at +3, but fought back well on the back 9 to finish tied with Wilson on +1, while Funk shot -1. That comeback means I will be looking to get with Stricker again this weekend)
As you will have read yesterday Stricker is a player who's game is on the up and he's already approaching the top (or second top, given the top spot is out of reach of mere mortals), and this week will be a good chance for him to secure more prize money early in the season after his runner up spot last week. Wilson finished 17 shots behind Stricker last week and Funk 16, and Stricker beat them both in every round. Expect that to extend to 8 rounds here.