[Alistair]

This week sees the long awaited return of Tiger Woods and the golfing world waits with anticipation to see how the number one holds up after knee surgery, rehabilitation and eight months out of the game.

As match play is a very intriguing and mental form of the game, I think it's especially important to look at career records in this head to head format. Going through the field of 64, here are some match play records that stood out (as well as guys who are competing in their first match play event):

The Good:
Woods 31-6
Ogilvy 11-2
Scott 13-7
Cink 13-9
Sutherland 8-2
Davis Love III 18-8

The Not So Good:
Karlsson 0-3
Clark 1-5
Katayama 2-7
Appleby 6-10

The Match Play Virgins:
Kim
McIlroy
Quiros
Fisher
Wilson
Johnson
Oossthuizen
Marksaeng
Wen-Tang
Goggin
Kjeldsen
Schwartzel

And now the odds... (just the Top 10)

Wood 6.00
Mickelson 10.00
Garcia 11.00
Kim 15.00
Harrington 17.00
Villegas 17.00
Stenson 21.00
Els 23.00
Ogilvy 23.00
Furyk 29.00

Personally, I cannot believe that Lefty, Garcia and Kim are three of the top four choices to win this thing. Phil is in form, but I'm still not convinced he has the killer instinct going down the stretch to win six consecutive head to head matches. Sergio as well. That guy can fall to pieces at any time - admittedly less so in recent times, but still wouldn't trust him! Anthony Kim is hot property at the moment, but fourth favourite?? Please... the kid has never played a professional match play event before and is rated a better chance than former winners Stenson and Ogilvy and dual Major winner Harrington. Sure, he might do quite well, but I can't see him going all the way.

Geoffrey Ogilvy represents superb value @ 23.00. He's won two PGA Tour events already this year, is a proven match player and has a (relatively) easy bracket compared to others.

Round 1 - Kevin Sutherland
Round 2 - Immelman/Katayama
Round 3 - Villegas/Pampling/Jiminez/Sabbatini
Round 4 - Tiger

If you can find a market to reach the quarter finals, lump a bit on Geoff. I might even have a crack @ the 8.00 on him to win the Bobby Jones bracket. Tiger is still an unknown quantity at the moment and could even be knocked out before reaching Geoff. And if the two play off in the quarter-final, you can always cover.

As far as longer shots go, I like:

Baddeley @ 41.00 - one of the best putters on tour which is a huge asset in match play
KJ Choi @ 41.00 - somewhat overpriced in my opinion

I'll keep looking and see if anything else jumps out at me. Haven't even looked at first round odds yet.

Does anything stand out to you guys?

Click here to view the bracket

[Iván]

Wow, some good info provided there Ali.

Cant wait to see how tiger holds up

[Alistair]

I also can't see Tiger losing his first round match against BJ, so I'll have a piece of him in my combos tomorrow. It's not paying much, but I simply cannot see him being beaten in the first round (against a bloke who is 0-1). Knowing Tiger he'll want to win this thing, but realistically I think a quarter/semi final berth would be his first goal for the week.

[Bolar Bolabi]

Allenby 1.73 V Fisher
Goosen 1.87 V Clark
Poulter 1.73 V Singh
Cink 1.80 V Sterne
Perez 2.30

Good luck

[Iván]

katayama hits 5 birdies in a row to bt trevor from 2 down.

give me strength

[Bolar Bolabi]

Originally Posted by Bolar Bolabi

Allenby 1.73 V Fisher
Goosen 1.87 V Clark
Poulter 1.73 V Singh
Cink 1.80 V Sterne
Perez 2.30

Good luck

LOST LOST WON WON WON

Today I like

Cink @ $2.10 - WTF? He is a better matchplay golfer than Westwood
Ogilvy @ $1.50 - Goodbye Katayama
Villegas @ $1.62 - Found his rythym. Outsider to win now. Jimenez is gone
Ames @ $1.80 - Good record. Excellent bet. Hansen can go back home
Donald @ $1.85 - Superior than Singh in this form of the game. Enough said
Striker @ $2.05 - Goodbye Ernie
Perez @ $1.90 - Nice try Fisher. Better luck next year
Furyk @ $1.80 - Kaymar, you are on the up but not in this class yet. Go back to Germany to learn this form of the game
Poulter @ $1.72 - Goodbye Schwartzel. Poulter is superior.

[sports freak]

Ali knows his golf,good luck to Ogilvy for ya m8!

Geoff 1.75 over Young Rory seems like a steal?

[Iván]

Gl With That Ogilvy Bet Ali.

[Alistair]

Ha, cheers guys. I wish I'd lumped more on him @ 23.00, but that's hindsight for ya.

He's lucky to even be here in all honesty.

Round 1 - couched up a 2up thru 16 lead over Sutherland to eventually win in 19 holes
Round 2 - came back from 2down thru 16 to beat Katayama in 19 (including a 10 foot match saving putt on the 17th)

This guy is clutch in match play and one of the nicest guys on tour to boot. Hopefully he can bring it home tonight.