The European Tour returns this week for its first tournament in 2017 what is expected to be a high profile and busy year for the Tour. As ever it resumes in South Africa where the BMW SA Open will be played and the tournament has a very high profile participant in Rory McIlroy to kick the year into life with a bang.
Ernie Els hosts the tournament this week and a number of big names have decided to start their year here so we should be in for a good four days of golf.
Recent Winners
2016 – Brandon Stone
2015 – Andy Sullivan
2014 – Morten Orum Madsen
2012 – Henrik Stenson
2011 – Hennie Otto
2010 – Ernie Els
2009 – Richie Ramsay
2008 – Richard Sterne
2007 – James Kingston
2006 – Ernie Els
The Course
Glendower Golf Club is once again the venue for this tournament. It is a par 72 which measures 7,564 but we shouldn’t forget we are at altitude here so although the course sounds long it won’t play that long.
There is a lot of danger in play on this course. There are over 50 bunkers and plenty of trees while water is in play on most of the holes as well so good control of a golf ball is needed here. Accuracy off the tee is very much advantageous as the rough tends to be quite thick but if you are to score well here then putting well is very important.
The Field
While this is a field headlined by Rory McIlroy you would have to say it lacks a bit in terms of depth. Brandon Stone returns to defend his title while there are some really big names from the past on show such as Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and even Sir Nick Faldo.
Some of the established South African players are here such as George Coetzee, Thomas Aiken, Jaco van Zyl and Justin Walters among others. Leading English players David Horsey and Richard Bland add a bit of quality to the field.
Market Leaders
Rory McIlroy is no bigger than 9/4 at the time of writing and while you would think this is well within his range backing him on a first start of the year when he has got new weapons isn’t really for me but I don’t think anyone would be surprised if he is in the winners’ circle on Sunday.
Andy Sullivan generally goes well in South Africa and he is the 14/1 second favourite. He is another you can’t rule out but with some big events coming up he might be using this as a tune up for them.
Brandon Stone is 15/1 to make a successful defence of the title. He won the opening tournament of the new season so he is really starting to justify the hype and prove that he is South Africa’s next big thing.
Thomas Aiken is next in the betting at 28/1 and he can’t be ruled out on a track like this either. A trio of players are next at 40/1 including David Horsey, Jaco van Zyl and Richard Bland. It is 45/1 bar those named.
Main Bets
I’m going to take two main bets this week. The first is the new sensation Brandon Stone. If I’m honest 15/1 is probably on the really low end of the price range I am comfortable with but I’m willing to make an exception for it after the news broke that he went round here in 61 blows in a practice round this week.
Stone is in good form having taken down the first event of the season and he knows this course well. Defending is never easy but this is a poor field apart from the obvious exceptions so I fancy Stone will go close to doing it.
I’m always a backer of Thomas Aiken on courses like this. He has dabbled with the PGA Tour in recent times but this is his bread and butter. He was fourth at Leopard Creek last month and in this tournament he has three top five finishes in his last four outings. At this level he is still a leading player and at 28/1 he’s a more than acceptable price.
Outsiders
I’m going to take a couple of outsiders too. They both went well at Leopard Creek and if you play well there you should go well enough here. Thomas Detry has arrived on the European Tour with a big reputation and a third placed finish on a track like Leopard Creek shows that isn’t for no reason. I’m expecting the Belgian to get in the mix here.
Chris Hanson has been catching the eye a few times in the last couple of months. He went into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill in second place last month. A poor final round cost him but that was a positive. He had a month in September where he had three top 20 finishes in bigger tournaments and deeper fields than this so there is enough to like about him at a three figure price.
Tips
Back B.Stone to win BMW SA Open (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 16.00 with Betfair (1/4 1-5)
PLACED – Back T.Aiken to win BMW SA Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 29.00 with Betfair (1/4 1-5)
Back them here:
Back T.Detry to win BMW SA Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Ladbrokes (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Back C.Hanson to win BMW SA Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 151.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
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