Sure Thing – Luke Donald to win a major in 2012
The Brit is world number one by a considerable distance, having had an ominously good season last year. 2011 was littered with accolades for the 34 year old, from becoming the first man to win the US and European money lists in one year, to winning the PGA Player and tour Player of the Year, becoming the first Englishman to triumph in either award, as well as picking up the European Tour Golfer of the Year. 20 top ten finishes in 27 starts is the stat that shows his ruthless consistency. Yet there is of course something missing from all these individual awards (and Ryder Cups), namely a major title to his name. However, he is determined to fulfil his remarkable talent with the top accolades, and 2012 is the best chance he will get to truly become a great.
Tipster’s odds: 3/1
Long Shot – Andy Murray to win the Australian Open
Great Britain have produced a long line of nearly men, all vying to win the first grand slam for our nation since Fred Perry in 1936, from John Lloyd, to Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman. Andy Murray is by far and away the most talented player we’ve had since Perry, but as of yet a Grand Slam has eluded him. He’s appeared in two finals in the past few years, at the Australian and the US Opens, yet has failed at both attempts. We can but hope that one day he will win, and there is nobody better placed to do so. The first Grand Slam of 2012 is on the hard courts in Melbourne, his favourite surface. However, the current dominance of Djokovic and the quality of Nadal and Federer, not discounting the emergence of Tsonga all render Murray’s bid for the title a very tall order. Let’s hope he proves us wrong.
Tipster’s odds: 11/2
Absolute Madness – Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions League next season
PSG, despite their brief 41-year history, are one of the giants of French football, having had a sustained spell of success in the mid 1990s. They had fallen off the radar slightly in the new millenium and their large and passionate fanbase were getting restless. However, last year the Qatar Investment Authority took control of the club and immediately tried to replicate what fellow Arab owned Manchester City were doing by spending big, 70 million Euros in total, most notably capturing Javier Pastore for 40 million. Carlo Ancelotti is their new manager (previous boss Anthony Kombouare having been dismissed in harsh circumstances with the club at the top of Ligue 1). They hope to dominate France and of course compete in the Champions League from next season and for years to come. Yet Man City struggled in Europe this season and it is surely ludicrous to expect them to triumph over the likes of Barcelona and United next year. If they sign Tevez though, you never know.
Tipster’s odds: 150/1