The South African swing of the 2014 European Tour takes a break this week and sees players jetting off to Hong Kong before returning for the Nelson Mandela Championship in Durban next week ! They then take a break til the new year before heading back down to SA for the Volvo Golf Champions also in Durban. I'm quite so surprised to see so many fly to Hong Kong this week but I suppose it tells the story of the young touring pro these days. Try make hay whilst the sun shines. With a mediocre field descending on Fanling this week I believe its a great opportunity for the newcomers to take their chances and for that reason I'm sticking with the players I backed last week. I wont back Pavan @ 45/1 though this week, a bit too short for me, whilst at the same price, I would opt for Swede Fredrik Anderssen Hed who was runner-up here last year,but for the fact he's not exactly a prolific winner on tour! Just the one win to his credit does put me off this week but course form could suggest he could go well on a track to his liking.
Ireland's Kevin Phelan produced a fine TOP 25 last week in his European Pro debut and he has already experienced the joys of travelling on tour this week with a delay and bags missing en route from SA. No 250/1 available this week following that positive start but I'm more than happy to back him @ 150/1 here. The Waterford man will take a lot of confidence into this week, and with €15,000 in his back pocket from his efforts at Leopard Creek, the 23 year old can cap off a truly memorable 2013 with another strong showing at Fanling to rank up with his US Open and Walker Cup exploits.
As per last weeks selections here, I'm going to keep the faith with John Hahn (150/1), James Morrison (125/1) & Jbe Kruger (66/1). The American was doing OK in rd 1 last week before he was advised by his playing partner that he could be disqualified for using a teaching aid whilst waiting on a tee box early in his round. He reported it to the officials and was promptly disqualified - I'm hoping he doesn't do anything silly like that again soon. He's been given another opportunity to perform this week and to make a name for himself. Morrison was going very nicely indeed until the back 9 in his first round where he ran up a couple of doubles to send him spiralling down the leaderboard. He responded well on Friday but the damage was done and he missed the cut. He's playing well enough lately and he's played Fanling the past 3 years producing results of 19-MC-38. He's not the biggest of drivers on tour but that won't matter here, if he can eliminate mistakes and make some putts he could surprise @ a juicy 125/1.
Jbe Kruger had a disastrous 81 last Saturday and will be keen to put that behind him. He was runner up the week before so one bad round shouldn't be a negative for this week. His sole win on tour came in India, so perhaps a visit to Asia will be kind again ?
Tiger Woods hosts his World Challenge with 17 others competing for the $3.5 M purse at Sherwood GC in LA. Tiger goes off the favourite whilst twice winner Graeme McDowell can be backed at 14/1. The 5-time champion is the one they have to beat though and we know how formidable he can be on tracks that he loves. That said I think its worth looking at Webb Simpson's chances here. He was 7th last year, the week the anchoring ruling was communicated and 12 months on, Simpson has gradually found some consistency to his game and arrives here on the back of a win at the recent Shriners Open and a TOP 10 the previous week. He's not without a chance this week, neither too is Rory McIlroy who spoiled the Aussies party in Sydney last Sunday. Webby is best price 20/1 to win but
Boylesports offer 16/1 w/o Tiger, whilst
Skybet also offer 8/1 in the Top American w/o Tiger market.
Selections : (6 units total staking plan)
TIP 1: 0.25 pts e/w K.Phelan @ 150/1
Ladbrokes
TIP 2: 0.25 pts e/w J.Hahn @ 150/1
Betpack
TIP 3: 0.25 pts e/w J.Morrison @ 125/1
Betpack
TIP 4: 0.50 pts e/w J.Kruger @ 66/1
Skybet
TIP 5: 1 pt e/w 16/1 W.Simpson w/o Tiger @ 16/1
Boylesports
TIP 6: 1.5pts WIN W.Simpson Top American w/o Tiger market @ 8/1
Skybet
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