Golf Monthly Betting Guide

published 15 August 2007

SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS

While Swedish golf has continued to progress over the past decade, surprisingly there?s been no Swedish or Scandinavian winner of this event since 1998. This time though, the home challenge in Stockholm is surely the strongest ever. With this year?s renewal unfortunately placed immediately following the USPGA the absence of top stars, including Sweden?s finest Stenson, Fasth and Pettersson, is notable. Nevertheless, six of the first eight in the betting are Swedes, headed by Peter Hanson, Robert Karlsson and that last home winner of 1998, Jesper Parnevik.

Unfortunately we have no previous course form to work from at the new venue of Arlandastad, but it is still expected to present another good test, if a slightly different one to Barseback. There looks to plenty of birdie potential on a short, flat course with fairly generous fairways. Alternatively, dense, penal rough and numerous hazards wait to penalise inaccuracy. Arlandastad is also very exposed to the wind, creating what has been described as a 'Scottish feel? despite being parkland rather than links. The crucial requirement here then would appear to be accuracy from tee to green, plus the ability to cope well in windy conditions.

Backing players after a Major is always a dangerous strategy, even more so this week. Following one of the most gruelling weeks of the year, plus travel and potential jetlag, those who made the cut at Southern Hills will have their work cut out maintaining their best form. For this reason, I have to overlook the very obvious claims of Peter Hanson and Simon Dyson plus defending champion Robert Karlsson. It?s certainly hard to see John Daly carry his USPGA form over to Sweden, especially on this type of short course. A stronger US challenge will probably come from fellow PGA Tour veterans Jeff Sluman and Corey Pavin.

Better to go with players who come here fresh from a week off. The most in-form Swede here is probably PELLE EDBERG, who has just enjoyed the best month of his golfing life. A superb July included 3rd place at the K Club, 4th at Loch Lomond and 12th in the Open at Carnoustie. Three very different tests, but all challenging golf courses amongst world-class fields. A repeat of any of those three efforts would make him very hard to beat.

SIMON KHAN has been striking the ball consistently all summer, giving himself plenty of chances to win in the process. He is yet to really produce the goods on a Sunday, but if he keeps producing this sort of consistent golf a second victory will surely arrive soon. Khan looks particularly well suited to this week?s demands, having ranked in the top-10 for greens in regulation on five of his last seven starts.

If there is a 'Scottish feel' to the venue, it could work to the advantage of THOMAS LEVET. The resurgent Frenchman is a former Scottish Open winner, and also lost an Open play-off at Muirfield. As with Khan, Arlandastad may present optimum conditions for Levet. If hitting greens in regulation is the key requirement, there have been few better in that department in recent weeks than this former Ryder Cup player.

Another Swede with strong credentials this week is ALEXANDER NOREN. A product of the high standard US collegiate system, Noren has been one of the brightest recruits to the European Tour in 2007. 5th last time out in Germany was his best 72-hole effort so far, but he also led going into the final round in Portugal earlier in March. He is one of the few to know this course well, finishing 9th in a Challenge Tour event at Arlandastad in 2005.

Though none of the world stars are on show this week, there?s no disguising the importance of this event for the players. The new Fedex Cup schedule makes this the last event before the new, lucrative play-offs, which start next week with the Barclays Championship. A good week is essential for everyone, whether they?re scrambling to make the top 144 of the Fedex Cup points list and qualify, or to further their position on the points list and improve their chances of making the second cut.

The venue is Forest Oaks, a regular PGA Tour fixture over many years of the Greensboro Classic at various stages of the year. Despite an earlier slot in the schedule, most of the normal rules apply as previously it was a big autumn event for those desperate to save their card. The profile of previous winners here suggests we?re looking for experienced players who?ve won before, if not in the US then at least on another Tour.

With course specialist and twice defending champion KJ Choi withdrawing from the event, the man to beat could be JONATHAN BYRD. Byrd had finished in the top-12 three times at Forest Oaks including twice in the top-5 since 2002. Winner of the John Deere Classic last month, he followed up with a decent 23rd place in British Open. Crucially given this week?s demands, Byrd has been putting particularly well in recent weeks.

WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

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