Side with those with course experience in Russian Open

Russian Open

Golf
Published: 24/07/2013

The European Tour makes a first trip to Russia for five years as the Russian Open takes place at the Tsleevo Golf and Polo Club around 30 miles from the capital of Moscow.

The Jack Nicklaus designed course is a 7,491 par 72 that should suit the big hitters. They need accuracy of the drive though as the course has a number of water hazards around to catch errant drivers.

The Russian Open has been an event on the Challenge Tour but not on the European Tour since 2008 and this combined with a number of bg players being absent makes for a wide-open looking event.

One man who has both experience and driving skills is Chris Doak. The Scot has a great record here with two top ten finishes coming ninth here in 2011 and tied fourth in 2012. He also its in the top twenty in driving accuracy rankings for the Tour and is in good form having come tied 12th in the recent Scottish Open. Take Doan each-way at 35/1 (GENERAL).

Bookmakers make Simon Dyson the 12/1 (GENERAL) market leader amongst a field that is missing a lot of the big number. Though he has never played on the course the Englishman is clearly the player of the most quality in the field and is a worthy favourite. Soren Kjeldsen is next in the betting at 20/1 (GENERAL) and the Dane comes here with solid though unspectacular form. He, like Dyson, is among the top players competing in the event.

Romain Wattel is a 22/1 (GENERAL) chance and the Frenchman was tied for third at the Lyoness Open back in June. Wattel is one of the srongest drivers on the tour ranking in the top ten in this category in two of the last four events he has made the cut in. Tommy Fleetwood is a 25/1 (BETVICTOR/CORAL) for the tournament and he might appeal to some as he is a course record holder and was runner-up here in a Challenge Tour event in 2010. His recent form is also good with a tied 17th in the Scottish Open and he has six top 25 finishes on the Tour this year.

Morten Orum Madsen is also a 25/1 (GENERAL) chance and he is another with experience of the course coming tied for fourth here last year. The Dane also finished in the top 25 in the Scottish Open so is in good form. Another Dane JB Hansen is next in the betting and is a 28/1 (GENERAL) chance on the back of a great performance in the Scottish Open where he came tied third. Former Challenge Tour winners Alex Kaleka (66/1-GENERAL) and Sam Little (80/1-GENERAL) are both competing an on a course where few have competed before and as such they will have a big advantage.

Mark Tullo also has good course experience as he was a runner-up here on the Challenge Tour in 2012. The Chilean is a 66/1 (GENERAL) chance and this looks good odds on a player who ranks in the top fifty for driving distances. Tullo has been badly out of form in recent weeks though he has a tied second and a tied fifth to his name this season on the Tour so the talent is clearly there, it is jut a case of executing it. The final recommendation is Carlos Del Moral is a 175/1 (bet365) chance and he is a former Challenge Tour winner here. The Spaniard has not done much on the Tour this year though the price looks much too big on a former winner here in an event that has a weak field.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Chris Doak, each way, 35/1 (GENERAL)
SILVER: Mark Tullo, each-way, 66/1 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Carlos Del Moral, each-way, 175/1 (bet365)

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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (24/07/2013) but are subject to change.

24/07/2013     © Frixo 2024

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