Ballantine's Championship golf betting tips
Paul Krishnamurty provides his golf betting tips and form guide for the European Tour's Ballantine's Championship where Graeme McDowell will be defending his title.

Last year's inaugural Ballantine's Championship was one of the lowest scoring events on the European Tour calendar. Graeme McDowell and Jeev Milkha Singh both took the course apart with a 24-under total, before the former emerged as victor in a play-off.
I'm not so sure, however, that this year will see such a birdie fest. For this South Korean venue played particularly easy last year because the rough wasn't grown fully after a dry spell. Apparently its grown properly this year, and at its toughest, Pinx GC should present a decent test, with narrow, firm, tree-lined fairways ensuring position off the tee is essential to set up approach shots to undulating greens. On the upside, those greens should still play as true as one is ever likely to see, making good putting essential to keep pace with the leaders.
The other similarity with 2008 is that I expect to see a high-class leaderboard. All seven of the players to register at least a share of a top-5 place last year started at less than 100/1, no doubt due to the importance of quality approach shots. As I've emphasised many times before, second shot courses usually accentuate the difference between the best and the rest. So hopefully unlike so many other tournaments this year, not least in the last fortnight, the formbook will stand up this week.
Nevertheless, I still rather doubt Henrik Stenson will become the first favourite to oblige on the European Tour in 2009. While I respect the Swede enormously on the right type of course, this doesn't appear to be one. Stenson seems to be at his best on wide open courses, ideally target golf affairs in the desert. The extra emphasis on position may negate any advantage he would otherwise enjoy, and in any case he hardly covered himself in glory last time at the Masters.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Tips on how to play better, latest equipment reviews, interviews with the biggest names and more.
-
St Andrews Set To Re-Introduce Old Course Reverse Routing With Fans Given Chance To Play Historic Layout At Home of Golf
For three days, eager golfers will have the opportunity to play the historic old routing of the iconic course which hasn't been regularly used since the early 1900s
By Ben Fleming Published
-
Away Ryder Cup Will Be 'A Different Animal' But Luke Donald Is Up For The Challenge - Even Facing Tiger Woods
Despite having to face a tough Bethpage course, a raucous American crowd and even possibly Tiger Woods as captain, Luke Donald is up for the challenge of being back-to-back European Ryder Cup captain
By Paul Higham Published