Martin landed a very handsome each-way tip on Thursday, thanks to 100/1 shot Brian Harman in a First Round Leaders pick. He’s back to keep it swinging on Saturday.
Open Championship 2-Ball Acca
13:10 – Viktor Hovland v Hideki Matsuyama – Viktor Hovland to Win
13.45 – Nicolai Hojgaard v Antoine Rozner – Nicolai Hojgaard to Win
14:45 – Jordan Spieth v Cameron Young – Jordan Spieth to Win
15:30 – Tommy Fleetwood v Brian Harman – Tommy Fleetwood to Win
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 9/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
We’ve reached the halfway stage of the 151st Open Championship and with the weather set to play its part on what is already proving to be a tough challenge we look set for a fascinating ‘moving day’. Top of the pile through two rounds is American Brian Harman.
The lefty who did us a big favour on day one by landing a full place return for us at a 100/1 in the First Round Leader market, pushed on during day two with a flawless 65 to open up a five shot lead from his nearest pursuer, home hero Tommy Fleetwood.
The test for Harman now is to not get ahead of himself and as the old cliché goes and ‘to keep doing what he has been doing’, as any slip up will allow Fleetwood and a host of other big names who are waiting in the wings right back into the mix.
So, with a mouth-watering round three in prospect let’s see if we can pick out some value in today’s two ball pairings.
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Viktor Hovland v Hideki Matsuyama
The first pairing to catch my eye is that of Viktor Hovland and Hideki Matsuyama who tee off at 13:10 and it is Hovland who I will side with here.
The Norwegian who is carrying our outright hopes for the week has been in fine fettle from tee to green so far ranking right at the top end of the stats on that front, while 11th off the tee and 40th in approach play. Unfortunately though his putter has failed to cooperate so far as he sits 99th in that department.
Conversely, Matsuyama, who is usually known for his long game strength, has struggled with his iron play this week, so far ranking 110th in approach play with his flat stick, which so often lets him down, coming to the rescue – he currently ranks 15th on the greens.
In essence, of the two Hovland looks the far more solid so far and I’ll take him to get the better of the Japanese star here.
Nicolai Hojgaard v Antoine Rozner
Teeing off at 13:45 we then have the pair of Nicolai Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner and it is Hojgaard who gets the nod here.
Hojgaard played his way into the Open courtesy of a big finish in Scotland last week and he has ridden that momentum into a really solid opening two days gaining strokes in all key areas across the bag and posting rounds of 71 and 70.
Rozner conversely opened up strongly before regressing on Friday with a 74 to slip down the field. A three-time winner on tour, the Frenchman is not to be underestimated, however Hojgaard who already has two DP World Tour wins by the age of 22 is clearly the player of the two with the higher ceiling, and with Rozner’s putter having been his strongest ally over the first two days I’ll take the talented Dane to come out on top here.
Jordan Spieth v Cameron Young
Next up I will take Jordan Spieth to see off Cameron Young when they get underway at 14:45. I have to be honest. my initial thought was to leave this pairing alone, however I just felt at the even money odds I couldn’t resist the 2017 Open Champion.
Young produced a great 68 on Friday to get himself back into the mix for the Claret Jug. Equally though, day one was much tougher for him and even though he leads the field in approach play so far this week with his game fragile of late there is no guarantee he goes forward today.
Spieth has gained strokes in all key areas this week and with his record in the Open speaking for itself I expect his experience in the tough conditions to count today.
Tommy Fleetwood v Brian Harman
Finally, I will wrap up our acca by siding with Tommy Fleetwood against Brian Harman when they tee off at 15:30.
Harman has been superb so far this week with the putter in particular being red hot, gaining him over eight strokes on the field to rank first on the greens, however as we know that kind of performance is often unsustainable.
As gritty a character as he is you would have to think that he’ll start to look over his shoulder and while I don’t expect him to implode completely I expect him to come back to the field to a certain extent.
Fleetwood, as we know, has not proven to be the most reliable at the business end of the week either over the years, however playing in his own backyard he has had that look of determination about him this week and this might just be his time.
On what is expected to be a tough day in terms of conditions, it should suit him and if he can grind out level par that may well be enough to have him right where he wants to be heading into Sunday and to come out on top in this pairing.
Open Championship 2-Ball Acca
13:10 – Viktor Hovland v Hideki Matsuyama – Viktor Hovland to Win
13.45 – Nicolai Hojgaard v Antoine Rozner – Nicolai Hojgaard to Win
14:45 – Jordan Spieth v Cameron Young – Jordan Spieth to Win
15:30 – Tommy Fleetwood v Brian Harman – Tommy Fleetwood to Win
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 9/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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