Perth International | Thursday 17 October - Sunday 20 October | Lake Karrinyup Country Club
The Perth International will be hosted by Lake Karrinyup for the second time in consecutive years and based on that, there is only a little course form to go on. What we do know is that the course has been built around the lake and water can be viewed from a vast majority of the course. The result is that there is an abundance of bush for wayward shots to get caught up in, but the wide fairways and forgiving rough mean that it’s going to take some pretty poor golf to find your ball in that kind of danger. A lot has been of the fact that the field this week isn’t great but those players that have chosen to make an appearance have clearly been drawn in by the promise of a share of the riches on offer, and are here to win. So will defending champion Bo van Pelt be able to repeat his performance of last year, or will he see his crown snatched from his grasp? Let’s have a look.
To Win OutrightDustin Johnson 7/1
Paul Casey 10/1
Ross Fisher 12/1
Bo Van Pelt 16/1
Brett Rumford 25/1
VALUE BETS
Marcus Fraser (33/1 a win, 73/10 a place)
Marcus Fraser’s form is generally pretty up and down and this year, that has been no different. He missed the cut in the Dunhill Links on the Saturday but then managed to come out swinging with a top 20 in the KLM Open and a T8 in Italy, despite the fact that he went 2-over in his final round. In this field and playing in his home country he will definitely be one to keep a close eye on.
Scott Laycock (40/1 a win, 88/10 a place)
Once you get past the top twenty in the betting this week, a lot of the names will begin to seem unfamiliar, so a little research is in order to find out which of them stands a chance this week. Luckily for you, that’s my job and this week I think I may have found a great place bet. Scott Laycock ended up 13th here last year, but since then seems to have improved and this season he has managed a handful of wins as well as three top 10’s in his last four starts. Granted, he’ll be up against far stiffer competition this week but after last year’s performance, it’s clear that won’t get to him. Each way is the way to go for me here.
Paul Casey (10/1 a win, 22/10 a place)
In this field Paul Casey is one of the few standout players and even though he hasn’t had the greatest season, a win in Ireland being the highlight for him, he has been consistent and has made the cut in the majority of tournaments he has started. He’ll look to kick the season off with a bang though and has a real chance this week against a field that won’t be nearly as challenging as those he usually finds himself a part of. 10/1 looks fair, get on.
TOP BET: Ross Fisher (12/1 a win, 26/10 a place)This week Ross Fisher will make his first trip to this course but don’t let that put you off, it’s only the second time a lot of the field would have played here and he won’t be at any real disadvantage. Having made three top 10’s in his last four starts, his stats in that regard closely resemble those of Scott Laycock, except Fisher did it against far stiffer competition and will relish the opportunity to convert that form into a win on a course that quality players have previously fared well on. 12/1 is a great price so get it while you can.
