The European Tour moves to another continent this week as they make a second stop of the season in Australia. They do so for the ISPS Handa Perth International, a co-sanctioned event between the European Tour, the Asian Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.
This is the third staging of this event but unfortunately for the tournament it has landed in a nasty spot in the calendar to attract the quality field it would seek. With the first WGC event of the year next week few huge stars want to be in Australia the week before.
Nevertheless the field is headed by a major winner in the form of Louis Oosthuizen. He is the 11/1 favourite to win this week ahead of the Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson who is 16/1. Defending champion Thorbjorn Olesen is next at 22/1 and local hope Brett Rumford is the only other man shorter than 33/1. He is 28/1.
That shows us that the bookmakers don’t know who is going to win this tournament and in fairness it does have one of those feels of an event which is wide open about it.
The course is a real highlight of this tournament. It is played around Lake Karrinyup which is a good test of golf. While it isn’t demanding off the tee in terms of the narrowness of the fairways you have to fly the ball both ways depending on the hole shape to be in the best positions.
The fairways are undulating and slope from side to side as well and the greens can be tricky to find and are all well protected by the unique bunkers that this course offers. As you would expect the greens aren’t easy to putt on with the slopes and to add to the toughness there is a seaside wind which is always in play.
It is a par 72 course which only measures 7,143 yards so it isn’t demanding in length but precision, patience and good control are all key weapons this week as is the ability to play in the wind.
I have to say I’m keen on Victor Dubuisson’s chances here but he just looks a little short for me to get involved in given his relative lack of action in recent times. I do feel he has the ideal game for here and I might regret not taking him but 16/1 is just a touch short.
My first pick is double that price and it is on a very competent wind player who is a greens in reg machine when he’s going well and that is Finland’s star Mikko Ilonen.
Ilonen had a wretched 2015. Injury, illness and a complete lack of confidence did for him but whisper it quietly, almost unnoticed, he looks to be getting back to somewhere near his better form and that is so good to see.
He has been in the top 16 in each of his last three tournaments and few putted better than him in Malaysia last week. We’re not surprised by that of course. He’s one of the best putters in the game but that highlights how his confidence is returning.
If he has his irons dialled in then with his ability to move the ball and shape shots in the wind he has to be a major runner this week at a price much bigger than he would be if his return to form was better highlighted.
One man who has begun 2016 well is Richard Bland and I’m quite happy to get involved in him at the price. Often when a tournament has an open feel to it a form man should be taken into account and Bland is certainly that.
Bland was inside the top 10 in the windy conditions in Qatar a few weeks ago which should be a perfect preparation for this week and he was back in the top 10 in Malaysia last week so while he might not be a household name he’s going well. He can play in the wind and with this field being weaker than ones he’s encountered recently he enters the shortlist high up.
I’ll go for a couple of bigger prices too. One of those is on Anthony Wall who has shown plenty of times that he is comfortable in the wind. He was inside the top 10 in the wind in the Irish Open last year and also made the top 10 in the British Masters and on the exposed track in Portugal. He was right in the mix in The Open throughout the event too so his credentials in the wind are plain to see.
He has history with this course too. When the Johnnie Walker Classic was played here in 2002 he finished fifth and he is a much better player now than he was then too. Given that he can play in the wind, hits lots of greens and has been holing plenty of putts in recent times he is overpriced for a significant tilt at this over this weekend.
Finally I’m going to take someone who is hitting the ball from tee to green really well this year in Benjamin Hebert. Hebert’s greens in regulation stats this year are very good and in theory that should see him go well here.
Hebert was third in the Alfred Dunhill at the start of the season where he was in the top 10 for greens hit that week and in Qatar he finished tied for 20th and was ranked in the top 5 for greens hit in that event and then nobody hit more greens than him in Dubai the following week.
Admittedly his putting hasn’t always been up to scratch but those desert greens can be tricky to putt on. Just ask Jordan Spieth about that but these greens should allow him to get a nice roll on the ball. We’ve seen already this season what happens when he putts well so I’ll pay to see how he putts this week.
Back M.Ilonen to win ISPS Handa Perth International (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Paddy Power (1/4 1-5)
Back it here:
Back R.Bland to win ISPS Handa Perth International (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 51.00 with Coral (1/4 1-5)
Back it here:
Back A.Wall to win ISPS Handa Perth International (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Ladbrokes (1/4 1-5)
Back it here:
Back B.Hebert to win ISPS Handa Perth International (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Skybet (1/4 1-5)
Back it here:
