FiveStarPick.com was humbled yesterday as two of its “can’t miss” plays were upended due to bad performances by good players.  We plan to right the ship today as we give our members the winner of the Ian Poutler/Paul Casey match in the 3rd round of the 2008 PGA Championship.  Now let’s learn a little something about the two young Englishmen.

In 2005, Paul Casey’s career began to take off.  He captured his 4th and 5th European Tour victories in China, won the TCL Classic in March, beating Paul McGinleyin a playoff, then claimed the Volvo China Open in November, once again after a playoff in which he defeated fellow Englishman, Oliver Wilson. Highlights of 2004 also came in team events firstly as a member of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team at Oakland Hills andsecondly, together withLuke Donald, as England captured the WGC -World Cup at Real Club de Golf Sevilla with Casey holing the winning putt. Secured his card as an Affiliate Member of the Tour in 2001, shortly before winning his maiden title in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship in August. Finishing 22nd on the Order of Merit helped him win the 2001 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year. Coached by Peter Kostis, his amateur highlight came when he was one of the stalwarts of Great Britain andIreland Walker Cup victory at Nairn in 1999, becoming one of only three players in 77 years to record four victories without a defeat. Won the English Amateur Championship in 1999 and 2000 and in his American college phase, won the Pac-10 Championship in 1998, 1999 and 2000, the first player to win in three successive years. Victory in the 2000 Pac-10 Championship broke the scoring record held by Tiger Woods (18 under par) witha 23 under par 265. Other records he has broken include scoring average – for the Arizona State University, previously held by Phil Mickelson. Competed on the 2004 and ‘06 Ryder Cup Teams.  But what has he done recently on the PGA Tour?

2007 – Tournaments entered – 10; rounds played – 34; in money – 9; Top-10 Finishes – 4; money – $1,012,770; (ranked N/A); best finish – T5th at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

Ian Poulter, on the other hand, has had similar success.  In 2004 he made a splash as a member of Bernhard Langer’s victorious European Team. Won the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama, defeating home favorite Sergio Garcia in a play-off, to secure his sixth European Tour title. Added a seventh in Madrid in 2006. Won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year title in 2000 which provided the springboard for the Englishman to become one of the most exciting talents on The European Tour. Took up the game at the age of four when dad, Terry, a single figure handicapper, gave him a cut-down three wood. Turned professional at 18. Won on the Challenge Tour in 1999 but finished 30th and had to visit the Qualifying School to win his card in 23rd position. An avid Arsenal supporter, he is one of the most easily recognized players on Tour thanks to his extravagant hairstyles and dress sense.  But what has he done in 2007 on the PGA Tour?

2007 – scoring average – 70.07 / (23rd); driving distance – 282.5 / (151st); driving accuracy – 63.2% / (107th); GIR – 61.6% / (173rd); putting – 1.788 / (99th); birdie average – 3.27 per rd / (131st) / total birdies – 196; sand saves – 53.0% / (57th); all-around rank – 884 / (135th)

The question is…who wins today?  If there is one thing FiveStarPick.com knows, it’s how to make money betting on golf.  We know the game inside and out andmaintain personal relationships with many of the game’s top players.  If you would like to know who we have in today’s matchup, visit our homepage andbecome a member of the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net.  We are nearly 70% against the spread.  That means if you are a $100 bettor paying 10% juice andstarted with us at the beginning of 2008, you would be around $10,000 ahead.  Not bad for doing what you love to do.  Join our family today and start your win streak tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

Billy Mayfair and Ken Duke?  That’s who we are touting in today’s 2nd round matchup at the 2008 PGA Championship?  Who the hell is Billy Mayfair and Ken Duke?  Let FiveStarPick.com educate you a little bit…

Billy Mayfair started to play golf at the age of two hitting plastic balls in the backyard with his father’s cut-down clubs.  He won the 1986 U.S. Public Links, the 1987 U.S. Amateur, was the collegiate player of the year in at Arizona State in 1987 and a member of the 1987 Walker Cup Team.  In 1995 he finished second on the moneylist, playing his best golf in some of the Tour’s richest events (winner Tour Championship – $540,000, winner Western Open – $360,000, T2nd World Series -$176,000, 2nd Las Vegas Invitational – $162,000).  Not bad for a no-name player on the PGA Tour.

In 2007 his scoring average is 70.36.  He is (117th) in driving distance at 286.8; (18th) in driving accuracy – 70.7%; (18th) in Greens In Regulation – 68.0%; (129th) in putting – 1.799; (106th) in average birdies per round - 3.35 per round; and (58th) in sand saves – 52.9%.

