Niall Lyons landed a 100/1 winner last week!
The Gary Player design which hosts this event for the third year running has divided opinion at best. The track which can stretch to 7600+ yards has labelled 'crazy' golf by a few and it is not surprising we have somewhat of a weak field going down to post. From a punters point of view it lends itself to a bet with accurate golfers coming out on top the past few years and whilst we experienced playoff heartache with Andrew Johnston last year we hope to have an ounce more luck this time. Once again I will be concentrating on those who keep the ball in play off the tee and can grind a good score when the course is difficult. Cricket scores have been tallied here and this year will be no different.
Jorge Campillo heads the market and understandably so given his recent run of figures. He has been a bit unlucky not to barge through the door yet and surely it is on the horizon. I'd be looking bigger odds for someone yet to get over the line though and a few others appeal at slightly bigger odds. SSP Chawrasia notched his 4th Tour victory here in 2017 and we all know the success Wallace has had since winning here 12 months ago.
It only seems a matter of time before Jazz Janewattananond gets into the winners enclosure on the big tour and for my money he should be clear favourite this week. His course form isn't anything to pen a letter home about but given his winning experience in the last few years a big tour title looks to be coming his way. He has three wins on the Asian Tour in just over a year, something similar to what Wallace was producing on the Alps Tour before landing a victory here last year. His recent form figures read 3-2-5-1-27-13-4-3. Although a handful of those are on lower tours it clearly shows how well the 23 year old is playing. He makes his way on the tour through a solid long game and will have the accuracy off the tee to deal with the task at hand here. Undoubtedly should be jolly.
2pts each-way J.Janewattananond 16/1 (1/5 7)
We successfully backed Max Kieffer to a nice place last weekend and given his current run he must hold every chance of going close again here. Again it is the courses where you need to keep it on the short stuff where the German excels. He missed the cut in his only appearance here two years ago but his game is in so much better condition now. 2nd in Oman was backed up by a 14th spot in Qatar and then again last week with a top 5 finish in Malaysia. All is going swimmingly for Kieffer and given he is ranked 14th in DA and hitting a ton of Greens in regulation he looks one of the more likelier sorts to grind out a score. He had to grind his way all the way to the finish in Oman so he is set t go well here.
1.5pts each-way M.Kieffer 22/1 (1/5 7)
Poom Saksansin is another Thai who looks capable of landing a European Tour victory. Again I am looking to a few with the same trajectory as Matt Wallace. Poom has a win on the Asian Tour each of the last three years and recently won the Indonesian Masters for the second year in three defeating the likes of Janewattananond and Henrik Stenson in the process. This kid clearly has talent and is another who plays the game with a solid tee to green game which is imperative around this dangerous layout. When plenty of the field will worry about getting over the line this lad has recent experience and could prove vital on Sunday.
1pt each-way P.Saksansin 66/1 (1/5 7)
Haydn Porteous is a two time winner on the European Tour and shouldn't be afraid come Sunday if in contention. The South African hasn't had it easy of late but bounced back to some kind of form in the Kenyan Open finishing 12th. Crucially that week he ranked 15th in Driving Accuracy, a stat that he hasn't performed well in this season. I always feel Porteous is one to watch on the tighter tracks and if his driving continues in that fashion in which he played in Kenya then he could easily go well again. Not many youngsters with two tour wins sit at triple figures this week so he has to be supported.
1pt each-way H.Porteous 125/1 (1/5 6)
