Byron Nelson betting preview

By Dave Tindall Last updated: 18th May 2010

Rickie Fowler can post his first US PGA Tour win by capturing this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship, says Dave Tindall.

It seems to be a theme on the US PGA Tour this year that players who are considered to be due a win have been allowed one by a set of golfing gods acting with unusual generosity.

Bill Haas, Ian Poulter, Hunter Mahan, Camilo Villegas, Ernie Els, Anthony Kim, Jim Furyk, Rory McIlroy, Tim Clark and Adam Scott can all be included in that due a win category while even a Green Jacket for Phil Mickelson fitted the pattern.

So who is next in line for a victory as the US Tour heads to Irving, Texas for the HP Byron Nelson Championship?

One player who has spent most of the season being trumpeted as a winner anytime soon is 21-year-old Rickie Fowler and this could be a great chance for him to make the breakthrough.

Although he's made just 21 starts on his fledgling US Tour career, he's already banked two runners-up finishes and four other top tens.

The TPC Four Seasons course looks a good fit as in the past it's rewared ball strikers who aren't necessarily the best putters - e.g. Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh, winners here in 2004 and 2003.

Indeed, Garcia said in his post-victory interview: "I didn't putt at my best. I definitely didn't make a lot of putts this week."

Fowler is way down the putting stats but he's 10th in ball striking and his play from tee to green is behind his run of excellent finishes this year.

The Oklahoma State University grad was second in greens in regulation when eighth at Hilton Head and then fourth for G.I.R. when sixth at Quail Hollow.

Those two results have come in his last three starts - the other was a missed cut at Sawgrass, a course which didn't suit him - so he's bang in form and should be ready to hunt down that first win again.

Despite being (quite rightly) hyped, the bookies haven't been as penal on his price as you might think and the general 50/1 he's availabe at this week is well worth having a big crack at.

Another class act due a win is Sean O'Hair and he boasts a fine record in this event.

On his debut here in 2005 (first-timers can go well here, good news for Fowler), O'Hair was the 54-hole leader before finishing runner-up and after another top 20 in 2006 he took the first round lead in 2007.

He missed last year's event so will be raring to go on his return and he's been dropping enough hints in recent events that he's close to pulling off another victory.

O'Hair, who was 22nd at Sawgrass on his last start, is very much in the Garcia/Singh mould of great ball striker/dodgy putter so it would be no surprise to see him follow in their footsteps and post a win here. Take the 33/1.

At 125/1 it might just be worth throwing a few shillings at Briny Baird.

Returning to the opening theme, he's a classic case of a player overdue a win and his career on the US PGA Tour shows four second places, two thirds and 27 top tens.

He certainly likes this course and in his last two appearances at the Byron Nelson he's finished eighth (2009) and 11th (2008).

His massive odds are due to a run of three missed cuts but before that stutter he was 12th at Hilton Head while he also has a fourth, another 12th and a 17th to his name in 2010.

Yes, his 'bottle' has to be questioned but we said the same thing about Tim Clark and even if he doesn't manage to get the job done the place terms of 50/1 are still hugely attractive.

Another knocking-at-the-door type is Kevin Streelman and he's 125/1 to post a first win this week.

Streelman was 13th here last year after starting the final round in sixth following a third round 64 so he can definitely thrive on this course.

So far in 2010 he's managed three top 10s - Bob Hope, Puerto Rico and Bay Hill - and his ability to knock in birdies (he's second in that category) suggests he can go low here again.

Streelman played plenty of golf in Texas on the mini-Tours so he's a popular figure in these parts and, as he can be hit and miss, we shouldn't worry too much about a pair of missed cuts on his last two starts.

Finally, I'll have an each-way punt on another player tipped to win soon.

Charlie Wi has posted a runners-up finish on the US PGA Tour in each of the last three seasons so he deserves his tag as a winner waiting to happen.

He's finished tied 27th or better in six of his last 10 starts and was 17th in last week's Valero Texas Open.

Wi brings course form to the table too with a seventh here in 2008 and a tied 23rd last year.

Wi shot middle rounds of 66-64 last year and has the ability to go really low as he showed with a 61 in the 2008 Texas Open.

He's due. Take the 66/1.

Tips:

1.5pts e.w. Rickie Fowler at 50/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Two top 10s in last three starts so first win looks imminent. Attractive price.

1.5pts e.w. Sean O'Hair at 33/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Former runner-up here is dropping hints that he's about to hit the heights again.

0.5pts e.w. Briny Baird at 125/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Big price given his good finishes here the last two years.

1pt e.w. Kevin Streelman at 125/1 (Boylesports, Betfred 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Three top 10s this year, sixth after 54 holes here in '09 and Texas connections.

1pt e.w. Charlie Wi at 66/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Another winner in waiting. Solid form this year and likes the course.