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Golf - Hong Kong Open. A short course that rewards second shot accuracy, the Hong Kong Open has been won by decent European players for the last nine years. With the likes of Montgomerie, Jimenez, Harrington and Olazabal amongst the winners, it is clear that this is an course that rewards proper quality players. It is interesting that the betting is not headed by a European player despite their strong record here. Instead we have three payers from the PGA tour heading the market, Choi, Weir and very surprisingly, Retief Goosen. The South African has shown no great form since April and while he can still make the cut in a modest field like this, his poor putting means he struggles to compete for wins these days. Choi is always worthy of respect but his recent form has been modest and he doesn’t look a worthy favourite. Mike Weir is more interesting, coming here on the back of a top 10 and a win on the PGA Tour. He very rarely leaves the shores of North America, with only a handful of events played outside of the Open Championship. However, his trips abroad have proved quite successful, 5th in the Johnnie Walker in Thailand this year, 15th in the AMEX in Ireland in 2002, won the AMEX at Valderrama in 2000 and a couple of top 10’s in Australia in 1997. This is his first trip to Hong Kong but this short course should suit his game. He looks more dangerous than the out of form Goosen. 5 points Weir to beat Goosen @ 5/6 with Stan James. won 4.17 points With the strong record of European players and the fact that this is a course that could be described as a real ‘horses for courses’ track, I will go for two in form Europeans with good course records. 1 point e/w Miguel Angel Jimenez @ 28/1 VCBet. won 35 points Four top 20 finishes in his last 5 events, and a course record of 1/38/6. He comes alive in Ryder Cup years and he could go close on a track on which he has played so well on in the past. 1 point e/w Soren Kjeldsen @ 28/1 generally available. lost 2 points The Dane has been playing very well recently and on a course on which his record reads wd/4/18/6, he can be expected to go close again. Adding: 5 points Miguel Angel Jimenez to beat Retief Goosen @ evens with BetFred won 5 points Going against Goosen again for the reasons given above. Jimenez should not be the even money shot in this match up. 4 points Thongchai Jaidee to beat Andres Romero @ evens with Boylesports. won 4 points Romero is a very promising player, but currently on a run of fairly poor form (mc/mc/41/21/25/57) and with no course form he looks a poor favourite to beat course specialist Jaidee (7th 2005 and 3rd 2006). The Thai veteran has been showing some reasonable form in Europe with two top 12 finishes last month but he is at his best on the Asian Tour and should go well this week. |
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Betting Previews
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