AFRICA OPEN

looks to dire to watch hence no bet for me

Saying that this weeks Africa Open is a weak looking affair would be an understatement but there are a few good looking betting opportunities when you look at the nature of the East London course. I don't really understand why players like Benson and Sullivan who are in good form, were in Africa last week and have played the course well have given it a swerve - just makes no sense to me as it would have given them a fine opportunity of a maiden victory. Anyway - maybe it gives my three off the tee a better chance!
Main bet for me has to be David Horsey and I dived into the early 50/1 as whilst he has no course form he has thrived on every similar course they play on the circuit. Courses like Golf du Palais Royal where he has been 1st and 2nd, and the venues for the KLM Open have all been played well and it makes sense as he was a top amateur playing the coastal courses around the UK. He found some form at the Joburg Open last week with a best ever venue finish of 10th and being top for Driving Accuracy and 3rd for putts per round will should stand him in good stead this week. 0.8 ew 45/1
Talking of the Golf Du Palais brings us neatly on to Michael Hoey who comes to life on these types of courses and he was indeed 2nd here on his first visit in 2009. For Hoey he has actually been in consistent form with all cuts made recently and a best of 10th in Abu Dhabi. There really isn't a great deal of point advocating an each way play as he has the same number of wins as top five finishes on the European tour - ie if he's up there he will win! so it's 0.3 win only 40/1
Final bet is on a rag I bet last year - Lyle Rowe and for those with a poor memory he was the player who caddied for Canter when he won the South African Amateur around East London and was 8th in 2012 in this event. Don't get me wrong he is not the strongest young home player on show but this is a very weak field 0.1 ew 250/1 + 0.2 top 10 25/1

Our great start to the Season continues with Jimmy Walker triumphing in Pebble Beach at 25/1 and Kevin Na finishing like the proverbial train to claim a share of 4th at 55/1.

The European Tour remains in Africa this week for the aptly named Africa Open. Course form will obviously be significant but even more important may be the ability to cope with the windy conditions players seem certain to encounter. Matthew Baldwin has started the new year with aplomb making all four cuts culminating in four great rounds in Joburg to finish T-5th. He was 10th here on his debut in 2012 so I see no reason not to get involved at the available 33/1. Michael Hoey was tipped up in this column a few weeks ago and he is well worth another chance in this much weaker field. The Ballymoney man is a five time European Tour winner and was runner up here in 2009. With a recent Top 10 finish in Abu Dhabi and a proven track record in windy conditions he rates excellent value at 40/1. South African Garth Mulroy has not been setting the world alight so far this season but there are some grounds for  optimism this week. He made his first cut of the Season in Joburg including a noteworthy 66 in the second round. His 54th place finish would have been much higher were it not for an ugly treble bogey seven in the third round. He has plenty of positive course experience to draw on with finishes of 4th, 34th and 28th in the past five years and he could easily outperform his 50/1 odds. Finally, I can’t resist another small play on Magnus A Carlsson at the 66/1 generally available. His notoriously poor putting has let him down more than once this Season already but in contrast he has landed impressive Top 10 finishes in Qatar and The Alfred Dunhill Championship. He is a tremendous ball-striker and actually led The European Tour last Season in Greens In Regulation, a category he currently sits 3rd  in. He has made three of four cuts here in the Eastern Cape including a fine 10th place finish in 2012 and will surely get few better opportunities to break his European Tour duck.

Happy punting

Cuyahoga


Africa Open

M Baldwin 33/1 (General) 1/4 odds five places
M Hoey 40/1 (General) 1/4 odds five places
G Mulroy 50/1 (General) 1/4 odds five places
M A Carlsson 66/1 (General) 1/4 odds five places


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Knight Rider     11 Feb 14 17:23 
I can't help but feel they would be better off shutting down the European Tour for a few months after the Desert Swing, rather than pretending these are proper events.  Do we really need eight tournaments in South Africa?

Not got a problem with the co sanctioned events gives the players the opportunity to play especially some of the younger ones and provides a gateway for south african events. The purses are small and that is reflected in the fields. The winner at the Northern Trust event on the PGA gets more than the total purse this week. That said even the desert swing events are playing for peanuts relatively. First place in Dubai got the same as on the champions tour.

The european tour can't compete with the PGA tour and should set itself as a development tour allowing the top europeans to gain competitive experience as a stepping stone to better things.

The biggest problem isn't these events in the european winter it is the lack of stella events in the summer which can attract the best Europeans.

David Horsey 40
Soren Hansen 70
Robert Rock 50
Craig Lee 60

Even if the golf isn't great to watch, its these poorer field events that I find throw up more profit over the year. Looking forward to it

Nick Dougherty in studio

grillo

I'm with you, xmoneyx.

Grillo unlucky not to be further ahead. Adam Sandler would have been proud of the tee shot on 16. Grill was v unlucky with lipout on 17. Small margins. Could be 4 shot lead, or more.

Sick Higgins missed the cut by one, would have had every chance of Top Irish. Thought he would make cut when fin yesterdays round.

Doubt he knows what conservative is!!

never seen a start so bad by 3rd round leader grillllllllllllo

2.0 to 9.0 on hole 1 omg

OMG

That was the easiest lay of my life
As I said last night no way grillo can keep up that putting

Going to back grillo now to cover my lay might suit him now to chase

Just switched on, now what has happened here, a 9.

I did not see it but that adds a new dimension to the term choking.

how did he make 9

And there was me thinking I'd given all my winnings away.  After that, tempted to lay McGirt, just in case it's one of those days. Good job I've got a winner at Kempton.