The European Tour heads to Austria this week for one of its lower key events – the Lyoness Open. After a couple of massive weeks on the Tour there is a drop down this week but that isn’t too surprising given the magnitude of what is to come.
Recent Winners
2016 – Ashun Wu
2015 – Chris Wood
2014 – Mikael Lundberg
2013 – Joost Luiten
2012 – Bernd Wiesberger
2011 – Kenneth Ferrie
2010 – Jose Manuel Lara
2009 – Rafa Cabrera Bello
2008 – Jeev Milkha Singh
2007 – Richard Green
The Course
The Diamond Country Club is the venue for the tournament once again. At 7,417 yards it is a fairly long par 72 with relatively wide fairways but an element of accuracy is needed too with water hazards in play on no fewer than nine of the 18 on the track.
One statistic recent winners have ranked well in has been the greens in regulation while good putters generally come to the fore here so those who excel after the tee shots should be the focus of our bets this week.
The Field
It must be said that the field isn’t the best this week but with the US Open next week that is to be expected. We do have some of the best talent in Europe here though with home man Bernd Wiesberger looking for the ideal preparation for Erin Hills next week.
Former champions Joost Luiten, Ashun Wu, Richard Green and Jose Manuel Lara are among the field teeing it up this week. There is a huge opportunity for someone to make a real name for themselves over the four days.
Market Leaders
You would expect Bernd Wiesberger to be the favourite in a field devoid of depth in quality and that is very much the case. The former champion and home man can be backed at 9/2 to win on the Tour for a second time this season.
Joost Luiten has also won around here in the past and he is 12/1 to win the title again which could appeal if you think Wiesberger might have his eye on next week rather than this. James Morrison can be backed as big as 33/1 which highlights how open this tournament is should the front two not win it.
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Main Bets
I’m going with a couple of main bets this week with the focus on this who find a lot of greens. I think that is more important than putting but as luck would have it neither of these are too bad in that regard.
Tee to green Benjamin Hebert is on a really good run at the minute. He sits 10th on the European Tour for greens in regulation and he is pretty accuracy off the tee box too. Putting has been an issue with him but he looked in good nick in that regard last week and so I’m expecting a good run from him here. Hebert was sixth here back in 2012 and off the back of last week I fancy a strong run again.
Graeme Storm is another who is very prolific from tee to green and he has already had some big weeks this season with his win in South Africa and his top run in the BMW PGA Championship. Those efforts are enough to stand out and in much weaker company here I’m expecting that to equate to a big week. Storm has a top 10 around here and I fancy him to go even better this week.
Outsiders
Matt Wallace is another one who has won on the European Tour this season so the freedom he can play with should serve him well this week. Wallace is no stranger to playing well in this part of the world. He has a number of lower tour wins in this part of Europe and that can add to the confidence he should already have. That combined makes him look a decent price here.
Lucas Bjerregaard won the GolfSixes alongside Thorbjorn Olesen recently and Olesen has taken his form from that into tournament play and this is the perfect chance for Bjerregaard to do the same. Diamond Country Club should be perfect for him with his strong power game and if he can have the putter working I’m expecting a decent run.
Jbe Kruger has picked up in recent weeks with back to back top 15 finishes in his last two events. Kruger ranks 33rd in greens in regulation and that has been higher than that in recent times. He might not be the longest in the world but the accuracy of finding the greens will be half the battle here. Confidence comes naturally after his good recent form and I fancy he might go well.
Tips
Back B.Hebert to win Lyoness Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back G.Storm to win Lyoness Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 46.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
Back M.Wallace to win Lyoness Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with BetBright (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Back L.Bjerregaard to win Lyoness Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
PLACED – Back J.Kruger to win Lyoness Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
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