My sporting weekend
Although it was not the most successful weekend for me betting-wise a number of selection issues were helpfully clarified for European Ryder Cup captain Podraig Harrington.
Unlike his American counterpart Steve Stricker who has six, Harrington has only 3 captain’s picks.
Two of these potentially are Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia so he would have been delighted to see the former win the Dubai Classic and the latter high up the Leaderboard for automatic selection.
Casey, 43, has now won 14 events both sides of the Atlantic. For a few years his preference for the US PGA tour precluded him from selection but the rules were relaxed to accommodate Rory McIlroy.
Casey held off the challenges of South African Brandon Stone and the young Scot Robert Macintyre of whom you will be hearing more.
I backed Sergio each way but 2 other picks at tastier odds – young Frenchman Antoine Rozner and Spaniard Adi Arnaus – finished 9th just outside the each way payout position.
There is still some time and tourneys to go but my European Ryder Cup draft selection is:
McIlroy
Rahm
Hatton
Fleetwood
Casey
Garcia
Wiesberger
Viktor Hovlund ( this young Norwegian has emerged from the College conveyor belt and already has 2 US PGA wins. The Golden Generation of Norwegians is not just confined to footballers or chess players )
Poulter
Westwood
Fitzpatrick
Lowry
Others who will come into the reckoning are Justin Rose, Matt Wallace, Danny Willett, Victor Perez, Andrea Pavon, Frankie Molinari and Martin Kaymer.
For the Americans I see Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Reed, who won the Farmers Insurance event at Torrey Pines over the weekend, as automatic and then their captain can use his own picks to select form or experienced players.
The astonishing stat in the Premier – that more games have been won away than at home – offers rich pickings.
Favourites Leicester were beaten by Leeds , Everton by Newcastle and Spurs by longer-odds Brighton.
Manchester United and Liverpool have suffered defeats to Sheffield United and Burnley.
Brighton were at home but the absence of any support in home games have led to some very surprising results from which yours truly has not always benefited.
