A new event on the schedule takes place on the DPWT this week as they prepare to tee it up at the Bahrain Championship. Information is slightly thin on the ground when it comes to analysing this course as the last we seen of it on this tour was back in 2011 when Paul Casey won the Volvo Golf Champions event. Casey did go on to win the Irish Open at Carton House, another Montgomerie design so therein may lie a clue as to who could perform well in Bahrain this week.

The Dutch course that held the 2016 and 2017 KLM Opens is worthy of looking back to as are the numerous editions of the Turkish Airlines Open held at Maxx Royal, both Montgomerie designs. Luiten who won the 2016 KLM Open also finished 2nd at Carton House so previous Montgomerie designed form is certainly worth considering. Overall it looks like a desert track with a links feel not too dissimilar to last week at Ras.

Bahrain Championship Tips

  • 2.5pts each-way Y.Paul  18/1 (1/5 7) Paddy Power
  • 1.5pts each-way S.Soderberg 30/1  (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes
  • 1pt each-way J.Winther  80/1  (1/5 6) Sky Bet
  • 1pt each-way E.Pepperell  75/1  (1/5 8) Bet365 8 place market
  • 0.5pt each-way F.Celli  400/1  (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes

 

Yannik Paul @ 18/1 (Seven Places) 

With Olesen now a non runner 16/1 or better looks quite nice about Yannik Paul who continued his consistent run of results with a tie for 4th last week in Ras. 15th with the irons there was yet another fine display and his approach play really is standing out on this tour and sooner or later that will translate to another victory.  

The greens look quite tricky here and it'll be of huge importance who can land the ball in the right sections to make putting as easy as it possibly can be. As I mentioned last week Paul has displaying some elite approach play this last 12 months or so and he has been a little unlucky not to land a second tour victory.

His first came in Mallorca and another coastal challenge should suit here. I wouldn't be surprised if the same names crop up once again as they did last week in Ras and Paul at only a couple of pts shorter than what I backed him last week looks like the sensible option.

2.5pts each-way Y.Paul  18/1 (1/5 7) Paddy Power

Yanik Paul - 2.5pts e/w

Sebastian Soderberg @ 30/1 (Seven Places) 

Sebastian Soderberg continued an excellent run with his approach play last week ranking in the top ten in that department for the fourth tournament on the trot. It was enough for another top ten finish which adds to the impressive finish he made to 2023 finishing 6th at the Nedbank and 3rd in Mauritius.

The wider fairways here should suit the Swede and the links feel will help also. He finished 5th at the last Dunhill Links whilst his runner up finish in last year's Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links is another positive given that was done on Paspalum greens. That runner up finish was in a much stronger field than what presents itself this week and any quotes of 30/1 or above look wort taking.

1.5pts each-way S.Soderberg 30/1  (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes

Sebastian Soderberg - 1.5pts e/w

Jeff Winther @ 80/1 (Six Places) 

With the two Danes dominating proceedings last week and Nicolai going very close at Torrey Pines it wouldn't surprise me if one or two others take inspiration from them and the 80/1 carrot for Jeff Winther looks a little big. His only tour win came on the coast in Mallorca and a shorter course compared to the Emirates course in Dubai should suit.

He made the cut there but struggled off the tee as he doesn't have the length with the driver to keep up with the world's best. He makes up for that with some very decent iron play and a 9th placed finish at the Earth Course in Dubai in November is a sign of what he can do in better company than this. The putter is his main weapon and that club should be important with the wind forecast and large greens.

He is neither long nor accurate with the driver so he only has a specific number of courses he can really make hay upon. This looks like one of them as iron play and putting look to be where you need to be strong this week in Bahrain. 

1pt each-way J.Winther  80/1  (1/5 6) Sky Bet

Jeff Winther - 1pt e/w

Eddie Pepperell @ 75/1 (Eight Places) 

Forrest Gump once quipped about life being like a box of chocolates, but Eddie Pepperell is a fair comparison also. The Englishman posted his first top 20 since October last week in Ras and I'm happy to risk him this week around the 80/1 mark that he carries that form with him to Bahrain.

Just what type of test we will get this week is open for debate, and we'll know more come the weekend, but Montgomerie did design this with links golf in mind and Pepperell has plenty of good form on those courses. He also has 3rd and 6th placed finishes at the Dutch course in 2017 and 2018 as well as a top ten at the Maxx Royal course in Turkey.

The greens here have plenty of slope in them and are generally quite difficult to putt on. Pepperell ranked 2nd in strokes gained putting last week in Ras and if the putter stays hot then he has a chance of mixing it with the leaders at the weekend. Let's hope it's a Caramel Swirl and not a Lemon Zing.

1pt each-way E.Pepperell  75/1  (1/5 8) Bet365 8 place market

Eddie Pepperell - 1pt e/w

Filippo Celli @ 400/1 (Seven Places)

At 500/1 I'm going to have a tiny bet on Filippo Celli. The Italian is a former winner of the European Amateur Championship and having won the Silver Medal for low amateur at St Andrews a couple of years ago this type of course may suit him. In a short career to date he has shown a few decent efforts on the DPWT, notably 7th in the Handa World Invitational and 12th at the KLM Open.

His missed cut last week in Ras was his first outing of the year and after an opening 68 it looked like it could be a good start. However an second round of 77 gave him the weekend off. Nevertheless, it's one week under the belt and he arrives at a venue that should suit and we've nothing much to lose at the price.

0.5pt each-way F.Celli  400/1  (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes