The first day of the Paul Lawrie Matchplay is one of the busiest days of golf of the year as 32 matches go out onto the golf course in the first round of the knockout event.
At the end of the day we will be left with 32 men who continue on their quest for glory. We are likely to see shocks, surprises, some great golf and some indifferent stuff on an action packed day of golf.
All 32 matches to go out onto the course have been priced up which gives us plenty of betting potential over the course of the day and with some of the juicy prices on the slates there is a lot of value to be had.
After looking through the prices and the respective records of those who have entered the tournament I have decided to go with four bets for the opening round.
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Robert Rock vs Marc Warren
Match tees off at 08.35 BST
Two Brits form the basis for my first bet when Robert Rock goes up against Marc Warren in a match where the Englishman is the favourite to come through, possibly to the surprise of some.
Rock finished in the top 10 in Scotland last month courtesy of a fast finish with his low round of the year but aside from that it has been a very quiet time for him. Admittedly it hasn’t been much better for Warren but we saw his appetite for matchplay when he took part in the GolfSixes earlier in the year and I suspect this format will bring out the best of his game. At 5/4 he looks the value in this one.
Maximilian Kieffer vs Magnus A Carlsson
Match tees off at 12.20 BST
Two Europeans meet in the second game of the day that I have a betting interest in when Max Kieffer takes on Magnus A Carlsson in an intriguing looking match up.
Kieffer went well in this tournament last year and he will have the support of the crowd backing him up in this one and potentially a bit of local knowledge too. Carlsson has made the last couple of cuts on tour but he has been going through a bit of a dry spell prior to that. Kieffer has been plodding along this season but I think his consistency from tee to green will see him be too strong here.
Richard Bland vs Alejandro Canizares
Match tees off at 11.50 BST
One of the form men on the European Tour in Richard Bland takes on the solid Spanish player Alejandro Canizares in a key match on the first day.
Bland doesn’t look to have too many weaknesses aside from maybe a lack of top level matchplay experience. Canizares definitely doesn’t lack for that. He can be a tricky customer to deal with given the solidity of his long game combined with the creativity and quality around the greens. This should be one of the matches of the first day but at the prices there is only one man I can be on and that is Canizares.
Bradley Dredge vs Victor Dubuisson
Match tees off at 12.40 BST
One of the matches of the opening day is the one between the former Ryder Cup players as Bradley Dredge takes on Victor Dubuisson for the right to face Lasse Jensen or Alexander Knappe in the last 32 on Friday.
Dubuisson’s matchplay credentials were there for all to see a couple of years ago when he almost won the WGC Matchplay and then competed in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles but his form has taken a significant downturn since then and it might be that he is vulnerable to the very consistent Dredge who has a good record in Germany. Dredge has been in good touch in the last 15 months or so and I fancy him to come through this one.
Tips
Back M.Warren to beat R.Rock for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Betfred
Back him here:
WON – Back A.Canizares to beat R.Bland for a 4/10 stake at 2.38 with Skybet
Back him here:
WON – Back M.Kieffer to beat M-A.Carlsson for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Paddy Power
Back him here:
Back B.Dredge to beat V.Dubuisson for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
Back him here:
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