Betting Update; Alfred Dunhill Championship with the bookmakers making Westwood their 7/1 favourite

Added: (Tue Dec 09 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - ALFRED DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP


WHERE: Leopard Creek Golf Club, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

COURSE CHARACTERISTICS: The par-72 layout is on the edge of the Kruger National Park, so players have to not only keep an eye on where their ball lands, but also where the abundant wildlife is. Caddies almost double as park rangers as there is always the chance of a hippo straying onto the fairways. Extensive use has been made of water features and sightings of crocodile, hippo, antelope, buffalo and wild boar are commonplace, whether on the course itself or in or next to the river running alongside several holes. The par five fourth is one of the more memorable holes as the green is on the edge of the Crocodile River, while the par five 18th, with its island green is also a tough one to negotiate.


THE MAIN MEN

LEE WESTWOOD: Top ranked player in the tournament, he last visited Leopard’s Creek in 2006 when finishing third, four shots adrift of Alvaro Quiros. He played well in the middle part of the tournament that year, but opened poorly with a 73 and finished off the same way, otherwise he may well have contended for the title. He had another very consistent season in 2008 which yielded 13 top-10 finishes, the highlight being his third in the US Open, all of which helped him to third spot on the Order of Merit table. Finished the season with a fourth in the Volvo Masters and produced some steady golf to take fifth in the Nedbank Challenge last week, without ever looking likely to threaten runaway winner Henrik Stenson. BEST PRICE: 7-1

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: He made his European tour breakthrough in this contest three years ago and nearly successfully defended his title 12 months later when tying for second behind Ernie Els. Still young enough to make as big an impact on the world stage as Els and is hugely talented. Claimed his third title when capturing the Madrid Masters in October and that win was all the more meritorious as he had been feeling ill all that week and had to struggle with a shoulder problem. Nothing wrong with his form since then as he’s posted a sixth in the competitive HSBC Champions event and a 13th in the Singapore Open. BEST PRICE: 10-1

RORY McILROY: The young Northern Ireland golfer is making his debut in this event, but he arrives in the middle of a purple patch with his last eight outings providing six top-10 finishes. He was the top ranked amateur player in 2007 and turned pro on the eve of the British Masters that year. Although he has yet to record his first win on the European tour, judging from his recent results that will not be long in coming. BEST PRICE: 14-1

RORY SABBATINI: Although he made over $1.5m on the US tour, all in all its been a pretty disappointing year for the Durban-born golfer. He looked as though he was in for a good year as he started 2008 with a second in the Sony Open and followed that up with a third in the Buick Invitational. Nevertheless, he’s finishing in good style, posting a fourth in the Nedbank Challenge last week and a seventh in the World Cup. A top-class player on his day and not one to dismiss completely out of hand. BEST PRICE: 16-1

RICHARD STERNE: He currently leads the Sunshine tour Order of Merit table. The Pretoria-born golfer broke through the £2m mark on the European circuit when landing the Joburg Open back in January, although his best year was in 2007 when he achieved his highest Order of Merit finish so far. Has only recorded one top-10 (seventh 2003) in this tournament, but a seventh in the World Cup and a sixth in the Hong Kong Open recently is enough evidence to place him on a short-list of possible winners of this. BEST PRICE: 22-1

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN: Another of the bright crop of South African golfers, he has yet to open his score on the European tour, but has been fairly consistent on the Sunshine tour in his homeland. He recorded his highest finish so far on the Order of Merit in 2008, while he captured the Telkom PGA and was eighth in the Vodacom Championship. His best finish in the Alfred Dunhill was second in 2005. BEST PRICE: 25-1

DAVID LYNN: Only Lee Westwood has a better stroke average than the Stoke-on-Trent resident in this tournament over the last five years. A final round of 68 saw him climb 16 places to take fourth spot in this event 12 months ago and having recently finished off his European campaign with a sixth in the Volvo Masters and fourth in the Castello Masters, he might be ready to secure the second win of his career. BEST PRICE: 28-1

SIMON DYSON: His record in this event is nothing to write home about but he’s finishing the year in good style as his 10th in the Singapore Open and fourth in the Castello Masters indicates. This season has been a slight let-down compared to 2007 when he produced his first top-10 in a major and almost pulled off an unlikely win in the Volvo Masters before losing in a play-off to Justin Rose. BEST PRICE: 33-1

PELLE EDBERG: Has twice shaped with promise in this tournament, posting an 18th in 2005 and doing even better last year when sixth. Nearly landed that elusive first tour win in 2008 when producing outstanding efforts in the SAS Masters (second) in his native Sweden and when third in the Austria Open. His form of late is not inspiring but his ability to play to Leopard’s Creek should stand him in good stead and he could reward each-way backers at long odds. BEST PRICE: 80-1


SELECTIONS: Simon Dyson, Pelle Edberg, David Lynn and Louis Oosthuizen

• All prices correct at time of writing.

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