Prolific winner Perry could go large at tasty each-way odds

Starts midday Thursday

Bernhard Langer's quest for a fourth consecutive Senior Players Championship is the big Champions Tour story this week and if he pulls it off, he’ll owe a nice drink to Fred Couples and Steve Stricker.

They would arguably be the two over-50s most likely to derail the German but if you’re not in it, you can’t win it and neither of those two men is at Caves Valley, the Maryland course where this fourth senior-circuit Major of the year will be played.

Instead, Stricker is taking on the youngsters at the John Deere Classic where he has a phenomenal record, winning there three years in a row from 2009.

Old Boom Boom Couples has never believed in overdoing things and it’s a long way from California to Baltimore. He rations his appearances because of back problems and fourth place at the Senior Open was evidently enough golf for the time being.

Langer had won the previous two Majors but a rare bad week found the favourite down in 18th place last time out, 14 behind impressive winner Kenny Perry.

Victory at Caves Valley would make it ten senior Majors to add to two Green Jackets for Langer, who turns 60 in September still looking remarkably like the man who conquered Augusta all those years ago.

He continues to give away up to 30 yards off the tee, yet is still out on his own. Whether backing him at 9-2 against 140-plus rivals on a course he has probably never seen before is a wise move is another matter. He is still the most likely winner but maybe not by the margin suggested by the gap in prices.

It’s hard to fathom why Perry is almost four times Langer’s odds after that emphatic Open success.

The Kentuckian, a prolific winner in his main-tour days and always a long hitter, retains most of his length and putting nerve, and looks great each-way value at 16-1.

Brandt Jobe, never a winner on the PGA Tour, finally opened his account at last month’s Principal Charity Classic and we should see his confidence rising.

The Oklahoman showed himself to be a big-occasion player last year with cracking performances (third, fourth and fifth) in three Majors. Third place to Perry at the Open confirmed that view and he’s worth sticking with in these four-rounders which show him to best advantage.

Jerry Kelly, such a steady earner on the PGA circuit, might have been expected to clean up once he hit 50 but it hasn’t happened yet.

A third place first time out at the Chubb Classic promised plenty but that’s as close as he has got. Top-15 finishes on his last five outings include three top-tens but maybe he’ll find the extra this weekend.

Class acts Vijay Singh, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Tom Lehman are other potential Langer party poopers while Doug Garwood’s Senior Open tenth makes him a lively 100-1 shot.

It’s a pity the Sky schedule is so golf-heavy that there won’t be any live coverage.

Recommendations
K Perry
2pts each-way 16-1 general
B Jobe
2pts each-way 20-1 general
B Langer
3pts 9-2 general
J Kelly
1pt each-way 18-1 bet365
D Garwood
0.5pt e-w 100-1 Betfred, Sky Bet

Course Caves Valley, Owings Mills, Maryland, USA

Prize money $2.8m ($420,000 to the winner)

Length 7,226 yards Par 71 Field 144

When to bet By midday

Story of last year Bernhard Langer’s 12ft birdie putt at the last clinched his third Players victory in a row at a windy Philadelphia Cricket Club course. His one-over-par 281 was the highest winning score in the tournament’s history

Course overview Tom Fazio layout opened in 1991 on an estate previously owned by upmarket car manufacturer DeLorean. Hosted the 2002 Senior US Open won by putting wizard Don Pooley. Noted for its fast greens, rolling fairways and multiple water hazards

Latest form – US Senior Open 1 K Perry, 2 K Triplett, 3 B Jobe, T4 F Couples, T Lehman

Weather forecast Very hot today (up to 35C), with the only rain due on Friday. Cloudy but dry for the final 36 holes

Key attribute Accuracy