Europe cut for Ryder glory

SPORTS BETTING: GERMANY’S Martin Kaymer struck a pre-Ryder Cup blow for Europe by winning the USPGA title at Whistling Straits.

In doing so, he booked his place in the team to face the Yanks at Celtic Manor early in October and forced the bookies to cut the home side to 4-6.

America, now available at 2-1, had their own plus points thanks to the efforts of Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar, but the big question for skipper Corey Pavin is their ability to adapt to the tighter course in Wales where booming drives will be severely punished if drifting off line.

European skipper Colin Montgomerie faces a tricky selection poser as Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey and Justin Rose will probably need wild cards to make the team.

And, if Lee Westwood recovers from injury, there will be only three of those.

Someone is going to be disappointed and I expect it to be Rose.



ATHLETIC’S wonderful start to the season has been treated as a flash in the pan by the bookies.

The Latics, who are looking down at the rest in League One, are 50-1 to win the title and 12s to be promoted. Let us hope the odds-layers have got it wrong.

As for Saturday’s match at Charlton, Athletic are a rather insulting 4-1 to record a win. The hosts are 4-5, with the draw at 13-5.

If pushed to have a bet, I would log on to Betfair and lay the Addicks. Better to have two results in your favour than one.

Rochdale have made a reasonable start to their campaign with two draws, but are only 2-1 to be relegated.

I suspect the excellent Keith Hill will ensure that does not happen.




ANDY Murray’s victory in Toronto at the weekend has seen his odds for the US Open cut to 7-2.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, both victims of Murray in Canada, share favouritism at 3-1, while it’s 16-1 for Novak Djokovic, 18-1 Robin Soderling, 20-1 Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych and the same price for the rejuvenated David Nalbandian.

If you fancy Murray, then you might as well take the 6-1 about him becoming BBC Sports Personality of The Year.

With little competition in the 2010 sporting arena, Murray would surely be a penalty kick if winning a Grand Slam title.