Having already sided with the home team in his outright preview Brent Graham casts his eye over the speculative top scorer markets and colleague Alan Moscrop chips in as well.

A number of bookmakers have still to price up on the top scorer markets and I would imagine there will be some match bets on offer in the hours leading up to the start of the 2011 Presidents Cup at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

As things stand though there are 3 options for punters to consider namely Top International Scorer, Top USA Scorer and Top Combined Scorer.

Here is my shortlist with suggested bets and Alan Moscrop shares his selection with the price on Tiger unlikely to be there much longer.

TOP INTERNATIONAL

I have identified 5 men as being big runners in this market namely:

Day 11/2 generally available

Scott 6/1 Ladbrokes

Schwartzel 15/2 Sportsbet and Hollywood

Els 12/1 Sportsbet and Ladbrokes

Baddeley 12/1 generally available

Day and Scott are bound to get plenty of game time with Norman showing by his captains picks that he favours his countrymen on home soil. They are a likely combination as well and look worthy of their spots at the top of the boards. Schwartzel has played great golf this year and comes into this event in good form while Els has been a stalwart of many a Presidents Cup side. Finally with putting likely to be at a premium I fancy Baddeley could justify his captain’s faith.

Verdict

A tough market and I am going to make it harder by taking my selections to not just top their team’s logs but to come out on top in the combined market. My logic is that having gone for the Internationals with some confidence in my outright preview I am in effect expecting one of them to finish with the most points. It could backfire of course but taking 12/1 Day rather than 11/2 will also allow me to throw in countryman Scott at 14/1.

Loads of respect for Schwartzel and also Els but I am going to leave it at that pair for now.

BET: 2 units Day Top Combined Scorer at 12/1 with Ladbrokes and Bet.co.za

BET: 1.5 units Scott Top Combined Scorer at 14/1 with Ladbrokes

Alan Moscrop reckons: Ernie Els at 12/1 with Sportsbet or Ladbrokes

TOP USA

Tiger Woods is 10/1 at Hollywood but that won’t last and he is generally 6/1 elsewhere after his 3^rd place finish in the Australian Open.

I am looking to oppose him though as I have doubts over his likely partner Stricker who returns from a longish layoff and while said to be in good health has had plenty of injury problems.

I was originally looking at Hunter Mahan but he pulled out with injury last week and while the 12/1 at Ladbrokes is tempting I will probably leave it this week.

The man I feel could go well is Nick Watney who showed with his top 5 in the Australian Open that his game is where it should be heading into this event. He should relish the course which favours good approach shots and at 8/1 he is my pick for top US scorer.

BET: 2 units Watney Top US Scorer at 8/1 generally available

Alan Moscrop reckons: Take the 10/1 Woods at Hollywood, it won’t be around for long.

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