This event takes place on the links course of Royal Zoute. After weeks of parkland courses, the wind and peculiarities of links golf will be to the fore and there may be some reversal of recent form. For the defending champion, Robert Karlsson, who was also 3rd in 1998, this is a necessity; he currently stands outside the top-100 in the Order of Merit. As with any links course, length and accuracy are not the primary factors, but a good short game. In this respect, Karlsson was 3rd in the putting stats last year and won this event; Jamie Spence was 2nd in those putting stats and was 2nd in this event; Lee Westwood's stats for 1998 are not reported, but he is currently ranked #1 this year and he won this event in 1998. The course compatibility table [on website] shows a very clear relationship between putting ability and finishing position in this event.
It is therefore no surprise that Lee Westwood is the top-ranked player. A winner in 1998, he finished 14th last year and leads the putting stats by quite a margin. Putting to one side his hated St Andrews, he has shown he is just as capable on links as on parkland courses and looks very good to win with two of his main rivals, Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn, suffering faltering form coming into this event. He is available at 7/1 at Victor Chandler, DAS and Intertops to win outright.
His main challenge should come from close friend, Darren Clarke. He has won on this course before - the Alfred Dunhill Open in 1993 - and currently holds a narrow lead over Westwood at the top of the Order of Merit. There will be no shortage of commitment from them this week. He is sparkling form and will welcome a return to his native links format. At 9/1 with Intertops and DAS he is the 2nd outright win-only play.
Remaining with the theme of native links golfers who also tend to be good putters, the 3rd outright play is Padraig Harrington. His form in the last two months has not been as spectacular as before then, but the change of course format could cause some large changes in form. He was a creditable 21st two years and ranked 6th in both greens in regulation and putting average in this field, he should be ideally suited to the course as well as the windy conditions. At 33/1 with Ladbrokes he represents excellent value as an e/w play.
It is therefore no surprise that Lee Westwood is the top-ranked player. A winner in 1998, he finished 14th last year and leads the putting stats by quite a margin. Putting to one side his hated St Andrews, he has shown he is just as capable on links as on parkland courses and looks very good to win with two of his main rivals, Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn, suffering faltering form coming into this event. He is available at 7/1 at Victor Chandler, DAS and Intertops to win outright.
His main challenge should come from close friend, Darren Clarke. He has won on this course before - the Alfred Dunhill Open in 1993 - and currently holds a narrow lead over Westwood at the top of the Order of Merit. There will be no shortage of commitment from them this week. He is sparkling form and will welcome a return to his native links format. At 9/1 with Intertops and DAS he is the 2nd outright win-only play.
Remaining with the theme of native links golfers who also tend to be good putters, the 3rd outright play is Padraig Harrington. His form in the last two months has not been as spectacular as before then, but the change of course format could cause some large changes in form. He was a creditable 21st two years and ranked 6th in both greens in regulation and putting average in this field, he should be ideally suited to the course as well as the windy conditions. At 33/1 with Ladbrokes he represents excellent value as an e/w play.
