The European Tour goes a bit quirky this week as strokeplay combines with matchplay in the ISPS Handa World Super 6. In a bid to bring newcomers into the game and make golf seen as fun and jazzy this new concept has been drawn up and will be trialled for the first time.
Previous stagings of this tournament have been completely all strokeplay and last year Louis Oosthuizen won the title. He’s back to defend his crown.
Recent Winners (Perth International)
2016 – Louis Oosthuizen
2014 – Thorbjorn Olesen
2013 – Jin Jeong
2012 – Bo Van Pelt
The Format
The field will compete over the usual strokeplay format for the first 54 holes of the tournament. There will be the usual cut after two rounds and then at the end of the third round the top 24 players will move through to matchplay Sunday. The top eight on the leaderboard will go straight into the last 16 and the other 16 players will play a match to join them there. From there the tournament becomes a straight knockout.
Each match in the matchplay format is six holes and any ties in those matches will be decided from a special tee on the final hole which is 100 yards from the green. If the extra hole is tied a nearest the pin competition will take place. The man who wins the final wins the tournament.
The Course
As with the Perth International previously Lake Karrinyup in Perth is the venue for the tournament this week. The course is a par 72 measuring 7,143 yards. The fairways here are wide and expansive but the greens are sloped and have large run offs so iron play needs to be pinpoint around here or else you will need to scramble well.
The wind plays a strong part around here so players who fare well when it is blowy may have an advantage. The matchplay holes are 1, 2, 8, 11, 12 and 18.
The Field
This is never the strongest field in fairness given the part of the world that it is in and as it comes in among some big events in America but it looks discernibly weaker this year. That said the defending champion Louis Oosthuizen is here to support the event.
Four time winner on Tour last year Alex Noren is here as is the former Perth International winner Thorbjorn Olesen while home stars Richard Green, Marcus Fraser and Brett Rumford all tee it up this week.
Market Leaders
We have joint favourites this week with Louis Oosthuizen and Alex Noren both 12/1 favourites to win the tournament. It is up to you whether you want to take a player that short in an event which is going to turn into a lottery before we get a pay-out. No matter what happens we will need someone to win two six hole matches before we see any readies but if you are to take someone short the previous champion or a class act like Noren would top the list.
Former winner here Thorbjorn Olesen is a 22/1 shot to win this week. He will be a popular selection I’m sure as will Peter Uihlein who is a shade bigger than the Dane at 25/1. Jordan Smith is a man in form and he is 28/1 with the rest of the field 35/1 or bigger.
Main Bet
This isn’t a tournament to go mad in but if we can get a couple of players into the final 24 then we might get some joy out of Sunday. I’m going to go with one main bet and a couple of outsiders to see how we fare. There is a little method to my madness.
My main bet is going to be Thorbjorn Olesen. He knows this course really well having won here and we know whenever the wind blows he isn’t too troubled. This course sets up nicely for him because he can let it fly off the tee which is perfect. His iron play is one of his strengths and his short game is more than competitive so I’m expecting him to get into the final 24 and from there anyone can win. At 22/1 he’s a worthy main bet.
Outsiders
Curtis Luck may not be known to everyone but the US Amateur champion has been given an invitation to take part in this event and I’m interested to see how he gets on. If he can putt well and make it into the top 24 he might well have an advantage in the matchplay discipline given the US Amateur is decided in that format. In the Dubai Desert Classic recently Luck was just outside the top 10 going into the final round and a repeat of that could lead to a big week for the Australian.
Sam Brazel has already won the Hong Kong Open this season and last time he was in Australia he finished in the top 15. He comes in here off the back of a top 12 in Malaysia last week so those results all highlight that he is hitting the ball well. A repeat of any of those efforts should get him into the top 24 here and as I said from there anyone can win. He’s a little overpriced at 80/1.
Tips
Back T.Olesen to win ISPS Handa World Super 6 (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 23.00 with Ladbrokes (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
Back C.Luck to win ISPS Handa World Super 6 (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 51.00 with Boylesports (1/3 1-4)
Back him here:
Back S.Brazel to win ISPS Handa World Super 6 (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
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