The European Tour heads to China for the next couple of weeks with the first event of two back in Asia being the third staging of the Shenzhen International, a tournament which is fast becoming one of the biggest in that part of the world.
Recent Winners
2016 – Soomin Lee
2015 – Kiradech Aphibarnrat
The Course
Once again we are at the Genzon Golf Club this week. This has been the venue since the tournament came into fruition having previously hosted the China Open the year before this event came to life.
With its wide open fairways and lengthy back nine the course suits bombers this week as evidenced by the fact that two of the three winners here were Aphibarnrat and Alex Levy. Soomin Lee had a raft of big hitters behind him last year.
The course is a par 72 which measures just 7,145 yards but the fairways are undulating and the greens are anything but flat so ball striking and touch will be needed at different times this week.
The Field
The three most recent winners around this golf course are all here this week as Alex Levy, Soomin Lee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat all tee it up. Last week’s winner Edoardo Molinari is also in the field.
Some of Europe’s finest are also here this week. Tommy Fleetwood, Ross Fisher, Bernd Wiesberger and Joost Luiten all play this week as do the high profile American duo of Bubba Watson and Peter UIhlein.
Market Leaders
Tommy Fleetwood was second and third here in 2014 and 2015 and given that he has already won in Abu Dhabi and contended in Mexico he is a worthy favourite this week. He has all the credentials to score well this week and at 14/1 is a genuine live chance.
Ross Fisher has had a good few weeks himself and he is another who should be suited to the lengthy nature of this course and the slopes on offer. He has a good record in China and has been in the top 20 of this tournament in both previous years. He is 16/1 for the title this year.
Bubba Watson’s PGA Tour form has been nothing to write home about this year but he often comes to China and has won here before. He will need to hit the ground running this week in order to get his confidence up ready to win.
Bernd Wiesberger is a 20/1 shot on his debut in the tournament with Joost Luiten 22/1 and Peter Uihlein a shade bigger at 25/1. It is 28/1 bar those named.
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Main Bets
Two main bets for me this week and with Alexander Levy having won around this course in the past and having read how much he loves the course in his player blog on the European Tour website he becomes an obvious pick. He is under a new coach in Pete Cowan but that is only likely to improve him and we saw signs of that in Morocco last week. I think he is a standout chance here.
The form of Thorbjorn Olesen can best be described as indifferent but he has never been a man who has been consistent. He does however seem to specialise on big open tracks where there is a lot of space off the tee and if the rain which is threatened this week arrives to soften up the course making it target golf his chances are only going to improve. He was in the top 10 here last year and with conditions the way they are I expect him to go as well if not better here.
Outsiders
I’m going with a couple of outsiders too with the first of those being on the long hitting Asian Tour specialist Scott Hend. Hend is another who loves wide open tracks off the tee but his iron play, especially in Asia, is usually pinpoint so the forecasted conditions should really suit the Australian. If he can get the putter warmed up then his tee to green power make him a leading candidate here.
Haydn Porteous should enjoy these conditions so it was encouraging that he finished in the top 15 in Morocco last week. It was even more encouraging when you factor in his horrible opening round and if he can take the form of the last three rounds last week into this week and start well his power is going to serve him very well too.
Tips
Back A.Levy to win Shenzhen International (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 29.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back H.Porteous to win Shenzhen International (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back them here:
Back T.Olesen to win Shenzhen International (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 51.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
Back S.Hend to win Shenzhen International (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 51.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
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