The first round of the British Masters takes place at Close House just outside Newcastle on Thursday and with tickets given away free for the opening day there should be a decent crowd for the players teeing it up to play in front of.
Everyone in the field will be looking to take advantage of what is likely to be a soft golf course to get themselves into a good position to launch a title charge for a prestigious title over the weekend. Scoring is likely to be low as a result of a band of rain that has swept the country on Wednesday.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
First Round Leader
The field this week is 132 with the invited players which means 66 are on the course in the morning and 66 in the afternoon. They go off two tees so the tee times are covered in the space of an hour and forty in each session.
With the rain that is in the area overnight the course is likely to play easier in the morning and with the wind getting up more in the afternoon I think that is going to be the case. The soft greens may cut up in the afternoon too so I’m after a morning man for a punt.
With the course playing soft and not much run the bigger hitters can pin their ears back and take advantage of wider fairways and hit darts into the greens. That makes me think that Nacho Elvira, second out on the course in the morning, could be overpriced at 80/1. He drove it well enough in Portugal last week and is a decent enough putter that he could take advantage of conditions.
Thursday 3 balls
This is not a major so not every group has been priced up on the course on Thursday but the main ones have. With a field that has been this well assembled there are some excellent groups out on the course for the massive crowd to enjoy. The afternoon groups of Lee Westwood, Alex Noren and Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton and Ross Fisher will appeal to many as will the Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Andy Sullivan group in the morning. The latter group is one of two bets I like.
Rory McIlroy/Matthew Fitzpatrick/Andy Sullivan
Match tees off at 08.10 BST
The pick of the morning groups sees three very solid British golfers and Ryder Cup stars out onto the golf course when Rory McIlroy, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan tee it up off the tenth tee.
It is good to see McIlroy in the tournament and his appearance will ensure there is a huge crowd around here but I think he will have the show stolen by the former winner of this event in Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has won a junior event around here so he’ll know the course and he’s in good nick.
I’m convinced McIlroy is here just to fulfil obligations and while he could tear up a soft course I need to see it before I believe it I think. Sullivan’s form has left him for the time being so he is easily passed over which leaves Fitzpatrick.
Matteo Manassero/Mike Lorenzo-Vera/Robert Karlsson
Match tees off at 12.50 BST
There are some great groups out on the course in the afternoon so this all-European trio of Matteo Manassero, Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Robert Karlsson may not get much of the crowd attention but it gets my betting focus.
Karlsson has not been consistent enough for a while to get my focus in this group so I have this between the other two and at the prices I am prepared to take the Frenchman. He usually goes well in the Open de France which is an undulating course like this and while I respect Manassero having won around a Harry Colt designed track at Wentworth I don’t believe he is playing as well now, certainly with the putter.
Lorenzo-Vera has no real weakness to his game. He can play in British conditions and I fancy he will have taken inspiration from Romain Wattel winning a couple of weeks ago. He should start well here.
Tips
Back N.Elvira First Round Leader (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 81.00 with 888sport (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
WON – Back M.Fitzpatrick to beat R.McIlroy & A.Sullivan for a 3/10 stake at 3.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
Back M.Lorenzo-Vera to beat M.Manassero & R.Karlsson for a 3/10 stake at 2.63 with Paddy Power
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
