Dan Roebuck’s PGA Tour preview – WGC Cadillac Championship

Geoff Ogilvy was obviously disappointed not to have won last week’s Honda Classic, but the Aussie’s second place at PGA National behind Michael Thompson had more than just a cheque of $648,000 as a silver lining.

That’s because his runner-up effort at Palm Beach Gardens was enough to hoist him into the top 50 of the world rankings, which in turn earned him entry into this week’s World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. And given Ogilvy’s previous stellar form at Doral Country Club, host venue for the event, it seems pertinent for punters to back the 2008 champion at 40/1.

Ogilvy hasn’t had the best of times in the last few years. His last success came in December 2010, with injury and loss of form on the putting surfaces key factors. Four consecutive missed cuts heading to PGA National meant he wasn’t on anyone’s radar to perform well at the Honda. But he has suggested his play has been better than his results show and that he is always more comfortable on Florida greens than those found on the west coast.

Ogilvy ranked in the top ten in four of the five main stats categories last week – ironically missing out in putting average – and knows another good finish will see him nail down a Masters invite.

Each of the last five winners have shown solid form in the run up to the event and, without sounding like a broken record, that means Justin Rose at 16/1 and Charl Schwartzel at 14/1 again must come into the mix.

Rose is the defending champion and ran a place for followers last week. Schwartzel missed out on a top-five finish by a single shot, but with two each-way efforts at Doral in the last three years, he must be included in the staking plan once more.

My three off the tee – Ogilvy, Rose and Schwartzel.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.