Golf pundit Niall Lyons has three bets for this week's Shenzhen International in China.
The Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen China takes centre stage for the 3rd year on the trot for this event which is still very much in its infancy. Having hosted the event the last two years with Soomin Lee and Aphibarnrat coming out on top it also held the 2014 Volvo event in which Alex Levy took home the spoils. The course certainly requires an element of accuracy as water comes into play on many holes. However, the Barnrat and Levy aren't exactly known for their accuracy off the tee so bigger hitters can definitely prosper here. Greens in Reg and putting will be higher on the list of importance this week.
Tommy Fleetwood heads the betting this week and understandably so considering how he has played over the past few months. We backed him here last year at 25/1 when he finished inside the top 20. Previous to that he finished 2nd and 3rd, so considering how he is playing the 14/1 on offer is a fair enough price. However, I still feel it is a shade thin to get involved with. Fleetwood is far from guaranteed a performance, and getting over the line could prove to be a chore. We'll certainly see better 14/1 pokes as the year progresses.
We backed JOOST LUITEN last week and he failed to deliver for us but I believe he is worth another shot around a venue which suits. Luiten plays well around these tracks where Greens in Reg are an important stat and together with a solid driving game and a ok short game he has the tools to play well around here. He finished 2nd here last year just giving himself a shade too much to do at the death. With a solid start over days one and two I believe he can be the one to beat here this week. He hasn't posted a finish outside the top 30 in his last eight strokeplay events and surely another win isn't too far away. Last weeks track proved a shade narrow for him at times but he still managed to produce a top 15. Simmering beneath the surface I think he has a game to at least match Fleetwood's here. Runner up on his course debut here last year I believe he should be closer to tournament fav this week.
After a couple of months off ALEX LEVY returned to action last week in Morocco and shot a respectable score over four days to finish 34th. This result is absolutely fine considering he would be massively claustrophobic amidst the trees of Dar Es Salam. With more room off the tee on offer this week and a chance to make a lot more birdies than last week I believe Levy is definitely worthy of investment this week. The top of the market is very uneasy for me with Fleetwood a deserving fav but a risky character to get involved with. Bubba has underachieved here down the last few years and Fisher and Wiesberger both have complications also. Levy is a no nonsense style golfer who will go for birdies all day long with a a record here of 4-25-WIN there is no reason to think he won't continue on those good scores already posted here. He is another who I believe should be closer to the top of the market.
A missed cut for BRANDON STONE last week doesn't worry me too much as it certainly isn't a track where you'd consider him to play well on. There is a bit more room here and some attacking golf will be rewarded and with a tied 2nd with Luiten here last year he could go onto better things this term. There is no doubting that this talented South African is inconsistent at times but his talent remains clear for all to see and it is only a matter of time before he gets back into the winners enclosure. Winning the Alfred Dunhill and SA Open has shown his ability to close events out and in a field where many find it difficult to win his composure might just make the difference should he contend over the weekend. A fair price this week at 40/1.
