Niall Lyons picks out his best bets for this week's China Open at Topwin Golf & CC.
The Ian Woosnam designed Topwin Golf and CC hosts the China Open this week for the second year on the trot and Wiesberger will be looking to make it back to back victories in these parts. The course was used for the first time last year so we only have one set of results to cast our eyes upon. They don't reveal an awful lot either. This is a tricky affair and not easy to judge from a betting perspective. There are a handful of golfers knocking on the door though and I'll side with them this week.
Not enough plaudits went Bernd Wiesberger's way last week for the manner in which he took the title. His iron play all week was nothing short of spectacular. None more so was this clear than when he knocked down the flag on the first playoff hole. He played phenomenal stuff, the best I've ever seen him. Therefore I did ponder backing him this week to win again. The field is a shade weak and if he plays to that standard again he will contend again. However, upwards on 20 under or better will be needed to win here this week and I'm always doubtful of taking short prices about guys where the winning total will be so big. Their advantage on the rest will certainly be diminished as the 20 under mark will be attainable by a few.
FABRIZIO ZANOTTI is in the form of his career right now and coming back to a course where he played well on last year he can not be left off the staking plan. Zanotti claimed his first win in nearly 3 years by winning in Malaysia in February and a trip to the WGC in Mexico resulted in a very respectable tie for 12th. He went mighty close again last week with a top 5 finish so we can clearly see Zanotti is in fine shape. Both his wins on tour have been hard fought with 19 under par totals so that is definitely a positive when the winning score this week will be in or around the same mark.
DEAN BURMESTER missed the cut here last year but this year we welcome a completely different animal. It didn't take him long to get off the mark on the European Tour and despite some early reservations I had about this guy I was very impressed by the manner of his win at the Tshwane Open. 18 under par won there and he will probably need to better that mark to win this. Two made cuts the Trophee Hassan and Shenzhen could be seen as lacklustre but both courses don't exactly suit the swashbuckling style of the South African. Prior to that his form reads WIN-11-41-7-4-17. This a man high in confidence and for someone who has the power to birdie a hell of a lot of holes I believe he is worth a play this week.
I fully expect RYAN FOX to get off the mark in the next year or so and he is one I'll be keeping an eye on and throwing a few quid on at tasty prices whenever I think the course suits. He made the cut here last year but I'm hopeful he arrives here a much better golfer having had a superb 2016 on the lower ranks. I walked 18 holes with him when he won in N.Ireland last year and rarely have I been so impressed by somebody's ball striking and ability to move the ball in the air. He threatened a 59 that day and I think a course where he can attack and make plenty of birdies will suit him. At 3 figure prices I don't think you can go broke on this fella backing him every week. He will oblige at some point, it is just a matter of when.
Another who missed the cut last year but comes here in much better shape is the diminutive figure of MATTEO MANASSERO. A four time winner on the tour Matteo has struggled badly the last few seasons but recent signs are that he is beginning to pick up the bridle once again. A top 20 in Malaysia in Feb was followed by a seasons best tied 3rd in India. In the middle of last season he finished 3rd in Scotland also. There are small signs that his form is returning with 5 made cuts on the trot and you have to go back 2 years before he had a run like that. Granted it is not earth shattering stuff but plenty of this field are failing to ruffle many feathers nowadays. The likes of Lipsky and Zanotti played well here last year so a shorter hitter can certainly score. Still only 24, I believe this Italian still has a lot to offer the tour.
LUCAS BJERREGAARD has been somewhat disappointing in the heat of battle recently but I have to feel he is worth a few pennies around the 50/1 and bigger mark. He has definitely been a shade poor having got himself into some decent positions over the last few months. However, he finished 3rd here last year and I see this is a venue where he can score well on. It suits good ball strikers and he is certainly in that bracket. I am not overly confident that he can get the job done so the stake will be relatively small.