Ken Duke’s resume is not quite as solid.  Ken is 39 years old and has been on and off the mini tours for the last 13-14 years.  He credits his father for giving him his start in golf.  Ken won the 1995 Arkansas Open, finished first on the 1999 Canadian Tour Order of Merit with $122,187, won the 1999 Shell Payless Open and Bayer Championship on Canadian Tour, qualified for the 1997 British Open and has played on the Asian Tour and the South American Tour. Ken is a wiley veteran who has been scratching and clawing his way to the PGA Tour for years.

In 2007 Ken Duke’s scoring average is 70.63.  He is (103rd) in driving distance – 288.4; (41st) in driving accuracy – 67.5%; (62nd) in Greens In Regulation – 65.5%; (66th) in putting – 1.778; (116th) in average birdies per round - 3.32; and (32nd) in sand saves – 55.5%.

The question is…who wins today?  If there is one thing FiveStarPick.com knows, it’s how to make money betting on golf.  We know the game inside and out and maintain personal relationships with many of the game’s top players.  If you would like to know who we have in today’s matchup, visit our homepage and become a member of the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net.  We are nearly 70% against the spread.  That means if you are a $100 bettor paying 10% juice and started with us at the beginning of 2008, you would be around $10,000 ahead.  Not bad for doing what you love to do.  Join our family today and start your win streak tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

Well…it’s PGA Championship week and FiveStarPick.com has mixed emotions.  We love majors, but we’re sad that the last major of the year is already upon us.  Where has the time gone in 2008.  Not to mention…no Tiger Woods.  Luckily we have been relentlessly studying this week’s field and plan to have a few winners for our members by the end of the week.

Our Five Star Pick of the Day looks at the 1st round matchup between Erniel Els and Retief Goosen.  The man they call the Big Easy hasn’t had it so easy recently.  Els all but lost his chance to win the 137th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale last month.  The kiss of death was the triple bogey he made on the par-3 14th during the first round. Els couldn’t shake it off, and he followed with a bogey at the par-5 15th and a double at the next. When the round was over, the affable South African – who had made the turn in contention at 1 over – had shot a big, fat 80.

The 80 was Els’ highest score since an 81 in the final round of the 2006 Memorial Tournament. He had to shoot 69 in the second round just to make the cut on the number.  He later matched that score on Sunday on the way to a pretty phenomenal tie for seventh given his start. The finish was Els’ 27th top-10 in 64 majors.

If he can stay more patient than he did that day at Birkdale, the three-time major champ could add the third leg of the career Grand Slam to a resume that includes 16 PGA Tour wins and 44 more worldwide.  Els won his first two majors, both U.S. Opens, before he turned 27 and he added the Open Championship in 2002. He’s also been second six times, including the first three majors in 2000, the latter two runners-up coming as the game’s No. 1 player embarked on his “Tiger Slam.” So the opportunities are precious few.  Els would love to have won more majors in the Tiger era, but he knows he’s not alone. He doesn’t care about the critics, and he’s not ready to give up, either.

Els, who ended a four-year victory drought at The Honda Classic earlier this year, is ready for that ultimate test this week. He’s pleased with the changes he and Butch Harmon are making to his swing. He’s got his long-time caddy, Ricci Roberts back on the bag, joking that their on-again, off-again relationship of 16 years is like a “bad marriage.”  Even more so after Els spent time with Harmon at his teaching facility in Las Vegas before the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational last week. He began working with Harmon earlier this year, seeking a new set of eyes after a long-term relationship with David Leadbetter, who remains a good friend despite the split.

Together Els and Harmon have tightened the 38-year-old’s swing, making sure his lower body is in synch with his upper body. The results continue to impress. Els didn’t putt well the first two days at Firestone last week, using 65 strokes on the greens, but he got his feel back over the weekend in shooting rounds of 69 and 68.

The question is can he beat Retief Goosen today?  If there is one thing FiveStarPick.com knows, it’s how to make money betting on golf.  We know the game inside and out and maintain personal relationships with many of the game’s top players.  If you would like to know who we have in today’s matchup, visit our homepage and become a member of the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net.  We are nearly 70% against the spread.  That means if you are a $100 bettor paying 10% juice and started with us at the beginning of 2008, you would be around $10,000 ahead.  Not bad for doing what you love to do.  Join our family today and start your win streak tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com