Written by @Matt_Cee for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
BMW International Open | Thursday 26 June – Sunday 29 June | Golf Club Gut Larchenhof
The European Tour heads to Germany this week for the BMW International Open and as usual, a top field has assembled to participate in this one. The course, which has hosted this event once, has hosted a number of other tournaments over the years so there is a lot of information regarding the layout available for the discerning punter. The par 72, 7228 yard course is flat and exposed to the elements and has proved to be a tough one to play in the wind over the years. The rough is generally thick and there are a number of water hazards to compete with. This means that driving accuracy will be a key stat, but even once players are on the fairway, they will need to be striking their irons well if they want to compete here. Fortunately, the weather man doesn’t predict too much wind and the field will be hoping that it is an accurate forecast. An in-form Martin Kaymer finds himself joint favourite with Henrik Stenson and at 8/1 both of these players look like they could be great bets. Will they have what it takes to edge out this quality field though?
To Win Outright
Henrik Stenson 8/1
Martin Kaymer 8/1
Sergio Garcia 12/1
Francesco Molinari 25/1
Ross Fisher 28/1
VALUE BETS
Thomas Bjorn (35/1 a win, 77/10 a place)
Thomas Bjorn will be looking to get the second half of the season underway with a win and now that he has recovered from injury problems, which resulted in him missing the US Open, he could have a real chance here. He loves playing in Germany and this course suits his game to a tee. His best finishes have been a T5, T4 and T8 here; although these came in other events, but with a spot on the Ryder Cup team up for grabs he is sure to bring his ‘A’ game. Prior to his injury he was having a great run of form and if that continues there’s no reason he won’t be in the hot seat for most of the tournament. Each way here is the bet for me.
Chris Wood (40/1 a win, 88/10 a place)
At 40/1, Chris Wood looks a great bet as he has better course form than a vast majority of this field. A T3 in 2012 and a T12 in 2009 show that the course suits his game and with the run of form that he is in at the moment, there’s no reason he won’t be able to finish inside the Top 5. In a competitive field he managed an impressive T8 in Ireland last week and that finish was preceded by a T7 in Spain. With all that in mind he looks a great each way bet but for the conservative punter, the 36/10 for a Top 10 finish is certainly appealing.
Miguel Angel Jimenez (40/1 a win, 36/10 a place)
Arguably the most popular golfer on the Tour, Jimenez has been on fire this season so to see him available at 40/1 is a pleasant surprise. A fourth in the Masters showed he can still mix it up with players half his age and this season he finally managed to win the Open de Espana, a tournament that he has always coveted. This run of form continued in Austria where he finished inside the Top 5 and there’s no reason he won’t find himself there again on Sunday. Again, each way looks a great bet so get on the Spanish stalwart while it’s available.
TOP BET: Henrik Stenson (8/1 a win, 17/10 a place)
Martin Kaymer is certainly in form at the moment and looks a great bet but when you compare his course form with Stenson’s, it is the Swede who looks the better option this week. He came second here in 2005 and followed that with a T6 in 2012 so the course definitely suits him. When you add that course form to his current form, which has seen him manage five Top 10s in recent starts and includes an impressive T4 at Pinehurst, he begins to look like the man to beat. He’s definitely due a win and generally plays his best golf in the second half of the season and if that remains the case, he’ll definitely win a few before the year is up. The straight win looks the bet here, get on.
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