Like the Sydney to Hobart, the Monaco Grand Prix and Wimbledon Tennis, there are a lot of once a year premium sporting events that Joe Average gets excited about once a year. Welcome to Golf’s equivalent – the US Masters.
All these events don’t capture the public’s imagination without reason however, as there’s just something different, mystical and/or some deep tradition about it to make you tune in for your once a year.
Thankfully one of the traditions of the Masters – being no Australian has ever won it – has disappeared, one can now sit back and enjoy the first major of the year without the nagging thought in the back of your head how the Australians will find a way to not this year. Sort of like the relief when Mark Webber finally won a race.
Not that an Aussie will this year’s event, despite the strong claims of Jason Day and Adam Scott, as ever The Gurgler tips and recommends only one man, the only person in golf for The Gurgler. Some know him as The Mechanic. We know him as the cigar smoking, ponytail wearing, driving range gyrating, hero of the 18 holes – Miguel Angel Jiminez.
If you’ve missed some of his best work, recap with the link below.
The jovial Spaniard is starting to get on, but the quality remains as he proved for both cases with his recent form on the Senior Tour. Somehow he manages to get invited back, and we couldn’t be happier. All we can hope is that he is up the top of the leaderboard or playing with Phil Mickleson or Tiger Woods otherwise we’ll never see him.
It’s not all about The Mechanic, but it should be. To cover our love for M-A-J we provide a bunch of alternative bets for you to view or avoid this weekend.
BEST BETS
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMINEZ
To Win – $161
To Lead 1st Round – $101
Top 6 – $21
Top 10 – $10
Top 25 – $3.75
OTHERS TO LEAD FIRST ROUND
Justin Rose – $29
Keegan Bradley $61
Ernie Els – $141
Fred Couples – $81
TO WIN
Phil Mickleson – $26
Martin Kaymer – $81
TOP 6
Martin Kaymer – $12
TOP 10
Ian Poulter – $6.50
Bernard Langer – $5
BEST ROUND ALL WEEKEND
Phil Mickleson – $26
HOW ABOUT A COURSE MAP AND STATS?
| FRONT NINE | BACK NINE | |||||||
| Hole | Name | Yards | Par | Hole | Name | Yards | Par | |
| 1 | Tea Olive | 445 | 4 | 10 | Camellia | 495 | 4 | |
| 2 | Pink Dogwood | 575 | 5 | 11 | White Dogwood | 505 | 4 | |
| 3 | Flowering Peach | 350 | 4 | 12 | Golden Bell | 155 | 3 | |
| 4 | Flowering Crab Apple | 240 | 3 | 13 | Azalea | 510 | 5 | |
| 5 | Magnolia | 455 | 4 | 14 | Chinese Fir | 440 | 4 | |
| 6 | Juniper | 180 | 3 | 15 | Firethorn | 530 | 5 | |
| 7 | Pampas | 450 | 4 | 16 | Redbud | 170 | 3 | |
| 8 | Yellow Jasmine | 570 | 5 | 17 | Nandina | 440 | 4 | |
| 9 | Carolina Cherry | 460 | 4 | 18 | Holly | 465 | 4 | |
| Out | 3725 | 36 | In | 3710 | 36 | |||
