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Stupid logic behind the reasoning though it sort of worked.
Since the European Tour introduced the star player option at the beginning of 2014, I always opted for the player who was my main bet, or occasionally a short priced favorite, not once has my star player won.
Sick of the double whammy failure, when my main bet and star player fail, last week was the first time ever I spread my options and did not back my star player pre tournament.
Lahri was 66/1 before the event started, care to go back 12 months on this thread and you will see I put Lahri up as one of my 3 picks last year.
You'll also find him in my selections for other events, as I've been a Lahri fan for a while.
Anyway it sorted of ended up OK as I did back him in running after the third round at a healthy 28/1.
Of course I wished I'd put him as one of my 3 picks, as I'd now be showing a decent profit on the European Tour, but then again if I had selected Lahri as one of my main picks, would he have won?
Oh and Flash, I noticed a certain FlashFlush currently sitting in 25th position on the overall leaderboard.
Now that is a decent run of form on golfing selections.
Hope you keep it going as it gives me something to aim for
Good Luck this week and for the rest of the season.
He's really is due a win and with close buddy Paul Waring having a big week last week, it could help spur him on.
Two negatives for me, (but won't stop me backing him at 150/1), Baldwin has virtually zero form in South East Asia, he hasn't played in the region that much, but I'm not sure he's made a cut.
Second concern is that with his game in such good shape, he appears to be getting very frustrated on the greens, here was his reaction after missing the cut in Malaysia last week.......
Good at hitting the hand break, then switching to reverse gear at the moment... Tee to green was brilliant today. The rest?...... Sh*te
I love his honest appraisal
Normally in this type of event you find a handful of world class players who the sponsors have enticed, followed by a collection of European Tour regulars, the cream of Asian golf and the not so creamy Asian golfers.
With the absence of any big names, Anibarn Lahri is left as the highest ranked player at 37 in the world and he's only been in the top 50 for 2 days!
So plenty of locals to pick from, Prom Meesawat is from Hua Hin, hot Thai prospect Jazz Janewattananond lives a 5 minute walk from the course, Thaworn Wirachant has won here on the Asian Tour, of course there is Thongchai and Aphibarnrat and the Swedes who base themselves here including Rikard Karlberg who has 2 top 10's here on the Asian Tour.
All will have high hopes and plenty of attention this week and I'd been leading towards Meesawat and Janewattananond, I'll be keeping an eye of them in running and may even have a look at them for FRL.
Putting Matthew Baldwin to one side, as for me this week at 150/1, he falls into the 'can't risk not backing him' category, my main but speculative selections are:
SSP Chawrasia - 1.5 points ew 80/1, agree with Flash's summary above....10th in Malaysia last week despite starting with a +4 round of 76! Followed it up with a 67 and 2 68's. Definitely one of the better Asian tour players and has won twice on the European tour before.
I'll add that he's played here twice in the Asian Tour and has tow top 20's and a bit of course knowledge.
Wen Chong Liang - 1 point ew 100/1, maybe not the name on the tip of everyone's tongue, but he is China's number one player.
He's a multiple winner on the Asian Tours including the Singapore Masters which was a co-sanctioned European Tour event.
Last week was his first event of the year and he finished a tidy 32nd, so cobwebs blown away and ready to progress this week.
Johan Edfors - 1.0 point ew 100/1, another Swede to be attached to this course and has a top 10 here on the Asian Tour, won a challenge tour event a few months ago, but poor to erratic form since.
The lack of rough here could suit 'bombers' and the course knowledge will help.
Mark Foster 0.5 points ew 175/1, some of his best results in recent years have come in South East Asia.
When he has a good week he's well capable of a top 5 finish and in this field 175/1 looks very generous.
European Tour Starting Balance = -45 points
Returns from Malaysian Open = + 3.5 points
Thailand Classic Investment = 8 points
Balance Carried Forward = -49.5 points
it turns out that I haven't included a single American in this event, which may not be wise, but hey I like the foreigners this week so what can I do?
Shane Lowry - 1,5 points ew 50/1, a tied 7th last week at The Farmers was eye catching and he should relish the courses played this week.
Ian Poulter - 1.5 points ew 66/1, he's had some decent results over the last couple of months, tied 19th last week wasn't too bad, I fancy Poulter could be pushing for his first PGA Tour win sooner rather than later and I'd imagine he will enjoy conditions this week.
