Win some Texas wedge with Steve Flesch

Written by Zico Kelly

Thursday, 04 October 2007

Lots and lots of birdies is the winning secret in any golf event but none more so than this week’s Texas Open at La Cantera. In 2003 we witnessed a record-breaking 26-under-par 254 from veteran Tommy Armour and the following year Bart Bryant knocked it round in 60 on his way to glory.

It’s a 6,881-yard par-70 course that is always at the mercy of the pros unless there's a bit of wind. That was the case at the weekend last year when the average score was just over par and Eric Axley's was 15 under. This year the forecast suggests they're in for a fair bit of rain and not much wind. That points to a soft, defenceless course that will favour good putters.

Step forward putting machine Steve Flesch has 16 to 1 odds at BetUs.com. The recent victory of Steve Flesch at Turning Stone, finishing with three 67s for 12th at La Cantera 12 months ago, the odds available in a weak field are well worth snapping up. Wins in Reno and New York in the past couple of months, it has been a fine second half of the year for the southpaw who was also fifth in Milwaukee, 12th at Westchester and 23th in the USPGA. Flesch showed his mercurial putting when shooting 66-65-66 for the first three days at Turning Stone.

Anthony Kim (25s with BetUs.com), runner-up on his first pro start at LaCantera last year, could also feature. He shot 131 an the weekend and although his form has been unspectacular for the past few months there is no doubting his pedigree in what is, as discussed earlier, a low class field. Remember Kim has delivered four top-tens this season and a superb 20th in the US Open. He is still only 22 and despite the absence of any strong recent form, this could be the ideal course for this spectacular birdie-shooter who hits it miles and is a respectable 44th on the putting averages.

Stephen Ames with 30 to 1 odds at BetUs.com is the highest-ranked player taking part and also enters our portfolio. Ames simply loves putting on Bermuda greens - his record on those surfaces is simply superb and the 2006 Players Champion will relish the lack of length this track features Pat Perez would not be winning out of turn but how long have we been saying that? He was fifth on the course five years ago though. Nationwide Tour star graduate Nick Flanagan is a possible and two good weeks in a row for Bill Haas has boosted his confidence. However, we´ll stick with our three off the tee Flesch, Kim and Ames.