Southern Farm Bureau Classic Round One: It's a lottery Jim, but not as we know it

I fancy a dabble against D J Trahan. I know he really really needs the money and he’s two shots clear, but he’s out in the afternoon Friday and that could prove a little more taxing. By all accounts conditions tended to flatter those that went out early on day one.

Trahan is one of that legion of somewhat infuriating golfers who post good-looking stats without translating them into results (a T4 in Milwaukee is all that stands out this year). Another that falls into that category is Bo van Pelt, and my finger hovers over his lay button, but he may go lower than 20 yet.

Finding the fairway off the tee seems to be doing it for many of the leaders - certainly for Trahan and Glen Day, who boasts a bit of course form. But if that is going to be an important factor you’d think Mr Accuracy himself, Fred Funk, might have a part to play. Same would go for Skip Kendall. These guys also go in the afternoon Friday though, so it might be better to a hang fire.

Overall It still looks like a lottery, with one difference. It’s the first lottery with no cash to back in up. The markets are as dried up as the Aral Sea, with total trading still in the tens of thousands. So be wary of jumping on someone with a view to a trade. All the attention is on the WGC.