Anderson is Premier value

SPORTS BETTING: ONE of the biggest events in the darts calendar will be held tomorrow night when Wembley is the venue for the Premier League Play-offs.

The four finalists qualified from an original field of eight and it is hardly surprising to see a rejuvenated Phil Taylor heading the market at 4-11 to retain the crown he won last year.

Of course, he is much the most likely winner, but he is not so far ahead of the others that he deserves to be so short a price.

For instance, world champion Adrian Lewis – his semi-final opponent – is an insulting 14-1.

And Raymond van Barneveld, who takes on Gary Anderson, is 12s.

That said, I fancy Anderson to make the final at Barney’s expense, in which case the 5-1 about the Flying Scotsman is pretty good value.

This man is arguably the heaviest scorer in the game and, although his finishing may not be in Taylor’s class, he has the ability to put The Power – who had two nine-dart finishes against James Wade in last year’s final – under pressure.


LUKE Donald and Martin Kaymer, winner and runner-up in the Accenture World Matchplay in Arizona, head the field for the Volvo World Matchplay which gets under way at the Finca Cortesin course in Spain tomorrow.
The former is 7-1 joint favourite with Lee Westwood and, given his tremendous record at this format of golf, looks value event at that price.

I reckon either Donald or the consistent Kaymer (9-1) will come out on top and suggest you split your stake between this pair.


OVER in America, a decent field lines up for the Crowne Plaza International at the Colonial Country Club in Texas.
Young Yank Jason Dufner impressed me when going well for a long way in the Players Championship at Sawgrass last weekend and, given his early tee-off time, looks great value at 50-1 to be first-round leader in this event.


RECOMMENDATIONS: Gary Anderson to win Premier League darts title, 5-1 (totesport); Luke Donald to win Volvo World Matchplay, 7-1 (general), Martin Kaymer 9-1 (totesport); Jason Dufner to be first-round leader in Crowne Plaza International, e.w, first five (Bet 365).