The US Masters is regarded by many as the biggest and most prestigious tournament in world golf and Phil Mickelson can boast three victories already, but he is making plans to add another green jacket to his closet.

The 2004, 2006 and 2010 US Masters champion has enjoyed a return to form in recent weeks and only just missing out on a second successive PGA Tour victory when Bill Haas won a sudden-death play-off at the Northern Trust Open. Anyone looking at the Betfair betting news should bear this in mind.

Mickelson rose to ninth in the world rankings thanks to the recent performances but the talented left-hander is similar to Tiger Woods, where they really try to peak four times a year to coincide with the Major tournaments.

First up for the 41-year-old will be the US Masters at the beginning of April and Mickelson already has his run-up to Augusta all planned out to ensure he enters the tournament fresh and confident. Anyone following the US Master Golf Betting Odds should remember this.

After two weeks of consecutive tournaments, the veteran is taking two weeks off to work on getting himself “game sharp” and then he will return to play at Doral.

“I’ll play Doral, and the week after I’ll take off, but I’ll still be practicing getting ready for the run up to Augusta,” said Mickelson.

“I’ll get back at Doral and I’ll take the week off and then play a couple heading up to Augusta, and that’s when I’ll start back up is at Doral working with Butch (Harmon) getting ready for Augusta.”

The US Masters is always the first Major of the season and the 2012 running is scheduled for April 4th-8th at Augusta National Golf Club.

Love it or loathe it, the Champions League is back. Tonight, Chelsea will play Italian club, Napoli, at the Stadio San Paolo, while La Liga team, Real Madrid, take on CSKA Moscow in Russia.

Tomorrow, the first phase of the round of sixteen comes to a close, when Marseille take on Inter Milan at the Stade Velodrome, and Swiss club, Basel, host German giants, Bayern Munich, at St Jakob-Park.

A good result for Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea is absolutely vital if their young manager is to earn his keep at Stamford Bridge. Villas-Boas has presided over the least successful period in Chelsea’s recent history, all beneath a billionaire owner – Roman Abramovich – who is notoriously unforgiving of failure. Those following the Betfair football betting odds will be wondering if his job is safe.

With Villas-Boas’ recent plea to his boss to show some support in his vision for the future, the former Porto chief appears unsure of his own place in Chelsea’s long-term plans. Villas-Boas says that he “cannot keep saying” that he has the backing of the club’s brass, without a word “from the top”.

Chelsea have scraped together just two victories in six league matches. They did, however, qualify top of Group E with three positive results from six, a tally that will give the Blues added confidence ahead of tonight’s clash with Napoli. Veteran striker, Dider Drogba, hopes that a victory, later today, will help turn around Chelsea’s fortunes. People looking at the Champions league betting need to remember this.

“In football there is always another game to change the bad moment or the difficult moment”, the Ivorian player said, adding that tonight’s fixture is “one of those”. Drogba intimated that Chelsea will be underdogs in Italy: “I think we can feel that nobody believes in us. We are going to have to show we deserve to be here.”

Napoli are the favourites to win at the San Paolo, at 13/10 in most betting shops. Chelsea come in at 23/10. The bookies believe that Napoli’s Edinson Cavani will be the biggest threat to Villas-Boas’ team, at 5/1 to score the first goal.

Nick Williams’ smart sort For Non Stop finally managed to get his head in front this term when coming with a perfectly timed to challenge to beat Micheal Flips to win the rescheduled Grade 1 Betfair Novices Chase, (the contest better known as the Scilly Isles Novices Chase), at Newbury on February 17 and is now bang on course to bid for the Jewson Novices Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, writes Elliot Slater.

A faller at the final flight when still in contention in last season’s Coral Cup at Cheltenham, For Non Stop booked his return ticket to the festival meeting with an authoritative two-lengths success over the front-running Micheal Flips, having been patiently ridden by Noel Fehily who held his mount up at the rear of the field until asking him to improve approaching the third last. Picking up in fine style, the gelded son of Alderbrook was really flying approaching the last and the long-time leader was unable to respond to the surge produced by Williams charge who certainly saw out the two-and-a-half-mile trip in style. Those looking at the Cheltenham Festival betting will have been impressed.

Runner-up in each of his three previous starts, For Non Stop had been a distant second to Overturn in Ascot’s Grade 2 Coral Hurdle in November, then failed by only a neck to catch the classy Al Ferof in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown the following month, before chasing home the very useful Cue Card over the Newbury course and distance on New Year’s Eve, so was certainly not winning out of turn, something people looking for horse racing tips need to remember.

Williams has every intention of running his winner in the ‘Jewson’ with the proviso that the horse has recovered from his Newbury effort in time, and bookmakers certainly take his chance seriously in offering 8/1 (from 10/1) making For Non Stop third-favourite in the ante-post market for the race behind 6/1 shot Sir Des Champs.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis was left feeling proud after watching his side go down 1-0 against Valencia in the two club’s Europa League round-of-32 clash at the Britannia. The Spanish giants took the advantage in the tie courtesy of a stunning Mehmet Topal strike, ensuring Valencia head back to the Mestalla as the overwhelming favourites to progress to the next round.

The Stoke boss made it clear he was pleased with how his side had conducted themselves against such a talented Valencia side. Despite being a goal down in the two-legged tie, Pulis has been quick to insist Stoke still have a chance of getting themselves back into contention when the Premier League club head to Spain this week. People looking at Betfair.com should remember this.

“We knew we were playing a top-quality side and I think we acquitted ourselves pretty well and were a little bit unfortunate we didn’t get the bounce that we needed.”

“If can play the same way when we go there we’ve still got a chance. We’re going to give it our all again. These opportunities don’t come along very often.”

“We hope it’s a great occasion and that the fans enjoy it. We enjoy the support, we know they’re there and I hope we can turn things round for them.”

There was a clear gulf in class between the two teams at the Britannia, with Valencia’s experience clearly evident as they completely controlled nearly all aspects of the game. Stoke’s unique style failed to upset the Valencia defence and the Spaniards will be confident of handling the English club again this week. Fans of the Betfair Europa League need to bear this in mind.

Valencia, who sit third in La Liga behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, will be hoping to have leading goalscorer Roberto Soldado available to start at the Mestalla, following the striker’s recovery from a hamstring injury which forced him to start the first-leg as a substitute.