After a really intense period of major events over the last month the European Tour reverts to the purest form of golf this week for the Paul Lawrie Matchplay with 64 stars of Europe looking to win a few matches, pick up a decent cheque and enhance either their Race to Dubai chances or their hopes of retaining their European Tour status.
Given what has recently gone added to the fact that we are a week away from the Olympic event with many of the field playing in that either in America or already in Rio preparing the field this week is quite open so there is a real opportunity for all 64 men to make a name for themselves.
Recent Winners
2015 – Kiradech Aphibarnrat
The Format
Often in matchplay competitions these days we end up with a group stage to begin with so that everyone teeing it up isn’t just turning up with the threat of playing one match and having to go home but one of the beauties of this competition is that it is 18 hole knockout right from the start so for those who have flown in and need to play some matches the pressure is on them straight away.
All 64 men have been drawn out. 32 of the players were seeded and drawn against qualifiers in the first round and the tournament is pure 18 hole matchplay with extra holes if matches end in a tie after 18.
The first round is played on Friday with the second round on Thursday ahead of the last 16 and quarter finals on the Saturday and the semi-finals and final on the Sunday so it can be a long week for whoever wins but a rewarding one nevertheless.
The Course
The tournament has moved from Murcar Links to Archerfield Golf Club in East Lothian. Keeping with its Scottish roots and traditions the tournament remains on a links golf course although this one is more treelined than some we are used to.
As with all links tracks the difficulty of this course depends on the wind although the narrow fairways combined with the long rough makes this a tougher test than normal so whoever wins this week will have to have ultimate control of their golf ball.
The course is a par 72 which only measures 6,978 yards so it isn’t long and in benign conditions you would expect scoring to be quite good. The length of the course is kind of irrelevant here of course as it is mano e mano this week.
The Field
You’d have to say this is a pretty weak field both in quality and in depth but it does contain three very big tournament winners in the Scottish Open champion Alex Noren, Nordea Masters victor Matthew Fitzpatrick and the BMW PGA Championship winner Chris Wood.
There are some experienced players in the field too not least in Thomas Bjorn, the host himself Paul Lawrie and David Howell while players like Mikko Ilonen have good matchplay pedigree. Unfortunately neither the defending champion Aphibarnrat not the man he beat in the final Robert Karlsson are here this year.
Market Leaders
Having won on a Scottish links less than a month ago it comes to reason that Alex Noren heads the betting this week. He is in a decent section of the draw too which could be significant so there is enough to like about the Swede even at 12/1.
Chris Wood nailed the biggest tournament of the year so far and has an eye on the Ryder Cup so he has a chance to really impress this week. The number one seed is 14/1 to win this tournament but his draw could be kinder it has to be said.
Matthew Fitzpatrick has had a few issues getting his clubs to the course this week but he is 16/1 to land the title. He has a very tough proposition in Thomas Bjorn in the first round but with an eye on the Ryder Cup this is a chance to stand out.
Former Volvo Matchplay champion Mikko Ilonen is a 22/1 shot to win this and with a decent links record as well as a solid matchplay one his credentials are there for all to see. It is 30/1 bar those already named.
Main Bets
Usually when these sort of events come around I tend to cover a player in each quarter. With bookmakers paying out to the semi-final if we can get a couple into the weekend we might well get a payout from them. I’ll go with two main bets and then later I’ll chance a couple of outsiders.
My main bet this week is the matchplay specialist Mikko Ilonen. He is very comfortable in this format and with his straight hitting and his solid putting why wouldn’t he be? His comfort and familiarity in the wind is another strength this week and in my eyes he is the man to beat even though his strokeplay form hasn’t been of the quality he would like in the last nine months or so.
Although 2016 has been largely disappointing he has shown improvement in the last two tournaments. He has some pretty decent names on his record in this format too with wins over Graeme McDowell, Victor Dubuisson, Joost Luiten and Henrik Stenson in various events and there’s nothing of that class in this field. He should be a big runner.
Richard Bland has done nothing wrong all year and as the main seed in his quarter he should in theory make the semi-final. Marc Warren might have something to say about that but him aside there doesn’t look like there is much in his quarter so this classy ball striker and solid putter has every chance of making it deep into the weekend.
Outsiders
When this tournament was played last year Michael Hoey seemed to enjoy himself with a win over Max Kieffer before huge wins over Kristoffer Broberg and Gregory Havret before a narrow defeat to the eventual champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat. You’d do well to make a case for him based on his 2016 form but he did go ok in a Challenge Tour event last week and if he found a bit of confidence there he might just exploit any opening of the draw in his section this week.
When I was researching this tournament I looked for players who had recent form on links courses primarily and that brought Oliver Wilson into play after his win in the Dunhill Links two years ago. His form since then has been patchy at best but he’s made a couple of tough cuts recently so he might be finding something.
It is his matchplay record that I like though. In his last 12 singles matches in this format he has eight wins and the quality of names on his resume are as strong as you’ll find. Admittedly this was a few years ago when he was in his pomp but at least it shows he is comfortable in this format. He has wins over KJ Choi, Anthony Kim, Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Rory McIlroy and you don’t beat those if you can’t play matchplay. If something happens to Alex Noren there is absolutely nothing in his quarter so at 200/1 he is worth a go.
Tips
Back M.Ilonen to win Paul Lawrie Matchplay (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 23.00 with Boylesports (1/4 1-4)
Back R.Bland to win Paul Lawrie Matchplay (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Boylesports (1/4 1-4)
Back them here:
Back M.Hoey to win Paul Lawrie Matchplay (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
Back O.Wilson to win Paul Lawrie Matchplay (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 201.00 with Coral (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
