KLM Open Preview

Despite the disappointment of finding out that the KLM open is nothing to do with late 80s/early 90s band KLF I have found some betting value to be had amongst the field.

KLF (yes I am back on them) had a big hit with a song called ‘Justified and Ancient’ which is kind of fitting when you looking at the betting market. The favourites are not justified and instead we a fancy a man who while not quite ancient has been around the block a few times. 48 Year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez at 35/1 (boylesports/BetVictor) is the headline selection for the KLM Open. The venue is the Hilversumsche Golf Club which has something of the feel of a southern English course despite being located in Holland. This is what lead us to select Jimenez. The Spaniard is a big fan of the Wentworth course (Hilversumsche plays very similar) and won the 2008 BMW PGA Championship at the Surrey venue. The KLM Open last year had a final leaderboard with golfers in the 40s or approaching that age. Throw in the way Jimenez plays courses that are at times quite windy and you seem to have a formula for a hit. One final thing to note is that though Big Mig will be going to the Ryder Cup it will only be as a non-playing vice captain which must upset the player and we think he will have a point to prove here.

Nicolas Colsaerts is the current favourite at 16/1 (general) and although the Belgian is a fine player the price is a little short on someone who has just two European Tour wins to his name. Backing him at these prices is hard to justify and I would not recommend it. The same goes for David Lynn at 20/1 (general). The Englishman won this event in 2004 and that is that. 20/1 on someone with such a long win runless run is poor value. Though a consistent type he should be double the price. Martin Kaymer is also 20/1 (general) and on his day is probably the most talented player in the field. Worryingly for Kaymer and the European Ryder Cup team (of which he is a member) is his form. I could not be backing him as in four of his last six events he has finished 70th or lower.

So who will be in the mix? Three-time winner of this event (including last year) Simon Dyson should certainly be respected. Dyson is 25/1 (general) for the victory and some might look to clean up (sorry) on that value. Ross Fisher is another as the Englishman honed his game at Wentworth as a boy and has been 11th and 6th on his last two visits here. Fisher is a 35/1 (general) chance.

One selection at a bigger prices is Jose Manuel Lara. The Spaniard has a good record here having tied for sixth in 2011 and tied for fourth in 2010. Admittedly Lara has shown little form on the Tour recently however at odds of 125/1 (general) he might be worth chancing to repeat his love of the course once more.

Also on offer at a big price is James Morrison (the golfer not the singer or footballer) who at 125/1 (general) appeals. The Englishman is in decent form with three top 25 finishes from his last five starts and finished tenth at Wentworth in May (only being let down by the one really bad round).

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06/09/2012     © Frixo 2024