Jimenez shoots 61 for European Masters lead

Golf Betting Lines

09/03/2010 - Crans Montana, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Five days after locking down his Ryder Cup spot, Miguel Angel Jimenez came close to locking down a piece of golf history.

Jimenez flirted with a 59 Friday during the second round of the European Masters, but made par on his final three holes for a 10-under 61 instead.

Still, the ponytailed Spaniard did enough to take a three-shot on the Crans- sur-Sierre course, finishing with a 14-under 128 that was one shot off the tournament's 36-hole scoring record.

The 46-year-old Jimenez is chasing his third victory of the season after picking up earlier wins in Dubai and France. He made his fourth European Ryder Cup team on points, securing the spot on Sunday.

"I was thinking 59 a little bit and I tried, but it was still a great round," said Jimenez. "All the clubs were working properly and that's what you need."

Italians Edoardo Molinari (65) and Matteo Manassero (67) shared second place at 11-under 131.

Molinari also made the Ryder Cup team after winning the Johnnie Walker Championship on Sunday. Manassero, 17, was the first-round leader.

Finland's Mikko Ilonen (67) was fourth at 10-under 132, England's Graeme (68) Storm stood fifth at 133 and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel (66) was sixth at 134.

MORE TO FOLLOW.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.