There is plenty of golf this week as the Ballantines Championship is played out in Seoul and the Zurich Classic plays out in New Orleans. What makes these events more interesting is that current world number one Lee Westwood is playing Seoul while the probable next number one, Luke Donald, is heading the field in New Orleans. While golf betting is keen in each of these events, there is also keen betting on the “if and when” aspects of Donald gaining that number one crown.

Donald could have claimed the number one spot last week, but failed on the last hole to take out The Heritage, leaving Westwood to reclaim it. This year has seen more changes to that number one spot than we have seen in the previous seven years – but then, Tiger Woods dominated that period.

In golf betting, Westwood and Donald both head their respective tournaments. Westwood is a shade under 5/1, ahead of Dustin Johnson at 19/2 and Miguel Angel Jimenez at 12/1. In New Orleans, the betting is more open with Donald favourite at 10/1 ahead of Nick Watney at 14/1 and Steve Stricker at 17/1.

Brandt Snedeker defeated Donald in The Heritage and at 40/1 could be good value on each way markets. Snedeker normally puts together a run of good finishes before fading. It’s a common phenomena amongst middle-ranked golfers. They hit form for a month or so, but they cannot sustain it for the full 12 months. That perhaps is the biggest difference between them and those we hail as champions.

We like Stricker in New Orleans while in Seoul we like the look of the locals, especially the in-form Y E Yang – he’s good value at 20/1 and can be backed each way for a reasonable return.