With
the Ryder Cup qualification period over, players will now focus on some decent
tournaments between now and the Final Series with the first of those coming
this week at the always anticipated European Masters at Crans-Sur-Sierre in
Switzerland. Played at altitude, this course usually suits those who drive the
ball well and make birdies. The winning score didn’t really change for last
year’s event following course renovations so we can expect a winning total in and
around -20 to be good enough again. Thomas Bjorn aims to win his third title in
four years but he has plenty of competition to deny him. Miguel Angel Jiminez
will try to win his second title and he hasn’t far to travel this week from his
new home in Austria. Recent Czech Masters winner, Jamie Donaldson will also be
looking forward to this one.
Two
previous winners of this event have suddenly come back into form of late and
could be worth keeping an eye this week and they are Bradley Dredge and Richie
Ramsay. The Scotsman won in 2012 but has missed the cut three times in his four
other appearances so it remains to be seen if he can capture that 2012 form
when returning on the back of his T4th in Turin.
Dredge, one of the tours best
putters, is having an excellent spell of late having finished runner up in
consecutive weeks in Denmark and in the Czech Republic. He won here in 2006, was
runner-up in ’09, and 3rd in ’07. He also has a 4th in
his locker from ’02. He missed the cut on his last three visits though but I
can ignore these easily on the back of recent form, and pending price, he’s a
great each way bet or TOP10 this week. @ 40/1 I'm happy to get on board.
Ross
Fisher has shown signs recently that his game is beginning to come together
again and despite a mixed bag in the final round in Turin on Sunday, the
Englishman signed off with a T7th placing. His previous TOP10 came at Fota.
Ross was T5th on this course last year which included a third round 63 but had
left himself too much to do after an opening 71. If he can find himself a
favourable draw with an early Friday tee time ideally, I expect Ross to be
challenging this week for his 2nd win of 2014.
Frenchman,
Victor Dubuisson was 3rd here last year finishing one shot too many
to make the playoff. His length off the tee is of big advantage here and he can
turn his 2014 Major form (2 TOP10s at The Open & PGA) into a win. Dubuisson
has 5 TOP10s in his 13 starts on the tour this season so is in fine form and
he’ll be keen to have a good tourney under his belt before teeing it up for
Europe in Gleneagles at the end of the month. At 14/1 I think the price is fair, but I'm happy to leave out given that the Frenchman is still a bit doubtful with his back injuries of late.
Staking Plan (7 pts)
1 pt e/w B. Dredge @ 40/1 BetVictor
1 pt e/w R. Fisher @ 45/1 Bet365
0.5 pts WIN D.Clarke @ 125/1 BetVictor
2.5 pts TOP10 @ 11/1 Skybet
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