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European Tour: 2021 Cazoo Classic Preview

Our man Damien Kayat previews the 2021 Cazoo Classic taking place at the Heritage Course in Kent, England.

Thorbjorn Olesen - DP World Tour - Portugal Masters
Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports

We take a look at the 2021 Cazoo Classic coming your way from the Heritage Course in Kent, England.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Matthew Jordan let me down last week with a humdrum final round of 2-under-par. But that near miss has only got me more motivated to find some value out there. The branding of this week’s tournament takes some time to comprehend. Sam Horsfield won the inaugural staging of the Hero Open last year (it was originally recognized as the first edition of the English Open since 2002). Last week’s Hero Open was originally conceived as the first edition of a new event. But the European Tour has decided to alter its course and recognise this week’s Cazoo Classic as the continuum of the English Open. Last week’s Hero Open will thus be recognized as the 2nd edition of the Hero Open. I know. Perhaps this headache-inducing complexity is the perfect representation of the issues that plague the current European Tour.

The London Club has hosted three European Tour events this century. However, the Heritage Course was only used in two of those events. So, we are fairly scant on course history this week. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1994, the Heritage is an exposed parkland course with four picturesque lakes. The generous fairways will encourage the bombers this week: the biggest hitters in 2008 and 2009 finished 1st and T2 respectively. Having said that, the mammoth greens will require some precision from the fairway. The presence of the water will also make for some interesting risk and reward holes.

Big-hitting Grant Forrest will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in this week’s event. Eight-time European Tour champion Bernd Wiesberger will be looking for a big week if he wants to catch the eye of Padraig Harrington. Next month’s Ryder Cup looms large and players such as Wiesberger and Perez simply need to perform this week. The likes of Andy Sullivan and Jordan Smith are perennial contenders in these diluted European Tour events. Here’s to hoping that the European Tour can come up with some way of attracting some of their more desirable assets from across the pond.

To Win Outright:

Bernd Wiesberger 14/1 | Andy Sullivan 22/1 | Masahiro Kawamura 25/1 | Richard Bland 28/1 | Jordan Smith 28/1

Value Bets

Rasmus Hojgaard: To Win 40/1 | To Place 17/2

Already a two-time European Tour champ, Rasmus Hojgaard is perhaps slightly too erratic for some. But he certainly knows how to get the job done. He also seems to love playing in England. The second of his European Tour victories came at the Belfry last year, where the young Dane captured the UK Championship title. He was also 2nd in last year’s British Masters and 3rd in the English Championship. The 20-year-old is devastating from tee-to-green and is generally accurate with his iron play. He should be ready to compete for his European Tour hat-trick after a solid mid-table Olympic finish.

Lucas Bjerregaard: To Win 125/1 | To Place 25/1

It has been a long fall from grace for Dane Lucas Bjerregaard. The two-time European Tour winner memorably beat Tiger Woods at the 2019 WGC-Dell Technologies. He seemed destined for potential European Tour greatness. But his form absolutely stalled over the past two years. But there’s no doubting the talent of the man. Firstly, one of his titles came at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: he can clearly play in English conditions. A 10th place finish last week seemed to indicate a slight return to form. A second round 62 truly underlined his massive ability. 125/1 just looks ridiculous to me.

The Man to Beat: David Law: To Win 40/1 | To Place 17/2

As you can see, I have opted to swerve the major favourites for this week’s event. I think there’s actually the possibility of back-to-back Scottish champions this week. David Law looked a very complete golfer last week, ultimately finishing in a solid 4th. It was his best result since he won the 2019 Vic Open. But the Scot has certainly started to look more consistent of late, making an impressive eight straight cuts. That included a 7th at the European Open in Hamburg. I think that this week’s field should encourage Law in his quest for a second European Tour title.

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