JERRY KELLY can take advantage of the late withdrawal of market leader Kenny Perry and land odds of 20-1 with Skybet and totesport in the newly named Buick Championship from the TPC at River Highlands, Connecticut, starting Thursday.
With the tour’s leading lights ducking what was formerly known as the Greater Hartford Open, the 37-year-old will not get many better opportunities to add to his two US PGA Tour wins of two years ago. Nor would Kelly be winning out of turn having since numbered no fewer than 15 top-tens - he has made 20 of 21 cuts this year - and a share of nineteenth place in the altogether more competitive NEC Invitational last week should have lifted his confidence.
Zach Johnson, a general 25-1, heads the dangers. The player of the season on the Nationwide Tour in 2003, he has enjoyed a big year mixing it with the big boys this time, winning the BellSouth Classic in April and making 17 of 23 cuts.
Justin Rose must do something special if he is to boost his faint hopes of a Ryder Cup wild card. He is a general 33-1 to attract European captain Bernhard Langer’s attention with a win.