YANG MAKING UP FOR LATE START .............

USPGA GOLF
WITHOUT TIGER WOODS

Final major of the year and Tiger leads by two from Harrington and Yang, Stenson and Glover are a further two strokes back, with Els and Kjeldsen another shot behind.

Woods and Padraig went head to head last week on the final day of the WGC Bridgestone event, the Irishman led by three after 54 holes, but a seven shot swing on the final day, saw the best player of all time ease home. Harrington is a very tough competitor and as champion, will not give up his crown without a fight, but he must still bear the mental scars from last week and at short odds in this market, I will look elsewhere.

I am interested in the Korean Yang, who has already won in the US this year, in the Honda Classic, along with a number of international wins, which include the 2006 HSBC Champions tournament, where he saw off Tiger by a couple of shots.He is a very intersting character and did not really take up the game until into his twenties, which is virtually unheard of. Yang has played the last two days as well as anyone, notching seven birdies yesterday and is in terrific form, in his last three outings, he was 8th in the Canadian Open with a closing 68, followed that with 5th in the Buick shooting 67 on Sunday and last week shot 69-66 over the weekend for another big finish in the WGC event. He should go close.

Els is not the player he was, not by a long way, but has played well this week and but for closing with three bogies yesterday, he would be much closer. At least that means that there is little pressure on him today, which he does not seem to relish any more and he has the chance to post a low score whilst others are still on the course. Ernie is pleased with his game and is a proven Round 4 player, being ranked in the top eight on tour in two of the last three seasons, which is impressive considering he has not been at his best in these years. I will chance a little on him for old times sake.

4 points Y.E YANG 6.0 general quote.... 6.50 in places.

1.5 points ERNIE ELS 19.0 general quote.

Good Luck.