The European Tour moves from Denmark to the Czech Republic this week as the Czech Masters is staged once again. As with last week with an important event going on in America this is not the highest profile tournament of the season but that will not matter to whoever comes out victorious.
Paul Peterson defends the title this week in one of the best cities in the world and despite the lack of depth quality in the field we should get a solid tournament to witness.
Recent Winners
2016 – Paul Peterson
2015 – Thomas Pieters
2014 – Jamie Donaldson
The Course
Albatross Golf Resort stages the tournament once again as it has done in the three previous renewals. This is a pretty long golf course even though it is a par 72. It measures just over 7,400 yards and tends to favour the longer hitters with the fairways slightly wider than usual and the greens fairly big.
Generally those who get it out there go well in this tournament but you have to putt well on these greens too. All three winners so far are excellent putters so that is likely to be significant. The course has water in play on seven holes so it is a challenge but if the ball is hit well scores can be made here.
The Field
As I’ve already alluded to this is not the best field we’ve ever seen assembled for a European Tour event but that is only likely to make it more competitive.
There are some stars names teeing it up here though. They include the former winner Thomas Pieters, Matt Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood and last week’s Made in Denmark champion Julian Suri. John Daly adds colour to the event too.
Market Leaders
Former champion Thomas Pieters heads the betting this week at around the 15/2 mark. With a first and a second here in the last two years it is hard to pick any holes in him and if he is bang on it he could lead this lot a merry dance. Usually I’m reluctant to get involved in a short price but I must admit I’m mighty tempted here.
I would certainly rather be on Pieters than I would Jordan Smith who is the second favourite at 14/1. I like Smith and rate him highly but there is a big difference in contending or winning events when under the radar than there is when you are in marquee groups and one of the favourites. He isn’t for me.
Matthew Fitzpatrick has a decent record around here and if I was convinced he was anywhere near his best game I would be all over him at 16/1 but I don’t think he is. He may still be good enough to get the job done, or be in the mix at least, but at these prices you would want a significant chance of him winning and I’m not convinced.
Martin Kaymer is 18/1 to win this tournament. The comments about Fitzpatrick apply to the German too. He’ll come good again eventually but we haven’t seen anything from him recently that suggests a return to the winners circle is imminent.
Lee Westwood is 22/1 this week. With his tee to green game you could easily argue that is a respectable price but if putting is going to be a big thing then all of a sudden the price looks a little on the skinny side so I will avoid him. It is 25/1 bar those named.
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Main Bets
I’m going with two main bets this week. I’m after players who hit it a long way and who can putt and I’ve found a couple I like at very respectable prices.
Callum Shinkwin is the first of those. We’ve not seen him since The Open so he is going to be nice and fresh and given that the week before that tournament he should have won the Scottish Open there is plenty of reason to support him at 50/1. He hits it miles and we saw in Scotland that week that he can hole putts too. I think he’s a big price here.
Ryan Evans might be doing the majority of his work on the Challenge Tour but he arrives here with five top ten finishes in a row and having finished third here last year that form combined with positive memories could well make him a danger this week. This is a tougher test in terms of opposition than what he is used to but we saw one Challenge Tour star win last week and at 55/1 I’ll pay to see if this one wins this week.
Outsiders
I’ll go with a couple at bigger prices as well. I’m convinced this course sets up well for Lucas Bjerregaard despite his average record here. He opened up last week with a 66 which shows he is hitting the ball well and that could be just the ticket around here. If he can shoot five under on a tight track like that one this one should give him the freedom to be even more aggressive and as a result he should get himself in the mix. At 80/1 I’ll pay to see if he can stay there.
Justin Walters was very good from tee to green last week. He was in the top 20 in all three long game statistics in a field which was much tougher than this one and on a course that was a lot tougher too. If he can find some form with his putter he is entitled to go pretty well here and at a three figure price he is another worth taking a chance with.
Tips
Back C.Shinkwin to win Czech Masters (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 51.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back J.Walters to win Czech Masters (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back them here:
Back R.Evans to win Czech Masters (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 51.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back L.Bjerregaard to win Czech Masters (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back them here:
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