The final European Tour event of 2016 takes place this week out in Hong Kong when the European Tour and Asian Tour co-sanction the UBS Hong Kong Open. With it being the only major tournament this week some decent names have been attracted to the event to try and boost their bank account ahead of Christmas.
Recent Winners
2015 – Justin Rose
2014 – Scott Hend
2013 – Miguel Angel Jimenez
2012 – Miguel Angel Jimenez
2011 – Rory McIlroy
2010 – Ian Poulter
2009 – Gregory Bourdy
2008 – Wen-tang Lin
2007 – Miguel Angel Jimenez
The Course
Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling is once again the venue for the tournament this week. The course is a par 70 which measures 6,699 yards so it certainly isn’t a long course although the heavy air can make it play a little longer than the yardage.
This is a treelined course which is very similar to Wentworth. The rough is usually penal and the greens can be tricky to find so you need a straight hitter this week and that is reflected in the roll of honour where Scott Hend is the anomaly rather than the statistical fit we look for. Good scramblers can never be ruled out.
The Field
Some of Europe’s finest are joined by the cream of Asia but it is Patrick Reed who heads the field in terms of profile this week. Defending champion Justin Rose tees it up as do former champions Scott Hend, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ian Poulter among others.
Masters champion Danny Willett is here this week as are household names Rafa Cabrera Bello, Tommy Fleetwood and Thongchai Jaidee. Jeunghun Wang is one of the Asian stars who will be looking for a big week.
Market Leaders
Patrick Reed heads the betting this week at 15/2 but he looked like he was feeling the effects of a long year at the Hero World Challenge last week when he never truly got going. Defending champion Justin Rose is 9/1 but having pulled out after a round last week when his back issues flared up he is easy to pass over.
Danny Willett is 18/1 and if he has his best form with him the Masters champion should be a leading contender this week. Rafa Cabrera Bello will need to be at his best off the tee if he is to be in the mix on Sunday but that isn’t beyond him. Tommy Fleetwood looks a good fit for this course and he is 22/1. It is 28/1 bar those named.
Main Bet
Danny Willett didn’t have the best end to last season with all the silly controversy that came his way at the Ryder Cup and the subsequent disappointment about his performance there undoubtedly something to do with that but he has had time to reflect on that and get over it and he should be getting ready to contending again.
Willett should fit this course nicely. He drives the ball well and finds a lot of greens and when he is in form the putter cooperates for him. This is a decent field but Willett is a real class act in it and if he has his best stuff with him the rest might not be good enough to deny him.
Outsiders
I’ll throw a few darts at this tournament too as I feel it is more open than ever this year. The first of those darts is going in the direction of Julien Quesne who has a decent record around Wentworth and who should go well here. He is proficient from tee to green and on and around the greens he is very good. They are credentials which should see him go well. Two years ago he was tied for fifth going into the weekend. He’s a better player now and hopefully he can get stuck in this week.
Graeme Storm had excellent stats from tee to green in South Africa last week and as someone who has finished runner up in Switzerland on a similar track to this one there is enough to believe he can go well this week. Storm is fortunate enough to still have his European Tour card and sometimes that frees a player up to take advantage of that. He could have a big week in Hong Kong.
I’ll also go with a couple of Indians who hit the ball straight and are accurate throughout their game with decent short games to boot. SSP Chawrasia is exempt on the European Tour after his win in India earlier in 2016 and he arrives here having won the Manila Masters last time out. Form is form wherever it is and with that confidence behind him he’s primed for a good showing.
Rashid Khan is another man who has been in form for a while and originating from Delhi Golf Club which is identical to this one he should like what he sees here. If he can get the putts to drop he should be perform much better than his three figure price.
Tips
Back D.Willett to win UBS Hong Kong Open (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 19.00 with Skybet (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Back SSP.Chawrasia to win UBS Hong Kong Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-5)
Back J.Quesne to win UBS Hong Kong Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 71.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-5)
Back them here:
Back G.Storm to win UBS Hong Kong Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 91.00 with Coral (1/4 1-5)
Back R.Khan to win UBS Hong Kong Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 201.00 with Coral (1/4 1-5)
Back them here:
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