25-1 Oleson is a man to keep on your side

SPORTS BETTING:

THE arrival of the Dubai Desert Classic is always welcome at McHugh Towers.

Not only is watching sunshine golf over a full English breakfast a pleasant pastime, but this event heralds the start of the really big clashes between European and American stars.

And they don’t come any bigger than Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, who are at the top of the betting as the Dubai event starts tomorrow.

McIlroy, who has surrendered his world number one spot to Tiger in the last 18 months, has been struggling to adapt to his new Nike clubs. But the signs at the end of last season and the beginning of this suggest you can’t keep a good man down.

McIlroy really ought to have won his last tournament, the Qatar Masters. He finished just behind the rejuvenated Sergio Garcia. After spending the last 10 days practising in Dubai, Rory is clearly ready to go.

But 7-2 about the Northern Irishman winning is stingy and I would prefer to back his great rival, Woods, at 13-2.

But there is a player in this field who is about to burst on to the international golf scene in a big way and he can be backed at 25-1. His name is Thorbjorn Oleson.

Oleson first caught my eye in last year’s Masters at Augusta where he recovered from a first-round 78 to finish sixth.

He looked to have all the tools necessary for success at the highest level and he once again displayed his class with a podium finish in Qatar.

Whether he wins or not this weekend – and I will be backing him to do so – Oleson is a rising star who will be doing so in big events this season.

Keep him on your side.



THE annual Six Nationals rugby union bash gets under way on Saturday when the highlight is England’s trip to France.

Under normal circumstances, I would fancy the French, but some good judges reckon they are vulnerable, so an England side seemingly on the up should be backed to beat them at 13-8, and to win the whole shebang at 5-2.



RECOMMENDATIONS: Thorbjorn Oleson to win Dubai Desert Classic at 25-1 (general); England to beat France in Six Nations, 13-8 (Betfred) and to win championship, 5-2 (Boylesports).