Oman Open & Honda Classic 2020

Europeantour action restarts in The Middle East this week at The Oman Open outside Muscat. Al Mouj GC is a links type course which is prone to the wind, which is always a factor in this part of the world.................maybe except for this week if the forecast is in anyway accurate. Highest winds forecasted for the week is ~16 kmh so conditions should be ideal for some really low scoring.

I'd love to be onside with Martin Kaymer this week but the 16/1 best price doesn't want me to. I've looked long and hard at this event but I'm not overly excited. I couldn't convince myself not to get with an old favourite of mine this week  in the shape of Ross Fisher. Ross is 35/1 (7 places) or 55.00 on the exchange and 10.00 (TOP-5) and 5.50 (TOP-10). The Englishman had a quiet year last year although he seemed to come to life towards the end of it and his recent form is encouraging too. He finished 6th in both Abu Dhabi & Riyadh a few weeks ago and is a renowned links player. This is not a strong field at all here this week - if wind does get up, patience will be key and the experience will be advantageous. But signs are there already in 2020 that Fisher could be in for a good year, he turns 40 years of age later this year and if he wants to take inspiration in reaching that milestone, he only has to look at The Saudi winner, Graeme McDowell who also turns 40 this year. Lee Westwood, winner in Abu Dhabi suggests my first post here of 2020 on the blog was silly as the young guns still look to fire.

Paul Waring has missed the cut in Saudi & Dubai this season but he posted 2 TOP-20s in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai last November at the DP World Tour Championship. Currently 74th in the OWGR, his goal surely is to make TOP-50 and get into more prestigious events and accumulate bigger ranking points. Another with strong links/wind pedigree, the Englishman will be happy to kick-start his season back in this part of the world and he could go well @ 35.00 here. I wouldn't be backing him any lower though but the price is fair enough in this strength of field. He went 20/22 last year with 6 TOP-10s to boast on the back of his sole win at The Nordea Masters in August 2018. Consistency has seen him rise to 74 and he can get back on track here having visited the past two seasons, albeit unsuccessful visits when finishing mc-44.


Oman Open Selections:

1.00 pts WIN R. Fisher @ 55.00
2.00 pts TOP-5 R. Fisher @ 10.00
1.00 pts e/w P. Waring @ 36.00 (7-places)


If Al Mouj GC is toughened up by wind, then we can expect the same at The PGA National GC in Jupiter, Florida where a decent field, despite only Koepka from the OWGR TOP-10 participating, tees it up. PGA National is ranked 2nd toughest of the "standard PGA events" and the Bear Trap over the closing 3 holes lays testament to how difficult it is to prevail.

In much the same way as I wanted to back Kaymer in Muscat, I wanted to get onside with Rickie Fowler here but the price is too low for me to pull the trigger. Instead, Ryan Palmer who I backed at The Sony Open, is taken to keep his form going at a course where he has done well at in the past.4th Last year and 2nd in 2014 shows he's more than capable. 75.00 on the exchange available or 61.00 (7-places) are value for Palmer at PGA. The Texan can also be backed @ 7.80 (TOP-10) & 4.60 (TOP-20). I'll complete my staking plan this week with some value on Wyndham Clark & Brian Stuard - Clark is available @ 70.00 / 9.50 (TOP-10) / 5.00 (TOP-20) whilst Brian Stuard is available @ 330.00/ 19.00 (TOP-10)/ 8.00 (TOP-20). Stuard has decent form here having posted 4 TOP-30s in his last 6 visits. Lets hope he go slightly better this time round.

Honda Classic Selections:

0.75 pts WIN R.Palmer @ 75.00
1.00 pts TOP-10 R.Palmer @ 7.80
1.00 pts TOP-20 R.Palmer @ 4.60
0.25 pts WIN W. Clark @ 70.00
1.00 pts TOP-10 W. Clark @ 9.50
1.00 pts TOP-20 @ W. Clark @ 5.00
0.25 pts WIN B. Stuard @ 330.00
1.00 pt TOP-10 B. Stuard @ 19.00
1.00 pt TOP-20 B. Stuard @ 8.00


Total Week Spend: 12.25 pts (Season P&L = +30.30 pts)