Niall Lyons has picked out four betting tips for this weekend's Volvo China Open.
Volvo China Open
Enhance Anting Golf Club was seen by the majority of us for the first time last year when Ashun Wu lifted the China Open and we return to that venue for the second year running.
The first three home last year all ranked high in driving accuracy for the week but it must be said a lot of fairways were hit by the entire field and it was one of the easier tracks of the season to find the short grass off the tee.
What will really make the difference here is what you do from the second shot onwards with approach play and scrambling key.
Ultimately the first three home last year gained strokes in all departments of the game which certainly suggests this an all rounder track where a neat game through the bag should translate.
Volvo China Open Betting Tips
Midnite
Tip 1 - Dan Hillier - 4pt Win
Best odds of 11/1 available with multiple bookmakers when publishing.
It is really difficult to ignore the form of Daniel Hillier and having won his home Open just last month in New Zealand he should arrive full of confidence.
He had a big chance to win in India last October coming through the field to threaten the likes of Fleetwood and Lowry only to falter at the business end but on numerous occasions since he has proven that effort wasn't a flash in the pan and he can mix it with some of the best players in the game.
He has only been outside the top 30 once in his last twelve starts and has shown a remarkable amount of consistency. His sole victory on tour to date was back in 2023 at the Belfry which actually doesn't look an entirely bad fit given the stats taken from here last year. Hillier has since reached a new level and it looks a matter of time before he obliges once again.
The break is a slight concern but he is the same price as Angel Ayora with some bookmakers and currently I rate one a lot higher than the other.
Tip 2: Adrian Otaegui - 1.5pts Each-Way
40/1 and six places available with multiple bookmakers when publishing.
Adrian Otaegui looks one of the brighter prospects at the prices here this week and anything at 40/1 or bigger looks worthy of support.
Otaegui had been going really well prior to the Indian Open having finished 6th in both the South African events then 3rd in Hainan. A down the field effort at DLF looks to have pinned his odds at similar to what he went off there with many of the market principles from that week missing here in China. He was one of the standout performers prior to that event and looks to have been underestimated by the books.
A former winner and runner up at this event before on different venues he has shown plenty of form in this part of the world to be taken seriously here and looks to be one who could separate himself from the field from the second shot onwards.
Tip 3: Thriston Lawrence - 1.5pts Each-Way
33/1 and six places available with various bookmakers when publishing.
Another in a similar price bracket to Otaegui who looks a strong candidate is Thriston Lawrence and he makes my staking plan.
After a fine top 10 in Dubai to kick off the season Lawrence struggled a little since but looked to have bounced back to form in Hainan where he finished 6th. Form at the DLF course in India can be taken with a pinch of salt really and I don't believe his 40th placed finish there is a sign that he has regressed since his previous tournament.
With many above him in the market with little winning experience Lawrence has shown numerous times he can win in much tougher fields than this and that is the main reason I am getting involved.
Ayora is taking a little longer to get his tour victory than many thought and I simply can't take the view that Lawrence should be triple the price of the Spaniard.
Tip 4: Alex Levy - 1pt Each-Way
100/1 and eight places advised with bet365's Extra Place Market.
Alex Levy would be a popular winner here and with limited starts this rates as one of his better chances to make progress.
The Frenchman is a two time winner of this event back in 2014 and 2017 and having finished 3rd another year and more solid form in other events in China this has been his happiest hunting ground during his career. He doesn't get much of a chance to gain any momentum on tour without a full card but 7th in Mauritius in December is a sign that he is still capable.
This is a weak enough contest and if he has any grand plans to regain his tour card a trip to China should get his juices flowing.
