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Red-hot Snedeker can give bookies some Pebble hell

Brandt Snedeker has done Odds and Ends readers a couple of good turns in recent weeks and he could be the man to beat again at Pebble Beach this week
Brandt Snedeker has done Odds and Ends readers a couple of good turns in recent weeks and he could be the man to beat again at Pebble Beach this week Brandt Snedeker has done Odds and Ends readers a couple of good turns in recent weeks and he could be the man to beat again at Pebble Beach this week

AFTER narrowly failing to live up to star billing at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the weekend, Rory McIlroy puts his feet up this week and will watch his big rivals at the top of world golf take to the fairways in California.

World number one Jordan Spieth heads the field at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, while the third member of the game’s new ‘big three’, Jason Day, is also in attendance.

As the name suggests, the event is centred around the world-famous Pebble Beach, where Graeme McDowell won the US Open in 2010.

But it is actually held on three courses, with all of the professionals, as well as their amateur team-mates, playing a round each at Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula before the top 60 head back to the main course to fight out the big prize on Sunday.

With celebrities aplenty in attendance, and slow play the norm as a result, this type of event is not for every pro, and it always pays to side with someone who has proved capable of excelling under these conditions in the past.

Spieth was seventh here last year and would definitely seem to have the patience and discipline required, which makes him very much the man to beat, as he is more often than not.

He leads the betting at 5/1 across the board, and given his form over the past 12 months, there will be those who won’t be able to see past him.

That’s fair enough, and there has to be every chance he adds to his burgeoning trophy cabinet, but I’ll not be backing him at the price in a power-packed field that also includes Day, Bubba Watson, Justin Rose and four-time winner Phil Mickelson.

None of those big names can be dismissed, with 9/1 shot Day recording a fourth-placed finish here 12 months ago, and 22/1 chance Mickelson seemingly finding his game again after a couple of quiet seasons.

Yet the two players just behind Spieth and Day in the betting are the pair to follow, with Brandt Snedeker deservedly taking top billing as far as this column is concerned.

‘Sneds’ has had a rip-roaring start to 2016, and he will have delivered a few pounds into the accounts of any readers who’ve taken the advice over the last few weeks.

He won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines a fortnight ago, when tipped here at 18/1, which followed on from a play-off loss at the Sony Open in Hawaii, when he was also flagged up each-way at 28s.

And despite a relatively low-key tie for 33rd at the Phoenix Open on Sunday, I see no reason to desert him now, especially given his sparkling record in this event.

Snedeker, possibly the best putter in the game, comes in as defending champion, having broken all records last season on his way to a 22-under-par total which gave him a three-shot win over Nick Watney.

He also triumphed here two years earlier and that combination of blistering form and course pedigree means he probably should be shorter than the 14/1 quoted by Boylesports amongst others, although the price is slightly inflated by the fact that Spieth is in the field, and he has to be backed.

My other main fancy is another two-time Pebble Beach champion in Dustin Johnson, who took this title in 2009 and 2010, and also led after three rounds of the US Open won by McDowell.

The supremely-gifted Johnson, was also second here in 2014 and fourth last year, so he clearly loves the event, while he has played some good golf in his fleeting appearances in 2016 thus far.

He was 10th on his seasonal bow in Hawaii at the start of January, while he was in the mix after three days at Torrey Pines before the winds came and blew his challenge off course.

However, the weather is set fair this week and Johnson is bound to be in the hunt, and while a best price of 12/1 with Bwin isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, he can’t be overlooked.

Elsewhere, I’ve a sneaky feeling that Shane Lowry can go well again and he is well worth a smallish each-way punt at the widely available 40/1.

The Offaly man is fast becoming the darling of the American crowds and he will surely be a huge asset for Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team come the end of September in Minnesota.

The world number 21 tees it up for the third week on the trot on the PGA Tour, and his two outings thus far have resulted in a share of 13th at the Farmers Insurance Open and a fast-finishing tie for sixth in Phoenix on Sunday.

Lowry, therefore, comes into this event in very good form, and he also impressed when finishing tied for 21st on his debut here last year.

He is well set to improve on that, and will be right at home in the light-hearted nature of the event, while the three courses in use all play to his shot-making strengths.

Finally, I’ll put up Pebble Beach specialist Bryce Molder at 100/1 with Ladbrokes.

Molder has recorded four top-12 finishes here in the last six years so knows the terrain well, while he bounced back to form by sharing sixth with Lowry in Phoenix at the weekend.

Her could be primed for another good week and the three-figure quote makes him an attractive proposition.

Foxes can provide punters with a Valentine’s treat

WHEN the Barclays Premier League fixtures computer came up with its pairings for Valentine’s weekend, little did we think there would be a couple of sizzling games in store.

In any other season, Tottenham’s trip to Manchester Cty might raise a little excitement, yet Arsenal hosting Leicester would be chalked down by most as a routine home win.

Yet, by hook or by crook, Sky really have come with a Super Sunday this week, with Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes travelling to the Emirates for a battle of the top two at high noon, before the third and fourth-placed teams – Spurs and City – go toe-to-toe later in the afternoon.

Leicester, who were as big as 5,000/1 to win the title back in August, have been nothing short of a revelation, and after putting Man City to the sword on Saturday, they have a a real chance of putting a dent in the aspirations of another of their rivals.

Indeed, the bookies can’t split Leicester and Arsenal in the title race, with both sides available at 9/4, and Sunday’s game might just make the picture a little clearer.

If Arsenal win, the gap will be two points and most observers will expect Leicester to crumble thereafter, but an away victory will give further weight to the theory that Leicester are capable of pulling off the biggest shock in modern football history.

Arsene Wenger’s Gunners are favourites for this one at 5/6 (Coral), yet aren’t in good form, even though they got back to winning ways at Bournemouth on Sunday.

They’ve also failed to score in their last two outings at home, with the fans notably getting restless during the stalemate against Southampton.

Leicester, by contrast are flying, having won at Spurs and City, as well as at home to Liverpool.

They are as confident as they will ever be and Ranieri has them set up to play on the break, with the pace of Riyadh Mahrez and Jamie Vardy continuing to scare the life out of teams.

Leicester are far too big for this game at 15/4 with Ladbrokes, and they really are a fine bet to create yet another upset.

I can’t see them not scoring – Mahrez  is a good shout at 23/10 to find the net at anytime – and given Arsenal’s problems in front of goal at home, one might just be enough.

I really like them at the price, while the 11/10 also offered by Ladbrokes about the Leicester-draw double chance might be more to the liking of cautious punters.

I’m also inclined to believe an away win could be on the cards at the Etihad, having seen the way a City defence once again without Vincent Kompany was picked apart by Leicester.

Spurs are genuine title contenders under Mauricio Pochettino, who has them well drilled and also exciting to watch.

City can be backed at 21/20, but the 13/5 about an away win is seriously attractive.

Spurs haven’t lost a league game on their travels since the opening day at Old Trafford, and are better suited to sitting back and hitting at pace than forcing the issue at White Hart Lane.

I don’t see them losing this one either, so the 13/5 makes plenty of appeal – an away double with Leicester would pay 16/1 – although again the double chance at 20/23 provides a decent safety net.