Seung Yul Noh, 1 point ew 100/1, tied 19th last year in his second appearance, another player I think will be suited to these courses and conditions and at 100/1 is worth a shot.
Greg Owen 0.5points ew 200/1, some of his best finishes on the PGA Tour have been here with a 3rd, 4th and 9th place finish. Won his first event on US soil last year. Another player who fits the right profile and with the added bonus of very tasty 3 figure odds.
PGA Tour Starting Balance this week = - 31 Points
£5.00 Single
If you fancy doing some early research, I'm pretty sure the Avantha Masters used to be held on the same course as next weeks events.
Last week Flash noted I had 66/1 winner Anirban Lahri as my main European Tour fantasy pick for the Malaysian Open, yet didn't post him as a pick on here.
Well I also participate in the PGA Tour fantasy comp where you have 4 picks a week, over the last 3 weeks I have included all 3 winners (Koepka, Day and Snedeker) in my fantasy picks yet failed to put any of them up as a pick on here!
I've been having quiet words with myself, something needs to give / change.
For the record all 3 of your picks were on my short list, but my thought process has gone like this:
JB Kruger - He's won on this course. I've backed him a few times over the last few months and he seems to string a few birdies together and then mess up, I've lost faith in him, though 100/1 is a great price and I'll probably be physically sick if he wins.
EDIT: He's won in India but not on this course, though he has played here in Asian Tour events.
Marcus Fraser - I know you are a big supporter of Fraser in these sort of events, he also has form here, price is about right, can he make enough putts? If he can he should go close. I should back him, but just for you Neil I might not.
John Parry - One of my potential dark horses for this week, so surprised you've also singled him out, history would suggest that no golfer, horse or football team can win when they get the combination of TheDart and Joesman1's support, so probably best I leave alone now.
Right then, a new event to the European Tour, but as it happens there's plenty of course form to be found out there, especially from regular slots on the Asian Tour.
Which means there's a lot of past course winners and loads of players with course knowledge and form.
A short course said to reward accuracy and shot making as opposed to wellying it off the tee.
SSP Chowrasia - 2 points ew 33/1, perhaps an obvious pick, as he won the Avantha Masters here in 2008 and won an Asian Tour event here as recently as November 2014. Plenty of other good results on this course and has being holding his own most weeks on tour in Europe, whilst he remains one of the stronger players on the Asian Tour. Though horses for courses is the real onus this week
Arjun Atwal - 2 points ew 50/1, India's first international golfer, he has two wins to his name on this course, he's recently shown a return to form with a win in Dubai on the Asian Tour at the end of last year. Looks to be the value in the field this week.
Lee Slattery - 0.5 points ew 80/1, lost his card last year so restricted playing rights this season have limited him to just 3 starts, but he came 3rd in one of those events. Not the longest off the tee, but that shouldn't be a problem here.
John Parry - 0.5 points ew 100/1, he went 22 events last year without making a cut, before finding a bit of form at the send of the season with 4 cuts made from 7. Went back to tour school and rediscovered his game finishing 6th.
Last weeks 11th suggests that John Parry has a competitive game once again and at his best he has a real good chance in this field.
EDIT: ADDED Mithun Perera - 0.5 points ew 150/1, I put him up as a selection on here a couple of months ago after he finished 2nd on the Asian Tour at this very course.
I've kept half an eye on him since then, his achilles heel appears to be lack of length, but accuracy wise he appears to have an excellent game, lack of length not a problem here which is backed up be Perera's excellent course form.
European Tour Starting Balance = -49.5 points
Hero Indian Open Investment = 11 points
Balance Carried Forward = -60.5 points
Northern Trust Open
No messing about this week, straight in with 4 players who at the very least must give me one place return.
Harris English 2 points ew 40/1, playing well, 3rd in Hawaii, lost to Day in a 4 man playoff last time, top 10 here. I expected him to be priced up at 25/1 - 33/1. Very pleased with 40/1.
Hunter Mahan 1.5 points ew 50/1, recently admitted that this was one of his favorite courses and an event he really hoped to win.
Webb Simpson 1.5 points ew 50/1, tied 7th last time out, tied 6th here in 2013.
Keegan Bradley 1 point ew 50/1, lost in a playoff here in 2012, will it be Bradley or Simpson who become the first player to win after switching from the soon to be illegal long putter.
PGA Tour Starting Balance this week = - 41 Points