Golf Central

Today in 1999 Jesper Parnevik won his third career PGA Tour event by two strokes over Jim Furyk with a 23-under-par total at the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic. On the very same day in Europe, Jarmo Sandelin closed with a 69 at the Peugeot Open de Espana to win by four strokes over Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ignacio Garrido and Paul McGinley. And in 1971, in the same year that he became the first golfer to win all four majors twice, Jack Nicklaus won the Tournament of Champions, finishing eight strokes ahead of Bruce Devlin, Gary Player, and Dave Stockton.

April 24th is a bittersweet day for one Jerry Lanston "Lanny" Wadkins. Whilst in 1983 he was celebrating a Tournament of Champions victory by one stroke over fellow American Raymond Floyd, exactly five years later he’d be swallowing the bitter pill of defeat when Chip Beck posted a 64 in the final round of the USG&G Classic in New Orleans. Wadkins finished seven strokes behind Beck's 26 under 262.

Peter O'Malley hasn't won a European Tour event in seven years, but when it comes to leading the rankings for driving accuracy and greens in regulation he's never far from top spot. A 67, with six birdies and a solitary bogey on 18 left him atop the leaderboard at 5-under, with Mikko Ilonen, Jeev Milkha Singh, Henrik Stenson and Oliver Wilson just a shot shy on 4-under.

Had to resist backing Anthony Kim (does this count if he does well this weekend?) in favour of this sturdy trio. Big ask for Trev to perform, but I've got a hunch that Poulter might get among them at some point this week:-

Trevor Immelman @ 16/1: welcome back Trev and thanks again for bringing home that 130/1 punt at The Masters. On that basis alone, he's worth an each-way from me this week.

Ian Poulter @ 33/1: after showing both sides of his game at Augusta, he'll be hungrier than ever to perform well. I can't ever picture him as a Major winner, but he is almost bound to throw a few pleasant surprises along the way. If he putts well and stops moaning, I'll be happy.

Fredrik Jacobson @ 50/1: another perennial BD fave - it's amazing what an invitation to a barbecue round a golfer's house can do to his personal judgement. Played well last week, however, and has the happy knack of gaining momentum with every decent week that passes.